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The 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons concluded today without an agreed outcome.
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Talks had been ongoing for the last four weeks with a goal of reaching agreement to bridge divergent views on how to advance the obligations under the Treaty that include nuclear disarmament. These negotiations demonstrated that the global majority of countries reject nuclear weapons and want to see urgent action towards their elimination, a perspective not shared by countries with policies allowing for nuclear weapon use. During the final day of meetings, today, governments did not agree on an outcome document. The conference was mired in friction from the outset. Contentious issues among the states included how to address the humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons; whether or not there exists a norm against nuclear weapons testing; non-proliferation challenges, including regarding Iran and North Korea; how to address nuclear sharing (where countries host nuclear weapons from other states); and whether or not the legal obligation to fully implement the treaty’s article on nuclear disarmament is urgent. ICAN’s United Nations Liaison, Seth Shelden, said “Our key concern has not been whether or not diplomats adopt a piece of paper, but whether or not the NPT member states are reducing risks related to nuclear weapons. The surest path to eliminating the risk is eliminating the weapons, as legally required under the NPT. And the majority of countries are indeed working in good faith for disarmament, including through the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons that they have also joined. But the small handful of nuclear-armed states, and certain of their allies, are undermining the NPT, frustrating disarmament efforts, expanding arsenals and provoking proliferation, and pointing the world toward catastrophe.” The protection of civilians is a cornerstone of international humanitarian law and, as much as the NPT, is binding on the nuclear-weapon states and their allies. It is significant that this week the UN has also been holding its annual meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. The majority of UN members have reiterated during this NPT meeting that the only definitive protection against nuclear weapon-induced catastrophe is nuclear disarmament. ICAN Director of Programmes, Susi Snyder said "Even though no document was adopted this does not mean the NPT has failed. The NPT remains legally binding on nearly all countries in the world who continue to state that it is the cornerstone of global non-proliferation and disarmament upon which to build a nuclear weapons free world. The majority of NPT member states still support the treaty in deeds as well as words, and it is only a small, albeit vocal minority whose actions are truly undermining its foundations.” The majority of NPT member states have also joined the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The TPNW complements the NPT, especially by furthering the NPT Article VI obligation to conclude negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament, by providing a pathway under international law to a verifiable framework for nuclear disarmament. Yet, nuclear-armed states (and some of their pro-nuclear weapons allies) vehemently opposed including even a simple, factual reference to this international legal instrument in the concluding text. Looking ahead, Melissa Parke, ICAN’s Executive Director, said: “The disappointing outcome to this NPT meeting, at a time when nuclear threats are being made and tensions are sky high, has to be a wakeup call for everyone. The countries meeting at the UN this past month demonstrated one thing clearly - the world overwhelmingly does not want nuclear weapons. The majority of states are leaving this NPT conference with their eyes set on how to make that happen at the General Assembly, and the first TPNW Review Conference later this year. We all need to approach these upcoming meetings with determination to get rid of nuclear weapons before it’s too late.” |
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For further information or to request an interview, contact: Alistair Burnett, ICAN Head of Media [email protected] +41 78 238 7179 |