Background information:

The threat of nuclear war hasn't reached this level of public attention for generations. Right now, the entire world is worried about a nuclear war and people are scared threats to use nuclear weapons.

ICAN is the global nuclear disarmament movement, with over 600 organizations in 107 countries. ICAN was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its “work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons” and the “ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons.”

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was negotiated based on the understanding that every nation has a right to live free from threats of nuclear blackmail, and no nation should ever use, or threaten to use nuclear weapons again. The TPNW was a major breakthrough in international law: supported by 122 countries. This was a milestone moment, made possible by decades of campaigning by civil society and the international community. 

The Treaty is clear - any assistance with prohibited acts including producing, developing, manufacturing, deploying and stationing nuclear weapons - is also prohibited.

The Treaty became international law on 22 January 2021 which means the first Meeting of States Parties (1MSP) will take place in Vienna 21-23 June 2022. This will be the first time all countries that are party to the treaty will come together to discuss progress to meeting the treaty’s goals: a world without nuclear weapons.

Nuclear weapons are highly controversial weapons, and this upcoming meeting is salient to institutional investors who believe nuclear weapons are a problem and want to be part of the solution.

Etica Funds is an asset manager fully dedicated to sustainable and responsible investments.  According to its bylaws, Etica’s mission is to “represent the values of ethical finance in financial markets and focus the attention of the public on socially responsible investment and corporate social responsibility”.

ICAN and Etica Funds collaborated on this statement to be delivered to this major international conference.

The statement encourages countries:

- to require that State-owned enterprises fully integrate the TPNW prohibition on all forms of assistance throughout their operation

- to ensure that obligations under the treaty are extended to both state and non-state (including private sector) actors within their jurisdiction.

All investors, and investor alliances, are welcome to join the statement.