Entry into Force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

The Simons Foundation Canada congratulates participating States, the United Nations, ICAN, the International Red Cross and all fellow nuclear abolitionists for their success in achieving the Entry into Force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).   Entry into Force will occur in 90 days following the recent 50th ratification of the Treaty and be legally binding on all states that join the Treaty.   This is an essential and long overdue first step to the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

The TPNW complements and is fully compatible with the NPT and is a more than welcome addition to existing International Law, reinforcing the 1996 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice and International Humanitarian Law.

The Treaty does not eliminate existing arsenals, nor does it eliminate or reduce the dangers that nuclear weapons pose today, that is, the dangers of accidental, mistaken or deliberate launch of the 2,000 weapons on high-alert status. The TPNW also lacks verification and transparency measures.  Moreover, the Treaty has been repudiated by the nuclear weapons states and the United States is exerting pressure on states to withdraw their ratifications.  So the work for the safety of the world’s people from the catastrophic consequences of a nuclear war will continue until these weapons are eliminated.
 
The Simons Foundation Canada, which has actively worked and promoted the elimination of nuclear weapons since it was established in 1985, encourages the Government of Canada to join the Treaty of the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Jennifer Allen Simons, C.M., Ph.D., LL.D.
Founder and President
The Simons Foundation Canada
October 26, 2020