TPNW – BAN ON KILLER ROBOTS/AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS – BAN ON THE USE AND SALE OF WEAPONIZED DRONES

Re: TPNW – ban on killer robots/autonomous weapons – ban on the use and sale of weaponized drones

Honourable  Pekka Haavisto, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Finland

cc.

Sauli Niinistö, President of Finland

all members of the Finnish Government
all members of the Finnish Parliament

We, the representatives of 123 non-governmental organisations from some 100 countries want to congratulate Finland for last October having been elected member of the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2022-2024.

Regarding this, You Minister Pekka Haavisto, in a press statement stressed the importance to promote global peace, security and sustainable development and that Finland, as You yourself, has excellent experience of involving civil society in the management of matters.

Your significant announcement, that Finland will work in close cooperation with both domestic and international NGOs and human rights defenders since it is vital that not only the voice of states but also the views and expertise of civil society, researchers and the private sector are heard in the work of the Human Rights Council, gives us great hope.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (1948) is a milestone document in the history of human rights and was drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world. It sets out the fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has paved the way for the adoption of more than seventy human rights treaties, applied today on a permanent basis at global and regional levels.

Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and the security of person.”

Three of the biggest military threats to life today are nuclear weapons, autonomous weapon systems or killer robots and weaponized drones.  

A nuclear war would not only cause long-term damage to our planet, but could end life on earth as we know it.

Autonomous weapons, commonly known as killer robots that are no longer strictly controlled by human hands, as well as weaponized drones constitute a barbarous threat to humanity.

According to the second edition of the Norwegian People’s Aid’s Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor over two-thirds of the world’s countries support the TPNW. Furthermore YouGov polls conducted in late 2020 in six NATO countries – Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain – show very high levels of public support for their countries to join the TPNW.

Since 2018, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly urged states to prohibit weapons systems that could, by themselves, target and attack human beings, calling them ”morally repugnant and politically unacceptable”.

On 15-16 September 2021, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted an online conference on Safeguarding Human Control over Autonomous Weapons. 

Austria’s Foreign Minister, Alexander Schallenberg and New Zealand’s Minister for Disarmament, Phil Twyford, presented a strong call for action towards new international treaty that would establish prohibitions and regulations on autonomy in weapons systems. The conference provided a striking illustration of political leadership embracing the need for action on this issue.

A growing number of policymakers, artificial intelligence experts, private companies, international and domestic organisations, and ordinary individuals have endorsed a call to ban fully autonomous weapons.

According to Human Rights Watch 30 countries (August 2020) are calling for a ban on killer robots.

Weaponized drones are no more acceptable than land mines, cluster bombs, or chemical weapons. The armed drone is a weapon that, because of its unique character, engenders terror and hatred on the ground, regardless of the circumstances in which it is being used.

In a global petition a broad spectrum of NGOs and over 100.000 persons urge governments to ban the use and sale of weaponized drones.

All over the world NGOs are urging their governments to sign and ratify the TPNW as well as to ban autonomous weapons and weponized drones.

Honourable Minister Pekka Haavisto, we sincerely hope for Your dedicated support for these urgent matters, threatening mankind. We urge You to actively push European and other countries to sign the TPNW and to firmly, in the UN Human Rights Council and in the European Union, raise the urgent need for a preemptive ban on the development, production, and use of fully autonomous weapons and for a ban on the use and sale of weaponized drones.

February 25^th, 2022

INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS AND ORGANISATIONS – NATIONAL UMBRELLA ORGANISATIONS – active in some 100 countries:

Ban Killer Drones Campaign

an international grassroots campaign committed to banning aerial weaponized drones and military and police drone surveillance.

Contacts: Nick Mottern – nickmottern (at) gmail.com,

Kathy Kelly – kathy (at) vcnv.org

Church and Peace – European peace church network, EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL

Church and Peace is the European ecumenical peace church network. The Church and Peace network comprises over fifty communities, churches, training centres, peace service agencies and peace movements, as well as around sixty members from the Mennonite, Quaker, Church of the Brethren, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Orthodox, Reformed and Roman Catholic traditions from 15 European countries.

