WMA Statement on Nuclear Weapons

Adopted by the 50th World Medical Assembly, Ottawa, Canada, October 1998
and amended by the 59th WMA General Assembly, Seoul, Korea, October 2008

The WMA Declarations of Geneva, of Helsinki and of Tokyo make clear the duties and responsibilities of the medical profession to preserve and safeguard the health of the patient and to consecrate itself to the service of humanity. The WMA considers that it has a duty to work for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Therefore the WMA:

  • condemns the development, testing, production, stockpiling, transfer, deployment, threat and use of nuclear weapons;

  • requests all governments to refrain from the development, testing, production, stockpiling, transfer, deployment, threat and use of nuclear weapons and to work in good faith towards the elimination of nuclear weapons; and

  • requests all National Medical Associations to join the WMA in supporting this Declaration and to urge their respective governments to work towards the elimination of nuclear weapons.