Signatories

The continued existence of nuclear weapons constitutes the greatest threat to humankind and the planetary environment. As long as they exist: possession of them will proliferate amongst states and possibly non-state actors; they will inevitably be used, either by accident or decision; and, any use would be catastrophic, materially, politically, environmentally, morally. This logic is complete. The only acceptable course is to eliminate them. This can be done safely and permanently. Security can be maintained without nuclear weapons.

Ambassador Richard Butler was Australia's first Ambassador for Disarmament and subsequently convened the Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. He was also Ambassador to the United Nations where he tabled the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. From 1997 to 1999 he was the Executive Chairman of the United Nations Special Commission to disarm Iraq (UNSCOM). He is now the Global Diplomat in Residence at the Center for Global Affairs at New York University.