Contact: Lydia Funck – intloffice (at) church-and-peace.org

GAMIP AMÉRICA LATINA Y EL CARIBE, ARGENTINA, COLOMBIA, PERÚ, NICARAGUA, HONDURAS, MÉXICO, BRASIL, BOLIVIA

GAMIP = Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrastructures for Peace.

Contact: gamipamericalatina (at) gmail.com

Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space

an international network of some 120 affiliates from some 25 countries concerned about the militarisation and exploitation of space.

Contact: Bruce K. Gagnon –  globalnet (at) mindspring.com

Naturfreunde Internationale – Naturefriends International – Internationale des Amis de la Nature

uniting more than 350,000 individual members throughout the globe, member of the Green 10, a group of leading environmental NGOs active at EU level.

Contact: Manfred Pils – office (at) nf-int.org

No to war – no to NATO international network

uniting some 400 national organisations/movements/groups from over 40 countries.

Contact: Kristine Karch – Kristine (at) no-to-nato.org

Réseau ”Sortir du nucléaire”, FRANCE

Federation of more than 900 associations and 60,000 people.

Contact: Marie Liger –marie.liger (at) sortirdunucleaire.fr

World BEYOND War is a global nonviolent movement to end war and establish a just and sustainable peace.

World BEYOND War is a member of the Coalition Against U.S. Foreign Military Bases; the Divest from the War Machine Coalition; the Global Day Against Military Spending; the International Peace Bureau; the Korea Collaboration Network; the Poor People’s Campaign; United for Peace and Justice; the United National Antiwar Coalition; the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons; the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space; the international network No to war – no to NATO; Overseas Base Realignment and Closure Coalition; People Over Pentagon; Campaign to End the Selective Service System; the Demilitarize U.S. to Palestine Coalition; Just Recovery Canada; No Fighter Jets Coalition; Canada-Wide Peace and Justice Network; Peace Education Network (PEN); Beyond Nuclear; Working Group on Youth, Peace, and Security; Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrastructures for Peace.

Contact: David Swanson –  davidcnswanson (at) gmail.com

NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS/MOVEMENTS/GROUPS from 28 countries:

Abolition des armes nucléaires – Maison de Vigilance ( Abolition of nuclear weapons – House of Vigilance ), FRANCE, contact: Thierry Duvernoy – thierry.duvernoy1963 (at) hotmail.fr

Aktive Arbeitslose, AUSTRIA, contact: Martin Mair – 

kontakt (at) aktive-arbeitslose.at

Alliance for Labour and Solidarity, CZECHIA, contact: Jan Kavan – kavanjan17 (at) gmail.com

Amandamaji ry, FINLAND, contact: Marika Lohi – marika.lohi (at) ehtaraha.fi

Amnesty International – Suomen osasto – Finnish section, FINLAND, Contact: Frank Johansson – frank.johansson (at) amnesty.fi

ARGE Schöpfungsverantwortung – Ökosoziale Bewegung (ARGE ecosocial movement) AUSTRIA, contact: Isolde Schönstein –

office (at) argeschoepfung.at

Artister för fred – Artists for peace, SWEDEN, contact: Kemal Görgü – kemalgrg (at) hotmail.com

Aseistakieltäytyjäliitto ry – The Union Of Conscientious Objector’s, FINLAND, contact: Aku Kervinen – aku.kervinen (at) akl-web.fi

Asociación RESPUESTA PARA LA PAZ, ARGENTINA, contact: Diana de la Rúa Eugenio – dianadelarua (at) respuestaparalapaz.org.ar –

diana_delarua (at) yahoo.com.ar

Association of Hungarian Resistants and Antifascits, HUNGARY, contact: Vilmos Hanti – measzba (at) gmail.com

Attac, FINLAND, contact: Omar El-Begawy – omar.elbegawy (at) attac.fi

ATTAC CADTM/Burkina, BURKINA FASO, contact: Souleymane SAMPEBGO –

attacburkina (at) yahoo.fr

Attac Freiburg, GERMANY, contact: Christoph Lienkamp –

e.huegel (at) posteo.de

ATTAC Hungary Association, HUNGARY,contact: Mátyás Benyik – benyikmatyas (at) gmail.com

