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National Assembly

National Assembly approves motion to ratify treaty towards eliminating nuclear weapons |01 July 2021

The National Assembly yesterday voted in favour of the ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which was adopted on July 7, 2017 by the United Nations conference.

The motion, proposed by the leader of government business Bernard Georges, is in the country’s interest, he said, as the Treaty is the first legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination.

“Therefore, you could say we are surrounded by nuclear powers. It is important therefore that Seychelles shows that it is siding with the countries who wish to eliminate nuclear weapons. Because when two countries go into a nuclear war, or when one sets off a nuclear bomb, it is the whole planet that is affected,” Hon. Georges noted.

Chair of the International Affairs Committee of the assembly, Waven William, detailed the obligations of the TPNW, which prohibits states parties from developing, testing, producing, manufacturing, acquiring, possessing, or stockpiling nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

Signatories to the treaty are barred from transferring or receiving nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices, control over such weapons, or any assistance with activities prohibited under the Treaty. States are also prohibited from using or threatening to use nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices. Lastly, States Parties cannot allow the stationing, installation, or deployment of nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices in their territory. In addition to the Treaty’s prohibitions, States Parties are obligated to provide victim assistance and help with environmental remediation efforts.

The motion was approved by 27 votes in favour, without much debate.

The National Assembly resumes next Tuesday at 9am.

 

Laura Pillay

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