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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