H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Ambassador of the Philippines, and H.E. Busadee Santipitaks, Ambassador of Thailand and current Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Canberra, rang the Canberra Peace Bell on 23 January 2021 to mark the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. They are joined by Mr. Michale Rabey of Canberra Rotary. ASEAN Member States are leading efforts in promoting regional security and have invited nuclear weapon states to sign the Protocol to the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty known as the Bangkok Treaty.
25 January 2021, Canberra – H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Australia joined the celebratory ceremony on the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 23 January 2021 at Canberra Peace Bell.
The event was organized by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and the Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW Australia). It was held at Canberra Peace Bell, a pavilion within Canberra Nara Peace Park, built by the Rotary Club of Canberra in partnership with the World Peace Bell Association as a symbol of peace.
Ambassador De La Vega joined diplomatic representatives in Canberra in marking this occasion. The Philippines has a deep commitment to non-proliferation and is a State Party to international treaties on disarmament and is a signatory to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The Philippines continues to promote universal adherence to non-proliferation and considers this Treaty a landmark agreement that fortifies the nuclear disarmament architecture. END
H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, joins Heads of Mission and diplomatic representatives in Canberra and the organizers of the celebratory ceremony on the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 23 January 2021 at Canberra Peace Bell.
