IPPNW was founded in 1980 by physicians from the United States and the former Soviet Union who shared a common commitment to the prevention of nuclear war between their two countries. In 1985, IPPNW received the Nobel Peace Prize. Just as nuclear weapons, its commitment survived the end of the cold war and today IPPNW is, with Mayors for Peace and others, one of the leading voices in the movement for nuclear weapons abolition.

Amongst other speakers was Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, who talked about the Swiss policy towards nuclear disarmament. The government of Switzerland – she declared – has the objective to outlaw nuclear weapons, thus adding an International Humanitarian Law perspective to the discussion on a nuclear-weapon-free world.

Mayors for Peace was present with a delegation of around 20 mayors, city representatives and staff. On August 27^th a Mayors for Peace meeting of European members was held. The International Campaign Director, Aaron Tovish, welcomed the city delegations, which consisted of old committed members such as Ieper, Malakoff and Hannover, represented by Jan Breyne, Michel Cibot and Bernd Grimpe respectively, and new members showing their high interest in the Campaign, such as Basel and Frogn, represented by their Mayors Guy Morin and Thore Vestby. The present city representatives agreed to further their commitment in recruiting new mayors and making their local communities aware of the danger represented by nuclear weapons.

Dr. Guy Morin, Mayor of Basel, also welcomed the Mayors for Peace staff at the city hall for a meeting with representatives of the Swiss government, the IPPNW and the local Evangelical Church. The meeting was a very productive start to good cooperation between Switzerland and the 2020 Vision Campaign.

Later on, Congress participants gathered at the University of Basel for an IPPNW and Mayors for Peace public event. Aaron Tovish talked about the necessity of creating momentum for nuclear disarmament and launched the idea of a Special Conference in 2011 to gather friendly governments and NGOs in order to discuss and decide upon ways to start negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention. The idea follows the Hiroshima Appeal, the result of the recent Hiroshima Conference for the Total Abolition of Nuclear Weapons by 2020.

At night, an Official IPPNW dinner was held jointly with representatives of Mayors for Peace and guest. Jan Breyne, Senior Advisor to the 2020 Vision Campaign, held a powerful speech where he highlighted the reason for the commitment of the city of Ieper for nuclear abolition, and the fact that “alone we are nothing, but together we can make it.”