Welcoming First Anniversary of Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty, Secretary-General Says 59 States Have Signed It

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

The Secretary-General welcomes the first anniversary of the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).  The Treaty’s adoption on 7 July 2017 by 122 States demonstrated the strong and legitimate international support that exists for a permanent end to the threat posed by nuclear arms.

To date, 59 States have signed the TPNW and 11 have ratified it.  Once 50 States have ratified the TPNW it will enter into force, becoming an important element of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.

The United Nations remains committed to the total elimination of nuclear weapons as its highest disarmament priority.