ÄrztInnen für eine gesunde Umwelt – Austrian doctors for the environment, AUSTRIA, contact: Hanns Moshammer –

hanns.moshammer (at) meduniwien.ac.at

AWC Deutschland e. V. Association of World Citizens Germany, GERMANY, contact: Brigitte Ehrich – brigitte.ehrich (at) ambaechle.de

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit – Center for Encounter and active Non-violence, AUSTRIA, contact: Maria und Matthias Reichl –

info (at) begegnungszentrum.at

Bremer Friedensforum (Bremen Peace Forum), GERMANY, contact: Ekkehard Lentz – bremer.friedensforum (at) gmx.de

Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, CANADA, Contact: Marla Slavner –

info (at) vowpeace.org

Casa de la Pax Cultura Civil Association, ARGENTINA, contact: Estela Tustanovsky – estelatuta15 (at) gmail.com

Centre Delàs d’Estudis per la Pau, SPAIN, contact: Ainhoa Ruiz Benedicto –

info (at) centredelas.org

Club Gaianoah (Salutogenic Center), FRANCE, contact: Prof. Qiú –

clubgaianoah.info (at) gmail.com

CND Cymru (the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in Wales), UNITED KINGDOM, contact: Brian Jones – heddwch (at) cndcymru.org

CRASH – Tutkimusta, taidetta ja toimintaa oikeudenmukaisuuden edistämiseksi – CRASH – Coalition for Research and Action for Social Justice and Human

Dignity, FINLAND, contact: Outi Hakkarainen – outi.hakkarainen (at) crash.fi

d’Agir pour la Paix, BELGIUM, contact: Stephanie Demblon –

stephanie (at) agirpourlapaix.be

Defence for Children International, Czech section, CZECHIA, contact:Miroslav Prokeš – mirek.prokes (at) nf-int.org

”Democracy Today”, ARMENIA, contact: Gulnara Shainian –

gulnara.shainian (at) gmail.com

Deutsche Sektion der Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), GERMANY, contact: Marieke Fröhlich –

froehlich (at) wilpf.de

EcoMujer e.V., GERMANY, contact: Monika Schierenberg –

monika-leo (at) web.de

Environmentalists Against War, USA, contact: Gar Smith –

gar.smith (at) earthlink.net

“Eszmélet” (Consciousness) Journal Editorial, HUNGARY, contact: Tamás Krausz – antal.attila85 (at) gmail.com

EVAL – Ehrfurcht Vor Allem Leben, AUSTRIA, contact:

Karl-Heinz Hinrichs – khh (at) evalww.com

Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR-USA), USA, contact: Ethan Vesely-Flad –  organizing (at) forusa.org

Feministische Partei DIE FRAUEN, GERMANY, contact: Margot Müller –

info (at) feministischepartei.de

Folkkampanjen mot Kärnkraft-Kärnvapen – Peoples’ Movement Against Nuclear Power And Weapons, SWEDEN, contact: Jan Strömdahl –

Jfstromdahl (at) gmail.com

Folkkampanjen mot kärnkraft-kärnvapen i Sundsvall – Peoples’ Movement Against Nuclear Power And Weapons, Sundsvall, SWEDEN, contact: Birgitta Krona – bi.krona (at) yahoo.se

Föreningen Fredens Hus Göteborg, SWEDEN, contact: Karin Utas Carlsson –

k.utas.carlsson (at) gmail.com

”For Nature” movement , Chelyabinsk, RUSSIA, contact: Andrey Talevlin –

atalevlin (at) gmail.com

Forum on Disarmament and Development (FDD) of Sri Lanka, SRI LANKA, contact: Vidya Abhayagunawardena – vidyampa (at) hotmail.com

Frauennetzwerk für Frieden e.V. / Women’s Network for Peace, GERMANY, contact: Elise Kopper – info (at) frauennetzwerk-fuer-frieden.de

