Statement by Michael Møller, Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament, on the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons

In my capacity as Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament, I would like to warmly congratulate the International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) for having been awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

ICAN has been a strong and tireless proponent of nuclear disarmament over the past decade. This Nobel Prize is timely as it comes at a time when nuclear disarmament is again at the forefront of global concerns. It is also a welcome and strong validation of the importance of civil society organisations as key partners in our collective effort to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

I sincerely hope that the attribution of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to ICAN will encourage Members States to renew their commitment to the issues being tackled by the Conference, and in particular the efforts directed at stemming the threat of nuclear build-up and confrontation.

The Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – the first multilateral disarmament treaty in more than 20 years – was adopted in July at the United Nations by 122 Member States. I hope today’s award will see countries ratify the binding treaty as quickly as possible so we can ensure the safety of our planet for current and future generations.