War and conflict are major causes of human suffering. They also cause environmental degradation, perpetuate inequalities and undermine democracy. Nuclear bombs and other indiscriminate weapons of mass destruction are incompatible with the public health aims of safety and health protection.
But a vast complex of standing armies, militias, weapons manufacturers, arms traders and politicians promote war, violence and militarism out of self-interest and greed, or because they fail to see better alternatives for resolving conflict and disputes.
Health professionals have a long history of: providing humanitarian relief; facilitating ceasefires and the cessation of conflict; promoting disarmament and peacebuilding; and providing impartial evidence on the perpetration of war crimes.
Medact grew out of the medical peace movement and is the UK affiliate of the Nobel Laureate International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW).
Medact continues to promote disarmament and encourage investment in nonviolent responses to conflict; seek the abolition of nuclear weapons; and reduce the power and influence of the global military-industrial complex. It promotes the universal right to health as a platform for peace building and more effective international diplomacy and cooperation.
Latest
War, violence and the mental health crisis in Kashmir
Kashmiri student and Medact member Neelam Iqbal writes about the mental health toll of the decades long conflict and calls for us to pay more attention to the needs of the people of Kashmir.
Momentum Toward Nuclear Weapons Abolition and the Role of Nuclear Weapons States
A lunch-time meeting with Chuck Johnson from the IPPNW to discuss the humanitarian and environmental threat posed by nuclear war, and what health professionals can do to demand change.
Tensions in Kashmir
As tensions between the nuclear armed states of India and Pakistan continue, little attention is being paid to the effects of war between the nations means for the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir. The Kashmir Valley, which has not known peace since the...
Selling the Military – A critical analysis of contemporary recruitment marketing
A new report co-written with ForcesWatch explores the UK military’s recent recruitment marketing campaigns, analysing the messaging and intended target audiences for recruitment.
“Selling the military” – A critical discussion on military marketing strategies
Please join us for an evening of discussion and exploration of our new report Selling the military: A critical analysis of contemporary recruitment marketing. The report is a joint project between Medact and ForcesWatch that analyses the way the armed forces market...