Welcoming the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) entering into force on 22 January 2021, over 160 organizations worldwide endorsed a joint interfaith statement coordinated by the Faith Communities Concerned About Nuclear Weapons, which SGI is part of.
The endorsers of the statement congratulate, celebrate and appreciate the countries that have ratified and signed this important Treaty, as well as all who have worked for nuclear disarmament and abolition for many decades. The statement urges that the possession, development and threat to use nuclear weapons is immoral and that there are no safe hands for these weapons. Highlighting the significance of the Treaty, it states:
We rejoice at the possibilities of a new world that this Treaty ushers in. At a time when the world desperately needs fresh hope, the TPNW inspires us to continue to work to fully eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons, and to create conditions for peace, justice, and well-being.
The statement recognizes the legacy of the global hibakusha and invites everyone, especially those in communities of faith, to join in this work for peace, justice, and respect for life. It also urges all States to join the growing community of States which have rejected nuclear weapons and to sign and ratify the TPNW, or work toward that end by joining the First Meeting of the States Parties planned to take place this year. In conclusion, the statement looks ahead to the work that must continue:
At this historic moment, we must act decisively to strengthen the power of the TPNW upon its entry into force, and to work for peace, cooperation, and common security.
