SHARE
PAPER
Observing the 1MSP for governments
The first meeting of states parties (“1MSP”) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which will take place from 21-23 June 2022.
This informal briefing note from ICAN outlines in basic terms what it means for a government to participate as an observer at the first meeting of states parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
March 2022
The United Nations Secretary-General has sent a note verbale to invite all UN Member States to participate at the meeting, which is scheduled for 21 - 23 June 2022. States that have deposited their instrument of ratification or accession 90 days prior to 1MSP will be able to participate as states parties, and thereby entitled to voting and other rights to be determined by the rules of procedure.
Those states that, for whatever reason, are not able or willing to ratify or accede to the treaty in time may choose to observe the 1MSP. The practice of observing a conference of a treaty’s states parties, an organ of a treaty body, or an international institution is common in multilateral intergovernmental affairs.
Observing is important to show support for the principles and objectives of the TPNW, but it is not a substitute for joining the TPNW.
Download the briefing note here.