Global Majority of State Parties Now Signed onto the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)

On September 26^th, 2025, during the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, the Republic of Ghana ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and the Country of Kyrgyzstan signed on.  With these actions, a global majority of countries have signed onto the United Nations nuclear weapons ban treaty.  A total of 99 out of the 197 eligible states have taken legal action – 74 have ratified and 25 have signed.  Such action sends a strong message to the nuclear-armed states and their allies that they are now the minority and irresponsible actors threatening global security.  https://www.icanw.org/global_majority_now_signed_onto_nuclear_ban_treaty

The United Nations adopted the treaty eight years ago.  It came into force on January 22, 2021 and its influence grows every day as people recognize the threat of nuclear weapons. The treaty prohibits the development, testing, production, acquisition, possession, stockpiling, transferring, stationing, and use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.

The TPNW also provides that states parties assist individuals and communities that have been affected by the testing or use of nuclear weapons and engage in environmental remediation in areas where the testing or use of nuclear weapons has resulted in contamination.  https://www.icanw.org/the_treaty

CCNS is grateful for the leadership, perseverance and global coordination of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, or ICAN.

Many others acknowledge its work.  On December 10, 2017, ICAN was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its work “to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons” and the “ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons.”  https://www.icanw.org/nobel_prize

In response to the news that a global majority of states have joined the treaty, ICAN’s Executive Director, Melissa Parke, welcomed the news.  She said, “I warmly congratulate Kyrgyzstan and Ghana on their actions today. The TPNW is the best way to ensure real security from the existential threat nuclear weapons pose to the future of humanity, because as long as they exist, nuclear weapons are bound to be used, intentionally or by accident.”

She continued, “The nuclear-armed countries and their allies that endorse the use of nuclear weapons are a distinct minority and they have no right to continue to threaten the future of the rest of the world.  The TPNW is the pathway under international law to the fair and verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons so these nine countries have no excuse to continue to defy the majority here at the [United Nations].”

1. Friday, October 3^rd from noon to 1 pm – Join us at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval for the weekly one-hour peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament and against expanded plutonium pit production at LANL. Join with Veterans for Peace, CCNS, Nuclear Watch NM, Loretto Community, New Mexico Peace Fest, Pax Christi and others. Bring your flags, signs and banners in support of nuclear weapons disarmament and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

2. Friday, October 3^rd – New Mexico Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee hybrid meeting from Las Cruces. The agenda will be posted when available:  https://www.nmlegis.gov/Committee/Interim_Committee?CommitteeCode=RHMC

3. Saturday, October 4 to Saturday, October 11 – Keep Space for Peace Week – Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. This year could be one of the most important times ever since the 1992 founding of the Global Network, especially with Trump’s recent declaration for the “Golden Dome” over North America.  It is time to resist this boondoggle scheme.  Projected Congressional costs:  $550 billion to trillions over 20 years.  https://space4peace.org/keep-space-for-peace-week/   

4. Tuesday, October 14^th – Public comment period ends for the NMED’s draft amendments to the NM Standards for Interstate and Intrastate Surface Waters, 20.6.4 New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC), which is also named the “2026 Triennial Review,” an administrative process run by the NMED Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB),

 In accordance with Section 303(c)(1) of the CWA and 20.6.4.10 NMAC, States are required to hold public hearings at least once every three years to review, amend, and adopt water quality standards, as applicable. This is referred to as a “Triennial Review.” Pursuant to Section 74-6-4(F) of the WQA, the Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) delegated NMED the responsibility for organizing and proposing amendments to the state’s surface water quality standards. NMED is initiating the 2026 Triennial Review process by providing NMED’s draft amendments to the public for comment.  For more information:  https://www.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/2026-triennial-review/   You may also sign up for the Surface Water Quality Bureau’s email list at: https://www.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality and click on the “Subscribe to SWQB News” button on the bottom of the home page.

5. Saturday, October 18^th – No Kings Day – the next nationwide day of protest and resistance.

6. Saturday, October 18^th from 8 am to 2 pm – with the gate closing and the event ending at 3:30 pm – Trinity Site Open House. Entry only through the Stallion Gate located off U.S. Highway 380.  https://home.army.mil/wsmr/contact/public-affairs-office/trinity-site-open-house

7. Thursday, October 23^rd – Public comment period ends for the draft Decommissioning Plan Thermo-Eberline Facility on Airport Road, Santa Fe. For more information, scroll down to the bottom of this page:https://www.env.nm.gov/rcb/public-notices-of-radioactive-materials-licensing-actions-and-rulemakings/  

8. Tuesday, October 28^th – Public comment period ends for the draft NM Environment Department amendments to the NM Standards for Ground and Surface Water Protection at 20.6.2 NMAC and the new NM draft regulations known as the New Mexico Pollutant Discharge Elimination System(NMPDES) at 20.6.5 NMAC.

For more information:  https://www.env.nm.gov/events-calendar/?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D189342697

9. Thursday, November 13^th and Friday, November 14^th – International Uranium Film Festival at the Navajo National Museum in Window Rock. For more information, visit: https://uraniumfilmfestival.org/

Tags: 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, Country of Kyrgyzstan, ICAN, ICAN Executive Director, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Melissa Parke, Republic of Ghana, TPNW, Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, United Nations General Assembly