UN calls on states to take decisive action to support nuclear weapons ban treaty
New York: UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu affirmed that the dramatically evolving geopolitical tensions amid the dangerous nuclear rhetoric and threats are a stark wake-up call for States to take action to support the legally binding Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
During the third meeting of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons held at the UN Headquarters in New York, Nakamitsu expressed concern that the current unpredictable situations may exacerbate the public's fear and would increase belief in the "false narrative" that nuclear weapons are "the ultimate provider of security".
She explained that there are reasons for hope in the face of this challenging outlook, referring to what she described as "the growing global recognition of the devastating impact of those weapons." The UN official said that the growing membership of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons also gives more hope.
To date, 73 States have ratified or acceded to the treaty and 94 have signed it, Nakamitsu added.
The meeting, which continues until 7 March 2025, discusses the catastrophic risks for humanity of nuclear conflict and its devastating humanitarian consequences of serious environmental remediation. The meeting's agenda also focuses on preparing for the first review conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and discussing ways to strengthen the agreement and ensure its effective implementation.
The participating States are scheduled to adopt a political declaration before the meeting concludes this Friday, reflecting the international community's commitment to continuing efforts towards a world free of nuclear weapons.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times of Oman
21 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Oman participates in UNICEF session in New York
New York: The Sultanate of Oman took part in the activities of the annual session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The session will run until 13 June 2025 at the UN headquarters in New York. In its opening statement during the session, the Sultanate of Oman affirmed the strength of its existing cooperation and partnership with the UNICEF. The speech highlighted national efforts to promote children's rights and underscored Oman's strong commitment to protect children's rights and make childcare a core component of its national policies. It also lauded the vital role undertaken by UNICEF at all levels, notably in crisis circumstances. Oman also contributed to the preparation of a joint statement (on behalf of 30 countries under the humanitarian action item) that voices deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation of children in the Gaza Strip. The statement calls for immediate and comprehensive protection for the Palestinian children and demands unhindered access to humanitarian aid. Oman also presented a statement (under the item on protecting children from exploitation and abuse) in which it hailed the UNICEF's efforts in this regard. In its statement, Oman stressed the importance of maintaining constant international coordination to protect children from all forms of violence and exploitation. It laid emphasis on consolidating the capacities of national systems of monitoring, reporting and protection. Oman's participation in the UNICEF session stems from its commitment to the principles of international cooperation. It reflects steadfast support for humanitarian initiatives that enhance the protection and dignity of children around the world.
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
UN experts accuse Israel of 'extermination' in Gaza attacks
GENEVA: An independent United Nations commission said on Tuesday Israeli attacks on schools, religious and cultural sites in Gaza amount to war crimes and the crime against humanity of seeking to exterminate Palestinians. "Israel has obliterated Gaza's education system and destroyed over half of all religious and cultural sites in the Gaza Strip," the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory said in a report. It accused Israeli forces of committing "war crimes, including directing attacks against civilians and wilful killing, in their attacks on educational facilities that caused civilian casualties. "In killing civilians sheltering in schools and religious sites, Israeli security forces committed the crime against humanity of extermination," the report said. It noted: "While the destruction of cultural property, including educational facilities, was not in itself a genocidal act, evidence of such conduct may nevertheless infer genocidal intent to destroy a protected group." Commission chair Navi Pillay said in a statement accompanying the report: "We are seeing more and more indications that Israel is carrying out a concerted campaign to obliterate Palestinian life in Gaza." "Children in Gaza have lost their childhood," the senior South African judge said. "They are forced to worry about survival amid attacks, uncertainty, starvation and subhuman living conditions." The three-member commission said Israeli attacks "targeted religious sites that served as places of refuge, killing hundreds of people, including women and children". The commission was set up by the UN to investigate violations of humanitarian and human rights law in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories. In May, UN humanitarian relief chief Tom Fletcher urged the countries of the UN Security Council to take action "to prevent genocide" in Gaza. Israel has denied committing genocide. The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs demanded that Israel lift its aid blockade on Gaza, where the UN says the entire population of more than two million people is at risk of famine. "For those killed and those whose voices are silenced: what more evidence do you need now?" Fletcher said on May 14. "Will you act — decisively — to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law?" The UN commission's report paid special attention to Gaza but also focused on Israeli attacks on civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories as a whole, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel itself. It said Israel had "done little" to prevent or prosecute Jewish settlers in the West Bank who "intentionally targeted educational facilities and students to terrorise (Palestinian) communities and force them to leave their homes". The report said Israeli authorities had intimidated and, in some cases, detained Israeli and Palestinian teachers and students who "expressed concern or solidarity with the civilian population in Gaza". The panel urged the Israeli government to stop attacking cultural, religious and education institutions, "immediately end its unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory" and cease all settlement activity. It said the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should comply fully with provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice. The court has ordered Israel "to prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide against people in Gaza" and allow humanitarian aid to get through. It also urged Hamas, the Islamist militant group that runs Gaza, "to cease using civilian objects for military purposes". The commission is to present its findings to the UN Commission on Human Rights on June 17. Meanwhile, more than 300 civil servants at Britain's foreign ministry have written to Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressing concerns about Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza, the BBC reported on Tuesday. The officials warned of potential UK "complicity" in what they called "Israel's violations of international humanitarian law" during the conflict in the Palestinian territory. The letter dated May 16 questioned the continuation of some UK arms sales to the country, according to the broadcaster. — AFP
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
UK sanctions two Israeli ministers as it ramps up pressure over Gaza
London: Two Israeli government ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, have been sanctioned by the United Kingdom because of their comments on Gaza. Ben-Gvir, the security minister in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government, and Smotrich, the finance minister,will both face a travel ban and see their assets frozen. The move comes as the UK and other Western nations seek to ramp up pressure on Israel's government amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said it was "outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures." He added: "I discussed it earlier today with PM Netanyahu and we will hold a special government meeting early next week to decide on our response to this unacceptable decision." Smotrich and Ben-Gvir both belong to right wing parties which help to prop up Netanyahu's fragile coalition government. Both have been criticized for their hardline stance on the war in Gaza. Smotrich has campaigned against allowing aid into Gaza, while Ben-Gvir has called for Gaza's people to be resettled from the territory. The UK and its allies have increased pressure on Israel in recent months amid ongoing aid shortages in Gaza, as well as suggestions it could launch a new large-scale offensive into the territory. Reports suggest only scarce amounts of aid are making their way into the hands of Gazans, amid a new aid initiative backed by the US and Israel, instead of the previous UN-run programme. The slow flow of food and medicines has prompted warnings of famine and starvation among the territory's population. In May, Foreign Secretary David Lammy paused negotiations towards a UK trade deal with Israel as the government called on Israel to abandon its planned offensive into Gaza. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canada's Mark Carney also wrote a joint statement last month warning that Israel's leaders risked "breaching International Humanitarian Law," and calling for more aid to be allowed into Gaza. Netanyahu responded by claiming the three leaders were on the "wrong side" of history. In September last year, the UK government halted 30 out of around 350 arms sales licences to Israel, for fear they may be used for war crimes. Ministers insist that this means F-35 fighter jets used by Israel no longer receive replacement parts from the UK, and no UK-made bombs or ammunition are used in Gaza. Former prime minister David Cameron has previously said he considered sanctioning both Israeli ministers in his final days as foreign secretary in Rishi Sunak's Conservative government.