Fredsrörelsen på Orust, SWEDEN, contact: Ola Friholt – 

ola.friholt (at) gmail.com

FredsVagten ved Christiansborg, DENMARK, contact: Irene Sørensen -0802irene (at) gmail.com

FriedensAttac Österreich, AUSTRIA, contact: Gerhard Kofler – 

FriedensAttac (at) attac.at

Friedensbüro Salzburg, AUSTRIA, contact: Hans Peter Graß –

grass (at) friedensbuero.at

Friedensglockengesellschaft Berlin e.V., GERMANY, contact: Anja Mewes –

friedensglockengesellschaft (at)web.de

Friedensregion Bodensee e.V. – Peace region Bodensee, GERMANY, contact: Martina Knappert-Hiese – martina.knappert-hiese (at) freenet.de

Friends of Nature Prague, CZECHIA, contact: Mirek Prokeš –

mirek.prokes (at) nf-int.org

Galway Alliance Against War, IRELAND, contact: Niall Farrell – galwayallianceagainstwar (at) gmail.com

Global Sunrise Project, CANADA contact: Marla & Kasha Slavner –

theglobalsunriseproject (at) gmail.com

Gröna kvinnor – Green Women, SWEDEN, contact Ewa Larsson –

ewagron1 (at) gmail.com

GSoA (Gruppe für eine Schweiz ohne Armee), SWITZERLAND, contact: Anja Gada – anja (at) gsoa.ch

Hamburger Forum für Völkerverständigung und weltweite Abrüstung e. V., GERMANY, contact: Markus Gunkel – hamburger-forum (at) hamburg.de

Hungarian Antifascist League, HUNGARY, contact: Tamás Hirschler  – thirschler (at) t-email.hu

Hungarian Social Forum (HSF), HUNGARY,contact: Vera Zalka –

zalkavera (at) gmail.com

Hungarian Workers Party 2006 – European Left, HUNGARY, contact: Attila Vajnai – vajnai (at) t-online.hu

IAPDA (ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL POUR LA PAIX ET LE DEVELOPPEMENT EN AFRIQUE), CAMEROON, contact:  Jean vivien H.  – iapda_cam (at) hotmail.com

Indian Institute for Peace Disarmament & Environmental Protection, INDIA, contact: Balkrishna Kurvey – bkkurvey (at) gmail.com

INNATE (Irish Network for Nonviolent Action Training and Education), IRELAND, contact: Rob Fairmichael – innate (at) ntlworld.com

Internasjonal Kvinneliga for Fred og Frihet (IKFF – WILPF), NORWAY, contact: Britt Schumann – ikff (at) ikff.no

Internationaler Versöhnungsbund – Österreichischer Zweig (International Fellowship of Reconciliation – Austrian Branch), AUSTRIA, contact: Pete Hämmerle – office (at) versoehnungsbund.at

Internationella kvinnoförbundet för fred och frihet (IKFF – WILPF) Göteborg section, SWEDEN, contact: Begard Yunis  –

begardy (at) hotmail.com      

IPPNW-Guatemala (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War), GUATEMALA, contact: Carlos Vassaux –

cvassaux (at) gmail.com

Joensuun rauhanryhmä – Joensuu Peace Group, FINLAND, contact: Rony Ojajärvi – ojajarvi.rony (at) gmail.com

Karl Marx Society, HUNGARY, contact: Gábor Finta –

gabor.finta.61 (at) gmail.com

Kieler Friedensforum – Kiel Peace Forum, GERMANY, contact: Benno Stahn    –   b.stahn (at) kieler-friedensforum.de

Kronoberg för fred och alliansfrihet – Kronoberg for peace and

non-alignment, SWEDEN, contact: Sven-Erik Månsson –

mansson.svenerik (at) gmail.com

Kvinnor för fred – Women for Peace, SWEDEN, contact: Susanne Gerstenberg – susanne.gerstenberg (at) telia.com

