Veteran doctor and nuclear disarmament advocate Dr Ronald McCoy dies at 96

Dr Ronald McCoy, a pioneering Malaysian obstetrician and tireless advocate for nuclear disarmament, has died at the age of 96. His decades-long commitment to peace activism culminated in the creation of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, an organisation that achieved global recognition when it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017.

Dr McCoy conceived the idea for the campaign, which brought together civil society organisations from across the world with a singular mission: to stigmatise, prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons. The campaign's work resonated internationally, reflecting growing concerns about the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons and the risks they pose to global security.

Beyond his medical career, Dr McCoy became known as a prominent voice in the region's peace movement, lending his professional credibility and moral authority to the cause of nuclear abolition. His contributions to the field of nuclear disarmament helped elevate the issue on the international agenda and inspired countless others to join the movement for a nuclear-free world.

Dr McCoy's legacy extends across both his medical practice and his activism, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to protecting human welfare and advancing global peace.