On 13 January, the Arnhem city council voted in support of a resolution calling on the Dutch government to join the UN Treaty on the Prohibition on Nuclear Weapons.
The motion was put forward by Leo de Groot (Partij voor de Dieren) and Marie Jose Navis (Groenlinks). The motion recognised that the only answer to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons is to completely ban and eliminate them.
Noting that in August 1945, 75 years ago, atomic bombs completely destroyed two cities- Hiroshima and Nagasaki, creating hundreds of thousands of victims. The motion recognises that ICAN and Mayors for peace have appealed to cities and municipalities across the globe to work for the end of nuclear weapons.
We believe our residents have the right to live in a world without this threat. Any use of nuclear weapons, deliberately or accidentally, could be catastrophic, widespread and long-lasting affect both people and the environment. That’s why we welcome the UN Nuclear Weapons Ban adopted by the United Nations in 2017 and we call on our government to sign and ratify this Treaty as soon as possible ratify.
Unofficial translation
The motion calls on the Dutch government to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the text of the motion will be sent by the Arnhem City council to the Dutch Foreign Minister.
Read the full motion here (in Dutch).