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(1/11) Today, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons enters into force
Pacific Island Nations have been at the forefront of the fight against nuclear weapons; & they have experienced firsthand the disastrous consequences of these weapons for humanity & our environment
Pacific Island Nations have been at the forefront of the fight against nuclear weapons; & they have experienced firsthand the disastrous consequences of these weapons for humanity & our environment
(2/11) “We in the Pacific are all too aware of the cataclysmic effects of nuclear weapons. To this day, some of our people are still suffering the devastating effects of nuclear testing carried out in our region more than 30 years ago.” – Cook Islands PM, Henry Puna
(3/11) “Pacific islanders continue to be exposed to nuclear radiation. Nuclear explosions, we know very well, do not observe national borders, they don’t respect visa regimes, nor does nuclear waste respect time.” - Permanent Representative from Fiji to the UN, Satyendra Prasad
(4/11) “Today, our communities still suffer from the long-term impacts of the tests, experiencing higher rates of cancer, particularly thyroid cancer, due to exposure to radiation.” - Kiribati’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Makurita Baaro
(5/11) As it handed over its ratification, Nauru called upon “other countries to complete all steps for treaty ratification as soon as possible” to bring the world closer to total elimination of nuclear weapons.
(6/11) “Joining the treaty is a logical step for New Zealand given our long-standing policy opposing nuclear weapons.” - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters
(7/11) “Niue shares deep concern at the disastrous humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons & today we are celebrating the significant contributions we have made in bringing an end to the era of nuclear weapons.” - Dalton Tagelagi, Minister of External Affairs of Niue.
(8/11) “We must take seriously the long-term need to ban nuclear weapons… [The treaty is] a sign of what is possible when we are committed to dialogue, solidarity and peaceful cooperation.” – President of Palau, Tommy Esang Remengesau Jr
(9/11) Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuila’epa Sailele Malielegaoi, said that Samoa had signed the treaty because, “we wanted to demonstrate unequivocally our aspiration to have a world without nuclear weapons”.
(10/11) “It is our fervent hope that nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction … are totally banned and prohibited worldwide by the UN.” – Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Enele Sopoaga.
(11/11) When Vanuatu signed the Treaty, the Prime Minister proudly committed to "total nuclear disarmament". Vanuatu came forward straight after independence to express to the world its opposition to the use of nuclear weapons.
