Initiative To Sign Switzerland Up To UN Nuclear Arms Ban Treaty Submitted

2025-12-23 02:09:17

(MENAFN- Swissinfo) Citizens will decide whether Switzerland will join the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). A citizens' committee submitted more than 135,000 signatures to the Federal Chancellery in Bern on Tuesday. This content was published on December 23, 2025 - 13:22 3 minutes Keystone-SDA

Français fr Initiative populaire pour l'interdiction des armes nucléaires Original Read more: Initiative populaire pour l'interdiction des armes nuclé

The TPNW came into force in 2021 and bans nuclear weapons under international law. It closes a loophole in international humanitarian law: nuclear weapons are now explicitly prohibited like other weapons of mass destruction.

+Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox

Switzerland took part in the negotiation of the treaty, supported its adoption at the UN in 2017, and Parliament called on the government to accede to it in 2018. Despite this, the governing Federal Council is against Switzerland joining.
Security at stake
According to Annette Wildi, a member of the Swiss Alliance for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the TPNW is the most appropriate instrument for guaranteeing long-term security.

The treaty corresponds to the fundamental principles of Swiss foreign policy and would strengthen the government's credibility in the field of humanitarian diplomacy. This initiative shows that support for a ban on nuclear weapons is widespread among the population.
More More Explainer: What would a nuclear war look like?
This content was published on Mar 8, 2022 Nuclear weapons have evolved a lot since the Second World War. Today, a nuclear conflict would have devastating effects, not only for Ukraine.
Read more: Explainer: What would a nuclear war look

MENAFN23122025000210011054ID1110518409

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.