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Namibia
Nuclear-weapon-free state
Has joined the TPNW
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SIGNED
8 December 2017 |
RATIFIED
20 March 2020 |
IN FORCE
22 January 2021 |
Status
Namibia 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
Neville Gertze, the permanent representative of Namibia to the United Nations, signed the TPNW in New York on 8 December 2017. Namibia deposited its instrument of ratification with the UN secretary-general on 20 March 2020.
Gertze said that he hoped that Namibia’s ratification would “encourage more [UN] member states to come on board, that we can in this way make our contribution towards a world that is much safer, and that we can do away with these illegal weapons”.
Namibia was the 36th state to ratify or accede to the TPNW.
Neville Gertze, the permanent representative of Namibia to the United Nations, signs the TPNW in 2017. Photo: UNOLA
National position
In 2021, Namibia welcomed the TPNW’s entry into force as “a big leap towards the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons”.
In 2022, it said that it felt encouraged by the progress in the treaty’s implementation: “The TPNW remains a major step towards a world free of nuclear weapons and, if we are genuine in our pursuit towards disarmament, we have a collective responsibility to ensure its universalisation.”
Implementation
In accordance with Article 2 of the TPNW, Namibia submitted a declaration to the UN secretary-general on 21 February 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, Namibia has promoted universal adherence to the TPNW, including by co-sponsoring and 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”.
Namibia has also utilised the UN Human Rights Council’s universal periodic review process to encourage other states to join the TPNW.
Gertze chairs a meeting in New York in 2022 to promote universalisation of the TPNW in Africa.
Meetings of states parties
Namibia participated in the first meeting of states parties to the TPNW, held in Vienna in June 2022. “We must acknowledge that any use of nuclear weapons has devastating humanitarian consequences, and that these weapons continue to be an existential risk to humanity,” it said.
TPNW negotiations
Namibia 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.
In 2016, Namibia co-sponsored 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
Namibia 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]
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|
|
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SIGNED
8 December 2017 |
RATIFIED
20 March 2020 |
IN FORCE
22 January 2021 |
Status
Namibia 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
Neville Gertze, the permanent representative of Namibia to the United Nations, signed the TPNW in New York on 8 December 2017. Namibia deposited its instrument of ratification with the UN secretary-general on 20 March 2020.
Gertze said that he hoped that Namibia’s ratification would “encourage more [UN] member states to come on board, that we can in this way make our contribution towards a world that is much safer, and that we can do away with these illegal weapons”.
Namibia was the 36th state to ratify or accede to the TPNW.
Neville Gertze, the permanent representative of Namibia to the United Nations, signs the TPNW in 2017. Photo: UNOLA
National position
In 2021, Namibia welcomed the TPNW’s entry into force as “a big leap towards the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons”.
In 2022, it said that it felt encouraged by the progress in the treaty’s implementation: “The TPNW remains a major step towards a world free of nuclear weapons and, if we are genuine in our pursuit towards disarmament, we have a collective responsibility to ensure its universalisation.”
Implementation
In accordance with Article 2 of the TPNW, Namibia submitted a declaration to the UN secretary-general on 21 February 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, Namibia has promoted universal adherence to the TPNW, including by co-sponsoring and 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”.
Namibia has also utilised the UN Human Rights Council’s universal periodic review process to encourage other states to join the TPNW.
Gertze chairs a meeting in New York in 2022 to promote universalisation of the TPNW in Africa.
Meetings of states parties
Namibia participated in the first meeting of states parties to the TPNW, held in Vienna in June 2022. “We must acknowledge that any use of nuclear weapons has devastating humanitarian consequences, and that these weapons continue to be an existential risk to humanity,” it said.
TPNW negotiations
Namibia 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.
In 2016, Namibia co-sponsored 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
Namibia 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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