Treaty to ban nuclear weapons enters into force

  • The first-ever treaty to ban nuclear weapons entered into force on January 22.
  • However, it was strongly opposed by the world’s nuclear-armed nations. 
  • The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) had received the 2017 Nobel peace prize. 

SIGNED IN 2017

  • In July 2017, the UN negotiating conference had adopted the legally binding Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
  • It limited signatories to not “develop, test, produce, manufacture, otherwise acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive device”. 
  • It also bans any transfer or use of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices.
  • When the treaty was approved by the UN General Assembly in July 2017, more than 120 approved it. 
  • However, none of the nine countries known or believed to possess nuclear weapons — the United States, Russia, Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel — supported it.
  • The 30-nation NATO alliance also didn't support it.

RATIFICATION

  • The treaty received its 50th ratification on Oct. 24.
  • It triggered a 90-day period before its entry into force on Jan. 22. 
  • Honduras became the 50th country to ratify the treaty. 
  • Hence, nuclear weapons will be banned by international law in all these countries.

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