All through this week including yesterday, 22 January 2026, ICAN partners marked the five year anniversary of the nuclear ban treaty with actions, lectures, film screenings, discussions and demonstrations. Follow #5YearsTPNW on social media, or check out highlights below.
Over the last few days, and continuing through the weekend, ICAN partners and allies have celebrated the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as a hopeful light in what seems like an otherwise dark time for the world. We’ve heard about activities across at least three continents marking this important milestone in the history of abolishing nuclear weapons. From governmental meetings, to public roundtables, demonstrations and discussions, people gathered to build momentum against nuclear threats.
Building public opinion
Many of our partners also took this opportunity to publish opinion pieces – including in Norway, Belgium, Italy, France and Germany.
The International Trade Union Confederation put together this great video message:
🎉 Celebrating 5 YEARS of HOPE and PROGRESS! ✨
Today marks the anniversary of the entry into force of the #NuclearBan 🕊️ Together, we move closer to a world free from the threat of nuclear devastation 🌍💥
🗣️”The ITUC calls for universal ratification of the treaty, and a Fair… pic.twitter.com/NFyGlmYN4U
— ITUC (@ituc) January 22, 2026
On the Everyday Ambassador substack and podcast, Annelise Riles hosted a live webinar with Joe Cirincione (formerly of Ploughshares) to talk about the meaning of TPNW and where we go from here.
5 years ago today, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entered into force.
Thanks to #NuclearBan, the last category of Weapons of Mass Destruction #WMD are illegal and there is a plan to eliminate them. #5yearsTPNW. An historic achievement ! pic.twitter.com/y5xYjA1q75— Veronique Christory (@VChristory) January 22, 2026
Parliamentary advocacy
In the Netherlands and the US, campaigners briefed parliamentarians on the increasing risks of nuclear weapons, and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as a way to reduce those risks, while the Australian Red Cross seized the chance to “reiterates its call for all remaining States, including Australia, to sign and ratify the TPNW and join the global movement to eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons once and for all.”
Here are some highlights from around the world:
The Japanese NGO Network for Nuclear Weapons Abolition and Peace Boat broadcasted a panel discussion (in Japanese) to discuss the significance of the TPNW and the roles of governments and civil society towards the Review Conferences of the NPT and the TPNW in 2026.
Abingdon Peace Group recreated our first demonstration which took place during lock-down in January 2021 on Abingdon Market Place at 12 noon.
In Oslo, ICAN Norway organized a celebration in Oslo, including panel discussions, a gameshow, and a concert.
At the UN in New York, partners called on the US and Russia to join the ban treaty.
Colleagues across Latin America, the first populated region in the world to outlaw nuclear weapons, celebrated the day as well.
#5yearsTPNW #5añosTPAN
La historia del #TPAN #TPNW demuestra algo esencial: trabajar por la paz ☮️ es la única forma de construir acuerdos que transforman la realidad. #nuclearban @nuclearban
🧵⤵️9/10 pic.twitter.com/vhertS4FQi— SEHLAC (@redsehlac) January 22, 2026
In Hamburg’s “Schauspielhaus” actress Sachiko Hara hosted the “Hiroshima Salon” (https://schauspielhaus.de/stuecke/hiroshima-salon). She offered tea and did a performance on the horrors of Hiroshima. Afterwards she discussed with Inga Blum, Co-president of IPPNW, about the TPNW, current nuclear threats, activism and resistance.
Okango Willikister, president of MSSR KeMU, shares her reasons for supporting the nuclear weapons ban! #nonukes #Peace #nuclearban@MSSR_Kenya @IPPNW_Africa @IPPNWS pic.twitter.com/EGPXi36cAS
— IPPNW (@IPPNW) January 20, 2026
In New Mexico, near where the first nuclear weapon was detonated, the “Rally to Stop the Madness” took place
In Northampton, Massachusetts, two peace activists were arrested after entering the lobby of the weapons manufacturer L3Harris, chaining themselves together and refusing to leave. The action targeted L3Harris for its role in producing equipment for nuclear-armed missiles and surveillance systems, as well as supplying weapons used in Israel’s attacks on Gaza, and followed a series of protests by the Demilitarize Western Mass coalition at the company’s local facility.
On Sunday in Rüsselsheim Germany, there will be a screening of the film “When the wind blows” at Freiwerk, Hügelstraße 11 in Rüsselsheim, starting at 19:30
