Disarmament in Review
For the second year in a row, the “core group” of States supporting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) convened a signature and ratification ceremony on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
At the ceremony, Botswana, Dominica, Grenada, Lesotho, Saint Kitts and Nevis, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia signed the Treaty; Bangladesh, Kiribati and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic deposited their instruments of ratification. Maldives and Trinidad and Tobago both signed and ratified.
Together with the deposit of Ecuador’s instrument of ratifications on 25 September, the number of ratifying states is now 32 and the number of signatory States to 79. According to article 15 of the Treaty, the TPNW will enter into force 90 days after the fiftieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession has been deposited.
In her remarks at the ceremony, Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs congratulated the States undertaking treaty actions and noted that, in a deteriorating security environment, the goals of the TPNW remained as necessary as ever.
His Excellency Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the General Assembly, Mr. Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Ms. Beatrice Fihn, Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons also made statements.
