Dominica

Nuclear-weapon-free state

Has joined the TPNW

SIGNED

RATIFIED

IN FORCE

SIGNED

26 September 2019

RATIFIED

18 October 2019

IN FORCE

22 January 2021

Status

Dominica has signed and ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). It was among the original 50 states parties to the treaty when it entered into force on 22 January 2021.

Signature and ratification

Francine Baron, the then-minister of foreign affairs of Dominica, signed the TPNW at a high-level ceremony in New York on 26 September 2019.

Dominica deposited its instrument of ratification with the UN secretary-general on 18 October 2019, becoming the 33rd state to ratify or accede to the treaty.

Francine Baron, the then-minister of foreign affairs of Dominica, signs the TPNW in 2019. Photo: ICAN

Implementation

In accordance with Article 2 of the TPNW, Dominica submitted a declaration to the UN secretary-general on 26 April 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.

As required by Article 3, Dominica has a comprehensive safeguards agreement in force with the International Atomic Energy Agency to guard against the misuse of nuclear facilities and materials.

Per Article 12, Dominica has promoted universal adherence to the TPNW, including by 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”.

Meetings of states parties

Dominica participated in the third meeting of states parties in 2025.

TPNW negotiations

Dominica did not formally participate in the negotiation of the TPNW at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and thus did not vote on its adoption.

In 2016, Dominica voted in the first committee of the UN General Assembly in favour of a draft resolution that ultimately 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

Dominica 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 Weapons Ban Monitor