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Of: TT
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Photo: FRT / AP / TT
North Korea displayed its robots in a parade in early October.
An international UN agreement banning nuclear weapons could enter into force in 90 days, after 50 countries have ratified it.
The 50th country became Honduras, and UN Secretary General António Guterres calls the agreement “the culmination of a global movement that draws attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons,” and continues:
“It represents a significant commitment to the total elimination of nuclear weapons, which remains the UN’s top disarmament priority.”
Nuclear-weapon nations have not signed the deal, but despite this, activists hope it has more than symbolic meaning and that it will have a phase-out effect in the long run.
“A victory for humanity and the promise of a more secure future,” said Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Many countries signed the agreement in August, when the 75th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings was highlighted. These include Nigeria, Malaysia, Ireland, and Malta.
Countries that have previously signed include South Africa, Vietnam, Thailand and New Zealand.
The agreement was adopted by the UN General Assembly in July 2017 after 122 countries said yes. Since then, 84 states have signed it, but not all have ratified it.
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