The Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is one of the most important treaties of our time. It generally limits the proliferation of nuclear weapons to signatory states that do not yet possess nuclear arsenals and calls for the current nuclear weapon states to disarm their warheads.

However important this treaty may be, it is being questioned and critized by the United States and therefore, the 2005 NPT-Review conference in New York could well have been a critical turning point in nuclear disarmament. As things stand right now, the chance to move towards nuclear disarmament was missed, largely due to the US unwillingness to make concessions in its nuclear policy.

During the NPT Review conference in May, IPPNW has been very active on the ground, organizing panel discussions, attempting to convince delegates, joining demonstrations and events supporting nuclear disarmament. One of these events was the first installation of the Target Project. Students demonstrated to the public the effects of a nuclear attack on Times Square using a large red target-X and informative materials like maps showing the medical effects of such a blast. You can find out more about the Target Project on its website.