27 October was a truly historic day. We voted in the European parliament calling on all UN member states to support the UN general assembly resolution on nuclear security and non-proliferation. This landmark resolution, which would trigger a new treaty banning all nuclear weapons, was adopted with a large majority by the UN general assembly that same day.
International negotiations are set to start in March 2017 with a conference to discuss a ‘legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination’. After a long period of stalemate, we can only hope that this marks a shift towards nuclear disarmament. Nuclear weapons are the only weapons of mass destruction not banned universally. There are over 15,000 nuclear weapons in the world in the hands of very few countries. Following this momentous step forward, we have to increase pressure on the UK government not to renew Trident and to join with countries around the world in scrapping nuclear weapons. Outside the EU, the UK wants its own voice in the world. We have to make sure it is a voice for peace and disarmament – not re-armament.
Topics: Nuclear weapons
See more of: Wales