The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, was approved by 122 countries this Friday in the United Nations conference taking place in New York; however, the opposition of the nuclear-armed countries has given the treaty a “symbolic” character.

The text presented by Elayne G. Whyte, Costa Rica’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Switzerland and chairwoman of the conference stated that “this is a historic moment for the international community, the world has been waiting for this legal norm for 70 years”.

The treaty obligates “all State Parties to the prohibition of nuclear weapons possession, development, production, transfer, use, and testing, and of assisting any other state with the same. It also prohibits States Parties from stationing another nation’s nuclear weapons on their territory”.

The treaty was approved with 122 votes in favor, 1 against (Neatherlands) and 1 abstention (Singapore), it will be open for signature starting September 20 during the annual General Assembly and it would be enforced with the ratification of 50 countries. The 9 nations that currently hold nuclear weapons didn’t participate in the negotiations: United States, Russia, Great Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel which consider the treaty as unrealistic and have mentioned it will not have any effect in the reduction of the existing nuclear armament.

The United States, Britain and France released a joint statement after the treaty was adopted in which they make their position clear “We do not intend to sign, ratify or ever become party to it; a purported ban on nuclear weapons that does not address the security concerns that continue to make nuclear deterrence necessary cannot result in the elimination of a single nuclear weapon and will not enhance any country’s security, nor international peace and security”.

However, this does not concern the other nations, which have made clear that they wish to make the position of the rest of the nations’ heard, and to increase public pressure. The treaty is considered to have coercive power.

Manuel González, Costa Rica’s Foreign Relations Minister, the support that the Treaty had makes it a lot more than just a “symbolic” text, like the “nuclear-nations” have been trying to make it appear; “as long as the majority of the international community approves it, it gives the countries legal grounds to speak up, not just about an aspiration, but about something concrete and it provides the civil society with the support to take a stance. Maybe today the actions are seen as symbolic, but they will have an impact in the future”.