Kvinnor för fred i Sundsvall – Women for Peace in Sundsvall, SWEDEN,

Contact: Ulrika Hådén – ulrhad (at) gmail.com

Lääkärin sosiaalinen vastuu ry – Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR Finland), FINLAND, contact: Line Kurki – puheenjohtaja (at) lsv.fi

Lajos Magyar Foundation, HUNGARY, contact: Gábor Székely – labour.yearbook2 (at) gmail.com

Latin-America Society in Hungary, HUNGARY, contact: László Kupi – kupilaszlo84 (at) gmail.com

Latvian Green Movement –  LaGM, LATVIA, contact: Janis Matulis –

janis.matulis (at) zalie.lv

Left Alternative Association of Hungary, HUNGARY, contact: Gábor Szász – cacpilota (at) gmail.com – szaszg (at) gdf.hu

Left Ecological  Forum, BELGIUM, contact: Michel Vanhoorne – michel.vanhoorne (at) ugent.be

Maan ystävät ry/Friends of the Earth Finland, FINLAND, contact: Tanja Pulliainen – tanja.pulliainen (at) maanystavat.fi

Miljöringen Lovisa – Circle for the Environment Loviisa, FINLAND, contact:

Christer Alm – christer.alm45 (at) gmail.com

Mouvement de l’Objection de Conscience de Nancy, FRANCE, contact: Jean-Michel BONIFACE – mocnancy (at) ouvaton.org – grudji (at) free.fr

Mouvement international de la Réconciliation (MIR) – FRANCE, contact : Christian Renoux – mirfr (at) club-internet.fr

Mouvement pour une Alternative Non-violente (MAN) – Movement for a Non-violent Alternative, FRANCE, contact: Serge PERRIN –

man (at) nonviolence.fr – perrin.serge (at) club.fr

Movement for the Abolition of War, UNITED KINGDOM, contact: Tim Devereux – info (at) abolishwar.org.uk

Muslim Peace Fellowship, USA, contact: Susan Smith –

susanhsmith (at) forusa.org

Naiset Atomivoimaa Vastaan – Women Against Nuclear Power, FINLAND, contact: Ulla Klötzer –  ullaklotzer (at) yahoo.com

Naiset Rauhan Puolesta – Women for Peace, FINLAND, contact: Lea Launokari – lea.launokari (at) nettilinja.fi

NaturFreunde Deutschlands e.V. (Nature Friends Germany), GERMANY, contact: Maritta Strasser – strasser (at) naturfreunde.de

NordBruk (La Via Campesina Sweden), SWEDEN, contact: Maximilian Isendahl – isenmax (at) hotmail.com

Norges Fredsråd – Norwegian Peace Council, NORWAY, contact: Oda Andersen Nyborg – oda (at) norgesfredsrad.no

OMEGA/ Österreichische Sektion der IPPNW (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, AUSTRIA, contact:Klaus Renoldner –

reno (at) wvnet.at

Opettajien Lähetysliitto – Teachers’ Mission Association of Finland,

FINLAND, contact: Hanna Tamminen – opettajienlahetysliitto (at) gmail.com

Organisers for the Left (SZAB), HUNGARY, contact: György Droppa –

droppa (at) droppa.hu

Österreichischer Friedensrat (Austrian Peace Council) – Wiener Friedensbewegung, AUSTRIA, contact: Andreas Pecha  –

Pax.vienna (at) chello.at

PAND – Taiteilijat rauhan puolesta – Artists for peace, FINLAND, contact:

Antti Seppänen – pandtalo (at) hotmail.fi

Peace SOS, NETHERLANDS, contact: May-May Meijer –  info (at) peacesos.nl

Platform Vrouwen en Duurzame Vrede (Platform Women and Sustainable Peace), NETHERLANDS, contact: Anna Zanen –

annazanen (at) home.nl

Public Council of the South Coast of the Gulf of Finland, RUSSIA, contact: Oleg Bodrov – obdecom (at) gmail.com

REDHAC – Réseau de Défenseurs des Droits Humains de l’Afrique Centrale, CAMEROON, contact: Maximilienne C. NGO MBE – redhac.executifddhafricentrale (at) gmail.com

