UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sends a message to “end nuclear tests forever” on the occasion of today’s International Day Against Nuclear Tests.

In fact, on behalf of all the victims of the nuclear tests, the UN Secretary General addresses appeal to all countries that have not yet ratified the relevant Treaty to do so immediately, without conditions.

“A legally binding nuclear test ban is a fundamental step in our quest for a world free of nuclear weapons. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, although not yet in force, remains a strong testament to humanity’s will to lift the shadow of nuclear annihilation from our world, once and for all,” he underlines.

Furthermore, Antonio Guterres points out that since 1945, more than 2,000 nuclear tests have caused terrible pain to peoplehave poisoned the air we breathe and destroyed landscapes around the world.

In particular, he emphasizes that this year, “we are facing an alarming increase in global mistrust and division”, adding: “At a time when nearly 13,000 nuclear weapons are stockpiled worldwide – and countries are working to improve their accuracy, range and destructive power – this is a recipe for annihilation.”

Finally, he states that on the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, “the world speaks with one voice to end this destructive legacy”.