![FOSDA applauds draft treaty to ban nuclear weapons](http://ghheadlines.com/images/default.png)
By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, May 31, GNA - The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) has applauded the release of a draft treaty to ban nuclear weapons by the United Nations-backed panel.
The draft treaty, which was released on May 22, seeks to ban the possession and use of all nuclear weapons.
A statement issued by FOSDSA and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday said: ‘This is as an essential milestone in the year-long effort to ban these indiscriminate weapons of mass destruction and an important step towards their eventual elimination".
It said the Foundation was convinced that “The draft language is strong and categorically prohibits nuclear weapons.
"It captures the key elements agreed upon during the first negotiations March and provides a good basis for adopting a treaty by July 7.”
The statement said FOSDA was particularly happy the text was rooted in humanitarian principles and that it built on previous prohibitions of unacceptable weapons, such as biological and chemical weapons, landmines and cluster munitions.
It recalled that the UN commenced negotiations for a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons in March 2017.
The statement noted that with the draft treaty out, countries now face the task of finalising the treaty at the second negotiation session, which begins June 15 and ends July 7.
It said over 130 countries, including Ghana, participated in the March 2017 negotiation session, whilst about 40 states, mostly Nuclear Weapons declined to participate in the proceedings and states and advocates for media ban base their support on the humanitarian cost of nuclear weapons use and the threat it posed to every country.
"Most also compared a nuclear weapons ban to previous bans on chemical and biological weapons, landmines, and cluster munitions, which have had significant impact and changed international behaviour," it said.
"The Government of Ghana has been supportive of the process to ban Nuclear weapons and has participated in several conferences to that effect. It voted Yes in the UN resolution to begin this ban negotiation."
The statement said FOSDA insisted that Nuclear weapons were ethically unacceptable in the 21st century; intended to indiscriminately kill civilians, this 1940s technology is putting countless of lives at risk every day.
"Their continued existence undermines the moral credibility of every country which relies on them," it said.
"A treaty to ban them, as a first step towards their elimination, will have real and lasting impact," it stated.
FOSDA is a Ghanaian NGO working to promote a safer world and is a member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), global campaign coalition working to mobilise people in all countries to inspire, persuade and pressurise their governments to prohibit nuclear weapons.
GNA
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