UNITED NATIONS: A global treaty banning nuclear weapons is set to be adopted at the United Nations on Friday despite opposition from the United States, Britain, France and other nuclear powers that boycotted negotiations. Advocates hope it will increase pressure on nuclear states to take disarmament more seriously. The decades-old NPT seeks to prevent the spread of atomic weapons but also puts the onus on nuclear states to reduce their stockpiles. Disarmament campaigners say the treaty will go a long way in increasing the stigma associated with nuclear weapons and will have an impact on public opinion. “It stops states with nuclear weapons from being able to hide behind the idea that they are not illegal.”“This is really about removing the prestige from nuclear weapons,” said Beatrice Fihn, director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

Source: Manila Times July 07, 2017 01:18 UTC