ABOUT US
ICAN Australia has been at the forefront of the global push for a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. With more than 60 national and local partner organisations, we have sought to bring nuclear issues into the public debate and place nuclear disarmament squarely on the political agenda. Together, we are building a groundswell of public support for nuclear weapons abolition — through education in schools, public events and demonstrations on the streets. Our supporters include political figures, artists, sporting heroes and actors.
Areas of focus
- Nuclear Weapons Convention: The Federal Government should lead the international push for a binding, verifiable treaty to outlaw and eliminate all nuclear weapons.
- Nuclear-weapon-free defence: Australia should reject the use of nuclear weapons in our defence, which would help to pave the way to a global ban.
- Uranium mining and exports: Australia should cease mining and exporting uranium, especially to nuclear-armed nations.
ICAN's origins
ICAN was established in by the Medical Association for Prevention of War in Australia and was adopted by the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) globally in 2007. Within Australia it has since expanded to include a broad range of organisations including environmental NGOs, aid and development organiasations, churches, unions and professional groups.
The establishment of ICAN was prompted by the failure of the Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference in 2005, at which nations were unable to agree on any course of action towards achieving a nuclear-weapon-free world. We believe that there is an urgent need to rid the world of these ultimate weapons of terror, and have united with groups and individuals around Australia and the world to achieve this aim.
