The Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP), India – in unison with anti-nuclear peace movements worldwide, notes with deep satisfaction and heartily welcomes the UN-sponsored Treaty for Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) coming into force on January 22 2021, as a consequence of 50 signatory nations – the last of them being Honduras in last October, ratifying the Treaty, in accord with the terms of the Treaty itself.

It is worth recalling that the TPNW emerged following the creation of a UN working group in 2016. It was supported by 113 countries, with 35 opposing and 13 abstaining.The US, UK, France and Russia were all opposed, as was Israel, which is widely believed to be possessing nuclear weapons. China, India and Pakistan abstained. North Korea too didn’t vote.Countries that have ratified the agreement include Nigeria, Malaysia, Ireland, Malta, Thailand, Mexico, South Africa, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Vietnam and the Vatican City.Last autumn the US made a last-ditch attempt to try to convince/coerce countries to rescind their signatures. It, however, miserably flunked.

The Treaty is, thereby, widely acknowledged as a significant achievement on the part of the global anti-nuclear peace movements and the fruit of sustained campaigning by them, especially the ICAN.The Treaty obligates the member countries to dissociate, in any whichever way, from nuclear weapons – let alone using or stockpiling etc.It would now be a constant reminder to those still sitting out, and the recalcitrant nuclear weapons states in particular, of their, as yet unfulfilled, obligation “to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control” – under the provisions of the NPT.Thereby, the Treaty would be a very useful peg for the global anti-nuclear peace movements to mobilise public opinions all across the planet for attainment of complete abolition of nuclear weapons, without any exception.

The CNDP, on this august occasion, recommits itself to that long and arduous struggle that lies ahead, with redoubled zeal.

Prof. Achin Vanaik 
Lalita Ramdas
Dr. Arun Mitra
Dr. Suvrat Raju
Sukla Sen
23 01 2021