UN calls for stronger controls over nuclear weapons amid rising threats

Faced with rising global tensions and a greater nuclear threat, humanity needs to invest in the tools of peace rather than war, UN secretary-general's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

"The secretary-general stressed that humanity's future depends on investing in a machinery of peace and not the machinery of war. Yet, he warned the global tensions are increasing. The nuclear threat is rising. Guardrails are eroding. The secretary-general urged leaders to strengthen the systems and tools that prevent the proliferation, prevent the testing, and prevent, of course, the use of deadly weapons," the spokesman told reporters, as he relayed a statement from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the occasion of the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness.

Guterres also called for concerted efforts in meeting the disarmament commitments contained in the recently adopted Pact for the Future, according to the spokesman. Building confidence among countries and respect for international law remain key challenges, Dujarric said.

5 March marks the 55th anniversary of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Developed by a UN committee, this international agreement is aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and reducing the risk of a conflict where such weapons could be employed.

The NPT was endorsed on 12 June 1968 and opened for signature on 1 July 1968 in London, Moscow and Washington, with the UK, the Soviet Union and the US being the depositary nations. The treaty entered into force in on 5 March 1970, after 40 countries submitted their instruments of ratification. A total of 191 states have joined the treaty as of this time.