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Article 12 Informal Working Group Meetings
13 May
Austria, South Africa, and ICAN co-organised a side-event on the margins of the eleventh NPT Review Conference, to discuss the legitimate security concerns that nuclear weapons pose to non-nuclear-weapon states. Panelists included Ambassador Alexander Kmentt, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations Geneva; Zaheer Laher, Chief Director: United Nations Political, Peace and Security, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa; Professor Zia Mian, Program on Science and Global Security, Princeton University; and María Antonieta Jáquez, General Coordinator for Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Arms Control, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico. In their remarks, the panelists articulated national and regional perspectives regarding the security threat posed by the existence of and increased reliance on nuclear weapons and adherence to nuclear deterrence policies. They spoke of the work by a majority of states to address the threat posed to their security, both historically and in today’s context, and highlighted the importance of advancing initiatives such as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), existing and prospective nuclear-weapon-free zones, and greater accountability and transparency from nuclear-weapon states. A number of states and organizations intervened in discussions following the panel, including Brazil, Djibouti, Iraq, Oman, and Thailand, as well as ICAN. Discussions underscored the need to challenge the perceived legitimacy of nuclear deterrence through scientific engagement, public advocacy, and cooperation between governments and with civil society.
24 April 2026
On April 24, the co-chairs of the Informal Working Group on Universalization (Austria, New Zealand and Uruguay) held a meeting with members of the TPNW Scientific Advisory Group (SAG). The session included seven of the fifteen SAG members: Bashillah Baharuddin, Andre Buys, Ivana Hughes, Patricia Lewis (co-chair), Zia Mian (co-chair), Petra Seibert, and AKM Raushan Kabir Zoardar. At the outset, the co-chairs presented the activities currently being carried out in compliance with the group's work plan, specifically looking ahead to the Review Conference scheduled for December of this year. Discussions covered the importance of engaging with the scientific community and coordinating with other scientists to disseminate the goals of the TPNW.
21 April 2026
The Permanent Mission of Uruguay, in its role as Co-Chair of the Informal Working Group on the Universalization of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), hosted an event entitled "The Role of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones in Latin America and the Caribbean in Advancing the Universalization of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)", co-organised with the Permanent Missions of Austria, Mexico and New Zealand, the Organization for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) and ICAN. The event underscore the complementary role of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZs) in supporting the objectives of the TPNW, notably in advancing the universalization and effective implementation of the treaty.
17 April 2026
The Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and Security Concerns related to Nuclear Weapons was held on 17 April in Jakarta, Indonesia. The event was funded by Austria and co-hosted by Austria, Indonesia, ICAN and the ICRC. The conference brought together over 45 participants, including government officials from 20 states in Asia and the Pacific; members of the TPNW Coordination Committee; representatives of regional organizations such as the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific; and representatives of the ICRC, ICAN, and academia. Read short report here .
27 March 2026
The co-chairs of the informal working group on universalisation convened an Informal Working Group meeting to discuss a work plan for the intersessional period ahead of the TPNW Review Conference, which would include, in addition to a regional approach, targeted outreach to countries that could sign or ratify, as well as to potential observers at the Review Conference itself. They presented a working paper, to be submitted to the 11th NPT RevCon that integrates the security concerns of non-nuclear-armed countries into the discussions on transparency and accountability in the context of the NPT.
27 January 2026
Austria, in its capacity as co-chair of the informal working group on the universalisation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), together with Ghana, which ratified the TPNW in September 2025, and ICAN, the civil society coordinator for the TPNW, co-organized the West and Central African Conference on the Universalisation and Implementation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in Accra, Ghana on 27 January 2026. The event was attended by 75 participants, representing 19 African states, as well as the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, and representatives from African civil society organizations. The conference was well covered by press agencies, who were admitted for the opening panel. The engagement by participants was strong and, in the days following the conference, positive feedback about the timeliness of the initiative and the high quality of presentations and discussions during the event were received.
16 October 2025
The co-chairs of the informal working group on universalisation announced that they would work with ICAN to organise regional workshops to promote the universalisation of the TPNW, including in Africa and states shared their planned activities for the UN General Assembly First Committee, including for side events, statements, workshops and other outreach activities. They also discussed plans for the intersessional period, including during the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference.
28 August 2025
The informal working group on universalisation held its first meeting of the intersession, during which the co-chairs presented a draft work plan, with the expanded mandate that includes the work stream under the legitimate security concerns of TPNW states parties and the broader underpinning rationale of TPNW. The co-chairs raised the idea of developing new ways to facilitate states parties' universalisation outreach regionally, sub-regionally or in forums in which they participate was raised. The opportunity offered by the UN General Assembly High Level Week was highlighted, for treaty actions, to speak about TPNW in high level statements referring to the TPNW, and for calling for states that have not done so yet to join the treaty during bilateral meetings. Attention drawn to the fact that the TPNW is one signature or accession away from achieving a global majority of the states that can UN treaties. The next meeting will take place in the margins of the UN First Committee.
