More than 75 years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the treaty banning these weapons of mass destruction under international law has finally entered into force.

The TPNW is the first globally applicable treaty that categorically prohibits these weapons and puts in place a framework for verifiably and irreversibly eliminating nuclear weapons, and for assisting the victims of their use and testing.

The TPNW's entry into force strengthens the global taboo against the use and possession of nuclear weapons, rejecting the notion that these weapons are acceptable for some.

Even countries that were initially reluctant to come on board will feel the pressure from peers, parliamentarians and citizens alike to join the treaty and get on the right side of history. Find out how your country is doing. 

Weapons that are banned by treaties quickly lose their legitimacy and get cut off from the resources for their production. For arms companies it's more difficult to acquire funds for work on illegal weapons, and such work carries a considerable reputational risk to investors like banks, insurers and pension funds. 

It's also becomes more controversial for the universities, scientists and companies providing the knowledge to aid the production, modernisation and deployment of nuclear weapons.