Winner of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, Beatrice Fihn, told newsmen at a press conference in New York that the United Nations will continue in its effort to eliminate nuclear weapons, and urged nations to embrace the organization’s Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Image shows Beatrice Finn (center) at the UN event in New York.
Speaking at the UN event, Beatrice, an Executive Director of ICAN, described the day as a memorable one which offers a great opportunity specially recognize some new generation campaigners who, in his explanation, are people who grew up after the Cold War and don’t understand why we still have weapons of mass destruction.
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) most remarkably sympathized with all surviving victims of the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The Hibashuka, a Japanese word for those survivors, was adopted as a treaty to honor and ensure that UN’s July treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons achieves its main objectives.
Adopted on 7 July at a UN conference in New York, the Treaty is the first multilateral legally-binding instrument for nuclear disarmament in two decades.
Tim Wright, another ICAN executive who serves as its Director (Asia-Pacific) expressed hopes that the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons has kindled new hopes for mankind. He described an ideal society as one without nuclear weapons.
‘We will be busy for a few weeks after this event,’ said the Nobel Prize Winner, ‘to lobby governments on the new treaty.
‘We need them to sign, endorse and adhere to it.’
In her emotional speech, Beatrice, a Swedish jurist since 2014, quoted Setsuko Thurlow, a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bomb.
‘7th of July marks the beginning of the end for nuclear weapons,’ she said.
Most speakers at the UN event made reference to North Korea’s nuclear weapons acquisition, and highlighted the dangers it posed to world peace. Discussions were also focused on Iran’s nuclear programme and the proposed Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
‘I suggest that we, more importantly, emphasize on the urgent need for us to agree and work together with a single purpose on the matter,’ said Ray Acheson at the press conference sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Austria to the United Nations.
Ray, a member of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, an ICAN member organization, advised countries to embrace diplomacy as the only tool for dialogue, peace and cooperation.
‘It is even more necessary at this time of our lives considering the rising tensions in many parts of the world,’ she added.
All governments, members of the civil society and the United Nations are required to play a part towards realizing the Treaty.
