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 publics 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 March 7, 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 on Friday, reflecting the international community's commitment to continuing efforts towards a world free of nuclear weapons.The legally binding Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is the first multilateral nuclear disarmament convention to be negotiated in more than two decades when it was adopted on July 7, 2017, and entered into force on Jan. 22, 2021
