Governments urged to give up nuclear weapons by 2045

Co-President of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) Saber Hossain Chowdhury has appealed to all governments to support and implement the calls to commit to the total elimination of nuclear weapons by 2045.

"As the world prepares to recover from Covid-19 and hit the reset button in charting a sustainable path forward and building back better, we appeal to all governments to support and implement these calls," the ruling Awami League MP said.

Saber Hossain, also honorary president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, was one of two representatives of global civil society to address the high-level plenary meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

He said legislators from around the world are also joining civil society calls on governments to commit to the total elimination of nuclear weapons by 2045, the 100th anniversary of the UN.

"We all have a key role to play and engage with governments to ensure implementation of nuclear disarmament obligations, and in diverting resources from nuclear weapons to positive impacts for the economy, livelihoods and protection of nature," he also said.

UN Member states responded to the high-level plenary meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

The virtual event, convened by the president of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), included heads of government and state, foreign ministers and other delegates to the United Nations.

Saber Hossain said a perfect storm brews in the horizon with the devastating impacts of climate change, disasters and extreme weather events, alarming loss of bio-diversity, looming food insecurity, rising water stress, unprecedented pressure on oceans and unsustainable use of resources.

It can thus be easy to forget that the nuclear arms race and unresolved conflicts between nuclear armed states pose a grave danger to humanity, he said.

He said the elimination of nuclear weapons is a core responsibility of member states of the United Nations, arising from the very first UNGA resolution adopted by consensus on January 24, 1945.

Saber said nuclear disarmament will free up much-needed resources to address human security issues, highlighting the US$ 100 billion per year which is used to maintain, modernise and deploy nuclear weapons.