today is the day, nuclear weapons are illegal under international law… the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons is a significant step forward toward the future creating a bold vision of a nuclear weapons-free world, shifting our focus to the inhumane aspect impact of these weapons and proclaiming a global consensus to address this existential issue… striving to bring our global perception of nuclear weapons closer in line with their terrible reality, the treaty formally enshrines the necessity of their total elimination for the good of all our relations…
people have worked to abolish nuclear weapons since they were first invented in 1945 and today the countless activists, agitators, scientists, physicians, spiritual leaders, legal professionals, mayors, and more who stood against nuclear weapons can celebrate this amazing achievement…
beginning a new chapter for nuclear disarmament, this landmark treaty prohibits nations from developing, testing, producing, manufacturing, transferring, possessing, stockpiling, using or threatening to use nuclear weapons, or allowing nuclear weapons to be stationed on their territory… it also prohibits assisting, encouraging or inducing anyone to engage in any of these activities…
ICAN’s President, Beatrice Fihn, said, “This is just the beginning … States that haven’t joined the treaty will feel its power too — we can expect companies to stop producing nuclear weapons and financial institutions to stop investing in nuclear weapon-producing companies.”
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, commented,“Entry into force is a tribute to the survivors of nuclear explosions and tests, many of whom advocated for this Treaty.” He went on to describe the entry into force as “the culmination of a worldwide movement to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons. It represents a meaningful commitment towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons, which remains the highest disarmament priority of the United Nations.”
may the nine nuclear nations join the treaty so that peace prevails on earth…