Why disarmament?
Excessive military expenditure, unregulated arms trade, and the possession of nuclear weapons by nine of the world’s most powerful states are – without doubt – some of the primary impediments to security.
Militarism is a destructive and oppressive system that diverts society’s resources towards weapons and war; a mindset and culture that weaponises security and gender relations; a facilitator of armed conflict and violence worldwide; and a contributor to the climate emergency.
We work on disarmament to create a robust framework for addressing the challenges of security, including a critique of militarism, over-armament, and the use or threat of use of force. We seek a world free from weapons, violence and war.
Total and universal disarmament has been one of our goals since our start in 1915. Why?
Global military expenditures are approximately £2,000 billion.
Nine countries still possess over 12,500 nuclear weapons.
Over 2,000 people are killed by arms… every day
Our key focus areas
Nuclear disarmament
- The UK is one of nine governments which threatens the use of nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons have catastrophic consequences and the potential to obliterate humanity. Nuclear deterrence theory does not increase human security, nor prevent military attacks. The only way to ensure genuine security for all and reduce the risk of nuclear war is through disarmament.
- As a member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), we advocate for the government to sign and endorse the Nuclear Ban Treaty, formally known as the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The treaty bans the use, production, possession, testing and proliferation of nuclear weapons and mandates the verified elimination of all nuclear arsenals. Over 90 countries across the globe have signed.
- We push for the government to scrap Trident, the UK’s nuclear weapon programme. The cost of maintaining Trident steals money from real human security needs like health, food, housing, education and climate. We are also a member of the Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, a coalition dedicated to preventing the return of US nuclear weapons to USAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.
Arms trade
- Annually, billions in public money are invested into developing, maintaining and trading unnecessary mechanisms for war and military activity. The arms industry, and those who invest in it, profit from death and destruction. This money must be moved from militarisation and invested in genuine human security and peace-building efforts.
- We advocate for the UK to eventually end all manufacture and sales of arms, meanwhile ensuring that the government is held to account on its obligations under the International Arms Trade Treaty especially when it continues to export arms to actors who are committing violations of human rights and international law. Actions include our Brighton Branch opposing the L3 Harris bomb factory, coordinating the bi-annual Stop the Arms Fair campaign in London, and joining nationwide vigils for Women in Black Against Militarism and War.
Killer robots
- We are a steering committee member of the Stop Killer Robots coalition, which includes over 180 organisations across more than 60 countries, working to reduce the risks associated with autonomous weapons systems (AWS).
- We call for the UK government to support a new international law which prohibits autonomous weapons that cannot be meaningfully controlled and those that target humans; and that regulates other autonomous weapons to ensure meaningful human control over the use of force.
Our approach
We believe that disarmament and arms control must always be approached through the lens of international humanitarian law and as an imperative for human rights and human security. The debate must begin to shift away from weapons as tools for “state security” and instead focus on the necessity of human beings to be protected against the impacts of such weapons.
Reaching Critical Will is WILPF International’s disarmament programme which monitors multilateral disarmament processes and facilitates civil society participation in meetings and conferences. It also produces research studies and reports on key disarmament issues, contributing critical analysis and advocacy for disarmament.
Our impact
Guided by the values of anti-militarism and non-violence, our feminist perspective on disarmament helps to challenge discourses, policies and practices around militarism and military spending, and instead prioritise genuine human security and environmental regeneration.
Recent news about our disarmament campaign
Our partnerships
We work closely with other organisations to achieve our goals.
Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy
Founded by WILPF member, Rebecca Johnson
How to get involved
Become a member of WILPF UK to help campaign for disarmament. Please get in touch to learn more!
