93.16RU Reiteration and Update of Existing Policy: Disarmament
[Whereas,] Rationale: Members of NCWC are dedicated to peace and the development of procedures to resolve conflicts be peace and the development of procedures to resolve conflicts by peaceful means. In 1982, and again in 1989, NCWC urged the Government of Canada to increase its efforts to limit nuclear and conventional arms. Because chemical weapons are cheaper, they appeal to countries which cannot afford nuclear or advanced conventional weapons programs. The use of such weapons, resulting in the deaths of civilians, was recorded and verified in 1988. After 24 years of negotiation, the United Nations Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction was adopted at the U.N. Conference on Disarmament on September 4, 1992. Canada and 23 other countries have signed the Convention, but no country has ratified the Convention, which must be ratified by 65 countries before it can be put into force.
[RESOLVED,] The National Council of Women of Canada urges the Government of Canada to:
1. Continue its efforts to bring about a balanced nuclear arms limitation through specific and verifiable agreements which include all states at risk of military confrontations.
2. Ratify the United Nations Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction.
3. Strongly promote and support the Convention, urging other countries to ratify the Convention.