Saint Kitts and Navis Ratifies to the UN’s Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

By Rashi Jain-

The Caribbean state of Saint Kitts and Navis became 44^th nation to ratify the treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The treaty was adopted on 7^th July 2017 by resolution 71/258 at the conference of UN’s General Assembly. The treaty has 82 signatory parties and 44 states parties including Saint Kitts and Navis.

Saint Kitts and Navis ratified the treaty on 9^th August 2020, to embark on the 75^th anniversary of the Nagasaki Nuclear Bomb attack by the United States. Saint Kitts and Navis ratified the treaty after the UN’s Secretary-general Antonio Guterres at the Nagasaki Peace Memorial ceremony during his speech called upon all the countries to commit to nuclear disarmament.

“Disarmament is a driving force for maintaining international peace and security. It is a tool for ensuring national security. It helps to uphold the principles of humanity, promote sustainable development, and protect civilians. The agenda makes clear that nuclear weapons undermine global, national, and human security. The total elimination of nuclear weapons remains the highest disarmament priority of the United Nations. Here in Nagasaki, I call on all countries to commit to nuclear disarmament and to start making visible progress as a matter of urgency. The nuclear-weapon States have a special responsibility to lead.” – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Mark Brantley, the minister of foreign affairs of Saint Kitts and Nevis, said on the occasion: “The bombing of Nagasaki was the apogee of human cruelty and inhumanity. As a small nation committed to global peace, Saint Kitts Nevis can see no useful purpose for nuclear armaments in today’s world. May all nations work towards peace and mutual respect for all mankind.”

As the anniversary of bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was impending, the survivors of the bombing, otherwise called ‘hibakusha’, appealed to the leader of the world to ratify to the nuclear ban treaty.

Ratification by Saint Kitts and Navis follows ratification by Nigeria, Island, and Niue on 6^th August to commemorate the anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima.

It is mentioned in Article 15 of the treaty that it will come into force 90 days after once 50 countries have ratified or acceded to the treaty. With the ratification of Saint Kitts and Navis as the 44^th state party, there are only 6 more ratification needed or the enforcement of the treaty.