Riksföreningen Nej till NATO – No to NATO, SWEDEN – contact: Lars Drake  – drake_lars (at) hotmail.com

Scottish CND, UNITED KINGDOM, contact: Lynn Jamieson –

chair (at) banthebomb.org

Sicherheit neu denken – Rethinking Security Initiative, GERMANY, contact: Ralf Becker – ralf.becker (at) ekiba.de

Solidarwerkstatt Österreich – Association for Solidarity, AUSTRIA, contact: Gerald Oberansmay – office (at) solidarwerkstatt.at

Steirische Friedensplattform, AUSTRIA, contact:  Franz Sölkner – franz.soelkner (at) thalbeigraz.at

Sundsvall-Timrå FN förening – (Sundsvall-Timrå UN association) SWEDEN, contact:Sameer Lafta – sameerlafta (at) gmail.com

Suomen Rauhanpuolustajat – Finnish Peace Committee, FINLAND, contact: Teemu Matinpuro – teemu.matinpuro (at) rauhanpuolustajat.fi

Svenska Fredskommittén – Swedish Peace Committee, SWEDEN contact:

Claudio Mc Conell – cmwc (at) mail.com

Svenska Fredsvänner i Helsingfors (Swedish Peace friends in Helsinki), FINLAND, contact: Elisabeth Nordgren – elisabeth.nordgren (at) pp.inet.fi

Svenska kvinnors Vänsterförbund, Swedish Women of the Left, SWEDEN, contact: Ianthe Holmberg – ianthe.holmberg (at) gmail.com

Sveriges Fredsråd – Swedish Peace Council, SWEDEN, contact: Agneta Norberg – lappland.norberg (at) gmail.com

Tekniikka elämää palvelemaan – Tekniken i livets tjänst r.y. – Technology for Life, FINLAND, contact: Claus Montonen –

claus.montonen (at) gmail.com

Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, UKRAINE, contact: Yurii Sheliazhenko –

yuriy.sheliazhenko (at) gmail.com

Västernorrland FN distrikt (Västernorrland UN district), SWEDEN, contact: Sameer Lafta – sameerlafta (at) gmail.com

Vrede vzw, BELGIUM, contact: Ludo De Brabander – Ludo (at) vrede.be

Vrouwen voor Vrede Enschede, the NETHERLANDS, contact: Tiny Hannink –

tinyhannink3 (at) gmail.com

Wiener Plattform Atomkraftfrei – Viennese Platform Nuclear-free , AUSTRIA, contact: Johanna Nekowitsch – atomkraftfreiezukunft (at) gmx.at

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom UK (iWILPF UK),

UNITED KINGDOM, contact: Paula Shaw – ukwilpf.peace (at) gmail.com

World BEYOND War, GERMANY, contact: Andreu Ginestet Menke -Andreu_Ginestet (at) email.de

XR Peace, UNITED KINGDOM, contact: Angie Zelter –

reforest (at) gn.apc.org

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS:

Oksana Chelysheva, political refugee, journalist and human rights defender, Oxfam Novib PEN Award for Freedom of Expression, RUSSIA/FINLAND – oksana.chelysheva (at) yahoo.com

Frank Hornschu, Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund – Kiel, GERMANY –

Frank.Hornschu (at) dgb.de

Kateřina KONEČNÁ, The Left group in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL, CZECHIA – katerina.konecna (at) europarl.europa.eu

Prof. Dr. Klaus Moegling, GERMANY – klaus (at) moegling.de

Thomas Roithner, Friedensforscher und Privatdozent für Politikwissenschaft, Wien, AUSTRIA  – thomas.roithner (at) univie.ac.at

Gulnara Shainian, UN Special Rapporteur in slavery 2008-2015, ARMENIA  –gulnara.shainian (at) gmail.com

Madis Vasser, researcher, University of Tartu, ESTONIA –

madis.vasser (at) ut.ee

Thomas Vollmer, Scientist For Future Kassel, GERMANY –

vollmer-kassel (at) t-online.de