5 Years of the TPNW

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) marks its fifth anniversary on the 22nd of January 2026. This treaty is incredibly important for our future and for the entire planet. Yet the United Kingdom refuses to sign or ratify the treaty.

In fact, the UK has not even sent observers to any of the meetings and is refusing to engage with the treaty. There are currently 74 states parties, as well as a further 25 signatories to the treaty. You can check to see if your country has signed or ratified the treaty by visiting the ICAN website: https://www.icanw.org/signature_and_ratification_status

Articles 6 and 7 of the treaty relate to Victim Assistance and how the treaty can help the victims of nuclear testing. This is an incredibly important part of the treaty for the affected communities. (https://www.icanw.org/tpnw_article_6_7_resources)

In 2025, LABRATS represented the Nuclear Community at the 3rd meeting of State Parties at the United Nations in New York.

As an ICAN partner, we fully support the TPNW and see the benefits for not only our community but the world as a whole.

The TPNW has challenged Nuclear History. A has led to many people understanding that nuclear deterrence is not as advertised.

This world is a dangerous place, the order is changing, the threat of nuclear weapons use and testing is increasing, and the TPNW is a chance for the world to reset, to engage with the communities that have been affected. To work with civil societies and understand the changes that need to be made to ensure that we do not destroy our planet, and to show that there can be a world without nuclear weapons.

According to Statista (https://www.statista.com/statistics/264435/number-of-nuclear-warheads-worldwide/), as of January 2025, there were 12,241 nuclear weapons in the world. The UK has approximately 225, with Russia and the United States having over 10,000 combined. The question is why? These weapons can destroy our entire planet many times over.

Our community knows the devastation these weapons can cause; they have seen it with their own eyes, they have felt it on their bodies. They understand; the UK politicians don't, they have never experienced it or been taught about the UK's testing program.

We must continue to advocate against nuclear weapons, using the lived experiences of our veterans, using the testimonies, archival records and ensuring the world knows just how dangerous these weapons are.

The First Review Conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is scheduled to take place from 30 November to 4 December 2026 in New York. We hope to have representation at the event, raising awareness of the affected communities, building relationships and working towards a future where these weapons no longer exist.

You can find out more about the TPNW and how it has changed the world on ICAN's website: https://www.icanw.org/5_eif_tpnw_changed_the_world

We can change the UK's stance; we can use our experiences to influence the UK Government and encourage it to engage with the TPNW. We would encourage you all to send an email to your MP asking for the UK Government to send a representative to the First Review Conference in 2026. After all, the UK tested nuclear weapons, devastated sacred lands, and affected communities for generations to come. They cannot walk away, just burying the consequences.

Thank you to ICAN for the imagery for this blog.