Unic Press UK: The United Nations has opened for signatures the world’s first legally-binding treaty that prohibits nuclear weapons, during a ceremony at its headquarters in New York, United States.
“The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is the product of increasing concerns over the risk posed by the continued existence of nuclear weapons, including the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences of their use. The Treaty is an important step towards the universally-held goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. It is my hope that it will reinvigorate global efforts to achieve it.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said.
There are circa 16,500 nuclear weapons in the whole wide world of which the United States and the Russian Federation have over ninety-five percent of this figure. Other nuclear powers include United Kingdom, Pakistan, France, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), China, India and Israel.
“The Treaty – adopted on 7 July this year at a UN conference in New York by a vote of 122 in favour to one against (Netherlands), with one abstention (Singapore) – prohibits a full range of nuclear-weapon-related activities, such as undertaking to develop, test, produce, manufacture, acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, as well as the use or threat of use of these weapons”, the UN News Centre reported.
The Treaty has been strongly opposed by all the nuclear powers.
Reactions on Facebook and Twitter
Kevin Onovo, an entrepreneur and political analyst based in United Kingdom, wrote on Facebook.
“UN honcho António Guterres proffered a remedy against doom by nuclear weapons; that’s simply what it is. History will be kind to him despite the fact that his idea will not bend steel having been utterly dismissed by all the nuclear powers” (Kevin Onovo: 20th September 2017)
It's#InternationalPeaceDay and #nuclearban day and this war memorial soldier down at Martin Place this morning in sunny Sydney gets with it. pic.twitter.com/xBkR5WtSUH
— Flick Ruby (@FlickRubicon) September 20, 2017
This morning at the Signing Ceremony of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
I signed on behalf of Nigeria #UNGA72 #NGAinUNGA pic.twitter.com/VO1FL1Fub2— Geoffrey Onyeama (@GeoffreyOnyeama) September 20, 2017
It's #InternationalDayofPeace -time for Canada to sign the international treaty banning nuclear weapons, @JustinTrudeau. RT if you agree pic.twitter.com/XvmQwaGjI0
— Greenpeace Canada (@GreenpeaceCA) September 21, 2017
