50th country joins historic UN Nuclear Ban Treaty, campaigners celebrate
Honduras was the 50th country to join the UN Nuclear Ban Treaty on Saturday
Honduras was the 50th country to join the UN Nuclear Ban Treaty on Saturday, marking an important milestone in the global campaign to abolish nuclear weapons.
In response, the United Nations announced that the Treaty shall enter into force on 22 January, 2021. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said through a spokesperson:
The Secretary-General commends the States that have ratified the Treaty and salutes the work of civil society, which has been instrumental in facilitating the negotiation and ratification of the Treaty. Entry-into-force is a tribute to the survivors of nuclear explosions and tests, many of whom advocated for this Treaty.
The entry-into-force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is the culmination of a worldwide movement to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons. It represents a meaningful commitment towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons, which remains the highest disarmament priority of the United Nations.