14 October 2024
The Permanent Mission of South Africa, in its capacity as the Co-Facilitator of the informal Working Group on Universalization of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), in partnership with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), convened a lunch and meeting of the African Group to share recent developments regarding the universalization and implementation of the TPNW. Twenty African Union Member States participated in the event, along with African Union representatives.
24 September 2024
In the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, South Africa and Uruguay co-sponsored a high-level ceremony for further TPNW signatures and ratifications. Indonesia, Sierra Leone and the Solomon Islands ratifying the landmark agreement. There are now 73 states parties and a further 25 signatories.
6 September 2024
The Republic of South Africa, as co-chair of the working group on universalisation of the TPNW, in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and ICAN hosted the African Regional Conference on the Universalisation and Implementation of the TPNW for African Union Member States on 6 September 2024 in Addis Ababa, with the participation of Permanent representatives and experts - political and military - of 31 African states, along with African Union officials - from the AU Commission, the AU Directorate of the Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department, and the AU Legal Counsel and the African Governance Architecture /African Peace and Security Architecture (AGA/APSA) ; representatives of sub-regional institutions (ECOWAS, SADC and NARC) ; as well as Addis-based academics and African civil society groups from different sub-regions. Read more about the Conference here.
22 July- 2 August 2024
In the margin of the NPT PrepCom, ICAN organized, in collaboration with the ICRC, a series of regional meetings in Geneva to brief member states on the universalisation and implementation of the TPNW, including with the African group, States from Asia Pacific and from Central Asia.
13 August 2024
The informal working group on universalisation held a meeting during which the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) presented its report to 2MSP, highlighting its findings and discussing risks and consequences of nuclear weapons, and links between science and universalisation efforts. The meeting was attended by 30 delegations - states parties, signatories and other supportive states - along with representatives of ICAN, the ICRC and the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) representatives.
9 April 2024
The informal working group on universalisation held a meeting attended by more than twenty states parties and signatories, as well as by representatives of ICAN, the ICRC and the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) representatives. The working group co-chairs recalled the broad scope of promoting universalisation under Article 12 of the Treaty and a number of actions under the Vienna Action Plan, including bringing in new signatures and ratifications, as well as promoting the Treaty in various fora and highlighting its synergy with other workstreams. A tentative programme of work for the current intersession was introduced, with activities ranging from panels and symposiums with the SAG and on the security concerns of States Parties, the coordination of joint statements in the UN first committee and bilateral and regional outreach in collaboration with ICAN, the ICRC and regional institutions.
1 June 2023
Working session of the African Group in Geneva on TPNW universalisation
South Africa, in its capacity as co-facilitator of the intersessional working group on universalisation, in partnership with ICAN, convened a working session of the African Group in Geneva to share recent developments and to promote the universalisation of the TPNW ahead of the second meeting of states parties to the TPNW. Delegations shared updates about the status of their procedure with regards to joining the TPNW.
30-31 January 2023
African Regional Seminar on the Universalisation of the TPNW
South Africa, in partnership with ICAN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), hosted a two-day seminar in Pretoria to take stock of the TPNW from a regional perspective and consider the need for further progress towards universalisation of the treaty on the continent. Delegates representing 37 African states, as well as the African Union Commission, African Commission on Nuclear Energy and civil society organisations in Africa, participated in the meeting. Malaysia, as a co-chair of the informal working group on universalisation, also participated. The deputy minister of international relations and cooperation of South Africa, Alvin Botes, delivered opening remarks.
26 January 2023
The informal working group on universalisation held its first meeting at the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations in New York. More than 20 states parties attended, as did representatives of ICAN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Delegates outlined proposals for events and activities to promote TPNW universalisation ahead of the second meeting of states parties in November 2023. ICAN and the ICRC provided updates on recent progress towards achieving universal adherence.
22 September 2022
High-level ceremony for further TPNW signatures and ratifications
In the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, Malaysia and South Africa co-sponsored a high-level ceremony for further TPNW signatures and ratifications. Five states signed the treaty on this occasion (Barbados, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti and Sierra Leone) and two ratified it (the Dominican Republic and Democratic Republic of the Congo). At the ceremony, the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, said: “Joining the TPNW sends a powerful signal of a state’s commitment to achieving our shared goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. But it is not merely a symbolic act. The decisions taken at the first meeting of states parties reflect a commitment to implementing the treaty comprehensively and thoughtfully.”