International Physicians
for the Prevention of Nuclear War

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Nuclear Weapons

The elimination of all nuclear weapons is an urgent medical, humanitarian  and public health imperative.

Armed Violence

Armed violence is a public health crisis that can be prevented using a public health approach.

Peace and Health Blog

IPPNW looks forward to the first Meeting of States Parties of the TPNW in January 2022 as an important milestone and step in the increasingly urgent race against time to eradicate nuclear weapons, which pose the most acute existential threat to humankind.

We are pleased to offer these initial recommendations, based on our professional expertise and obligations to prevent and treat disease and suffering, work to fulfill the human right to the highest attainable standard of health for all the world’s people, and promote the conditions required to achieve it.

See full list of recommendations, signed by IPPNW’s Co-Presidents on behalf of the Executive Committee.

IPPNW mourns the loss of our co-founder Dr. Bernard Lown, just months short of his 100th birthday.

Dr. Lown was a tireless visionary and pragmatic activist whose example continues to inspire countless physicians, students, and citizens worldwide.  Those who knew Dr. Lown know that he would insist that the most meaningful way to honor his memory will be to carry on his work.

To honor Dr. Lown, we invite people inspired by his legacy share your memories and express your thoughts to us.

Excerpts from Nobel Lecture, December 11, 1985 by Dr. Bernard Lown

Never Whisper in the Presence of Wrong—Selections from Speeches on Nuclear War and Global Survival by Bernard Lown

On 21 January 2021, IPPNW, the International Committee of the Red Cross, International Council of Nurses, International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations, World Federation of Public Health Associations, and the World Medical Association co-hosted global health discussion marking the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). 

The Global Health Webinar explored the TPNW in the context of a global pandemic and climate crisis, with a focus on the role of health professionals in advancing the eradication of nuclear weapons through evidence-based policy-making. Watch the full recording now.

In addition to hosting the webinar, the coalition of the world’s largest health federations released a joint statement hailing the Treaty as “an essential step towards preventing the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons and a big win for planetary health.” The statement is now available in English, Catalan, Dutch, French, German, Greek, and Spanish.