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"Today, we are putting nuclear weapons in the same category as other unacceptable weapons. Like the conventions prohibiting chemical and biological weapons, landmines and cluster munitions, this treaty bans an entire category of weapons. It strengthens the norm that weapons that cause unacceptable harm for civilians cannot remain legal – and that nuclear weapons are no longer an exception to these norms."
50 states signed the treaty in the first day.
On the occasion of the opening of the signature of the treaty, ICAN’s executive director, Beatrice Fihn released the following statement: “Today, we are putting nuclear weapons in the same category as other unacceptable weapons. Like the conventions prohibiting chemical and biological weapons, landmines and cluster munitions, this treaty bans an entire category of weapons. It strengthens the norm that weapons that cause unacceptable harm for civilians cannot remain legal – and that nuclear weapons are no longer an exception to these norms. We commend the states here today, showing moral leadership in a world that desperately needs it today. The treaty will always be open for all states to join. States that chose to not join this treaty now will always be welcome in the future.”
ICAN Steering Group member and executive committee member of Peace Boat, Akira Kawasaki said, “At the UN this week, many are discussing how to solve the escalating crisis between North Korea and the United States. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is a good way for states to show that threatening to use nuclear weapons and totally destroy whole countries is unacceptable behavior and now also illegal.”
Mr. Hirotsugu Terasaki, the Director General of Peace and Global Issues of ICAN partner organization Soka Gakkai International released the following comment, “Respect for the sanctity of life is at the heart of the Buddish worldview. The continued existence of nuclear weapons is an unacceptable affront to that sanctity. The world’s people have an inviolable right to live, and we are deeply gratified to see that right codified in this Treaty. We will spare no effort in working for universal accession."