
The ITUC-AP joins the celebrations for the TPNW which enters into force today.
22 January 2021
The
UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) which enters into force
today. The International Trade Union Confederation –
Asia Pacific (ITUC-AP) congratulates the entry into force of the treaty, as a
result of global campaigns staged by Hibakusha (the
victims of the use of nuclear weapons), along with citizens all over the world
organised by international non-governmental groups. Shoya Yoshida, the General
Secretary of the ITUC-AP, hopes that this will be a major step towards the
total elimination of nuclear weapons.
It is of great concern that Asia and the
Pacific is the only region in which annual growth of military expenditure has
been continuous since 1989, and the growth of 51 per cent over the decade
2010-19 is by far the largest of any region. Shoya Yoshida said: “If
each of the countries had allocated part of their military expenditure to a
policy to secure universal access to social protection and adequate living
wages, the lives of more people could have been saved during the current
COVID-19 pandemic.” ITUC-AP calls for reductions in military spending as well
as the conversion of military industries into civil and sustainable industries
to revitalise public services and public investment, and create decent jobs.