This letter is intended for IPPNW members or supporters who live in countries that are not party to the TPNW to send to high-level government officials, such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Health, Minister of Defense, Permanent Secretary, or your country’s Ambassador to the United Nations. See the full list of TPNW States Parties here. Learn more about the TPNW and IPPNW’s involvement here.
Thank you for taking action to prevent nuclear war.
Instructions
Make a copy of the letter below and edit it as needed to reflect your own background, country, and any other specifics. Replace all placeholders (e.g., [your country], [your title]) with your personal information. We recommend you send this to your country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Please let us know when you’ve completed your outreach! Contact Molly McGinty at mmcginty@ippnw.org with any questions.
Re: Urgent Call for [your country – Zambia, the UK, etc.] to Ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)
Dear [name – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Health, Permanent Secretary, etc.],
I write to you as a [title – doctor, nurse, medical student, concerned citizen, etc] and member of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), 1985 Nobel Peace Prize, to urge [your country] to ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) at the earliest possible date.
As a [title], I can assure you the truth of what you must already know — no state, including [country], is immune to the radioactive fallout that would transcend national borders if these weapons were ever used again. Even a “limited” nuclear war would result in global disruption, agricultural and economic collapse, mass human displacement, and famine. With global risks escalating, including overt threats to use nuclear weapons, there has never been a better time to act.
[country] must take action to prevent this catastrophe.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of both the founding of the UN and the solemn anniversaries of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. Depositing the instrument of ratification at the earliest possible date would be a fitting tribute and a signal of [country]’s continued leadership on the world stage.
I would be honored to meet with you to discuss how the [name of office you’re contacting – Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health, etc] can help ensure this ratification moves forward.
Thank you for your time and commitment to creating a safer, healthier world for all.
Sincerely,
[name]
[professional affiliation]
[contact information – including email and address]