Global Abolition

A world without nuclear weapons

The United Nations adopted a historic international treaty banning nuclear weapons in 2017. 122 countries voted in favour.

The new treaty will make it illegal under international law to develop, test, produce, manufacture, acquire, possess, stockpile, transfer, use or threaten to use nuclear weapons. It also makes it illegal to assist or encourage anyone to engage in these activities. It is currently open for signature. But the UK government refused to participate and even issued a statement attacking the treaty.

115 countries are already part of nuclear weapons-free zones which cover Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the South Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa. Nine countries have nuclear weapons. Almost 200 do not.