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Cambodia
Nuclear-weapon-free state
Has joined the TPNW
SIGNED
9 January 2019 |
RATIFIED
22 January 2021 |
IN FORCE
22 April 2021 |
Status
Cambodia has signed and ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and has been legally bound by it since 22 April 2021.
Signature and ratification
Sovann Ke, the permanent representative of Cambodia to the United Nations, signed the TPNW in New York on 9 January 2019.
Cambodia deposited its instrument of ratification with the UN secretary-general on 22 January 2021, the day of the treaty’s general entry into force. The national assembly and senate unanimously approved the ratification in November 2020.
Cambodia said that its ratification of the TPNW “confirms the country’s commitment to the global nuclear disarmament endeavour”.
Sovann Ke, the permanent representative of Cambodia to the United Nations, signs the TPNW in 2019. Photo: UNOLA
The national assembly of Cambodia unanimously approves a law in 2020 to ratify the TPNW.
National position
Cambodia welcomed the TPNW’s entry into force in 2021 as “substantial progress toward our common objective of total elimination of nuclear weapons”.
In 2023, it said that the TPNW “reinforces the existing legal framework provided by the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) with its explicit objective of prohibiting possession, development, testing, use and threats to use nuclear weapons”.
Implementation
In accordance with Article 2 of the TPNW, Cambodia submitted a declaration to the UN secretary-general on 12 May 2021 confirming that it does not own, possess, or control nuclear weapons, has never done so, and does not host any other state’s nuclear weapons on its territory.
Per Article 12, Cambodia has promoted universal adherence to the TPNW, including by consistently voting in favour of an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2018 that calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty “at the earliest possible date”.
In 2021, Cambodia said that it “strongly support[s] the universalisation of this instrument to achieve the ultimate objective of a nuclear-weapons-free world”.
Meetings of states parties
Cambodia participated in the first meeting of states parties to the TPNW in 2022, which it described as “a very important platform and historic event for reviewing the TPNW”. It welcomed the adoption of a declaration and action plan to “accelerate” progress towards disarmament.
Cambodia also participated in the second meeting of states parties in 2023, where it strongly encouraged all UN member states “to consider joining the TPNW” in order to achieve more rapid progress towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
TPNW negotiations
Cambodia participated in the negotiation of the TPNW at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and was among 122 states that voted in favour of its adoption. It later described the adoption as “an important milestone in [the] nuclear disarmament regime”.
In its opening statement to the negotiating conference, Cambodia stressed that “the ultimate goal of the instrument is to make it become universalised” so that it achieves “our final objective of a world without nuclear weapons”.
In 2016, Cambodia voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence negotiations on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.
Before the negotiations
Cambodia was among 127 states that endorsed a “humanitarian pledge” in 2015–16 to cooperate “in efforts to stigmatise, prohibit, and eliminate nuclear weapons”. The pledge was instrumental in building momentum and support for convening the TPNW negotiations.
Further information
Nuclear-weapon-free state
Has joined the TPNW
[HIGHLIGHTS]
SIGNED
9 January 2019 |
RATIFIED
22 January 2021 |
IN FORCE
22 April 2021 |
Status
Cambodia has signed and ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and has been legally bound by it since 22 April 2021.
Signature and ratification
Sovann Ke, the permanent representative of Cambodia to the United Nations, signed the TPNW in New York on 9 January 2019.
Cambodia deposited its instrument of ratification with the UN secretary-general on 22 January 2021, the day of the treaty’s general entry into force. The national assembly and senate unanimously approved the ratification in November 2020.
Cambodia said that its ratification of the TPNW “confirms the country’s commitment to the global nuclear disarmament endeavour”.
Sovann Ke, the permanent representative of Cambodia to the United Nations, signs the TPNW in 2019. Photo: UNOLA
The national assembly of Cambodia unanimously approves a law in 2020 to ratify the TPNW.
National position
Cambodia welcomed the TPNW’s entry into force in 2021 as “substantial progress toward our common objective of total elimination of nuclear weapons”.
In 2023, it said that the TPNW “reinforces the existing legal framework provided by the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) with its explicit objective of prohibiting possession, development, testing, use and threats to use nuclear weapons”.
Implementation
In accordance with Article 2 of the TPNW, Cambodia submitted a declaration to the UN secretary-general on 12 May 2021 confirming that it does not own, possess, or control nuclear weapons, has never done so, and does not host any other state’s nuclear weapons on its territory.
Per Article 12, Cambodia has promoted universal adherence to the TPNW, including by consistently voting in favour of an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2018 that calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty “at the earliest possible date”.
In 2021, Cambodia said that it “strongly support[s] the universalisation of this instrument to achieve the ultimate objective of a nuclear-weapons-free world”.
Meetings of states parties
Cambodia participated in the first meeting of states parties to the TPNW in 2022, which it described as “a very important platform and historic event for reviewing the TPNW”. It welcomed the adoption of a declaration and action plan to “accelerate” progress towards disarmament.
Cambodia also participated in the second meeting of states parties in 2023, where it strongly encouraged all UN member states “to consider joining the TPNW” in order to achieve more rapid progress towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
TPNW negotiations
Cambodia participated in the negotiation of the TPNW at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and was among 122 states that voted in favour of its adoption. It later described the adoption as “an important milestone in [the] nuclear disarmament regime”.
In its opening statement to the negotiating conference, Cambodia stressed that “the ultimate goal of the instrument is to make it become universalised” so that it achieves “our final objective of a world without nuclear weapons”.
In 2016, Cambodia voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence negotiations on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.
Before the negotiations
Cambodia was among 127 states that endorsed a “humanitarian pledge” in 2015–16 to cooperate “in efforts to stigmatise, prohibit, and eliminate nuclear weapons”. The pledge was instrumental in building momentum and support for convening the TPNW negotiations.
Further information
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