Vanuatu

Nuclear-weapon-free state

Has joined the TPNW

SIGNED

20 September 2017

RATIFIED

26 September 2018

IN FORCE

22 January 2021

 

Status

Vanuatu 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

Bruno Leingkone, the then-minister of foreign affairs of Vanuatu, signed the TPNW at a high-level ceremony in New York when it opened for signature on 20 September 2017. Charlot Salwai, the then-prime minister, deposited the country’s instrument of ratification with the UN secretary-general on 26 September 2018.

In an address to the United Nations following the signing of the TPNW, Salwai reaffirmed Vanuatu’s “commitment to total nuclear disarmament” and saluted “the treaty adopted by the conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons”.

Bruno Leingkone, the then-minister of foreign affairs of Vanuatu, signs the TPNW in 2017. Photo: ICAN

An act of parliament providing for ratification of the TPNW, titled the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (Ratification) Act of 2018, was assented to on 6 July 2018, having received unanimous support in the parliament on 4 June 2018.

Vanuatu was the equal 16th state to ratify or accede to the TPNW.

Charlot Salwai, the then-prime minister of Vanuatu, deposits the country’s instrument of ratification in 2018. Photo: ICAN

 

Implementation

In accordance with Article 2 of the TPNW, Vanuatu submitted a declaration to the UN secretary-general on 17 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, Vanuatu 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”.

Vanuatu has also utilised the UN Human Rights Council’s universal periodic review process to encourage other states to join the TPNW.

ICAN campaigners visit Vanuatu’s permanent mission in New York ahead of the treaty’s entry into force in 2021. Photo: ICAN

 

TPNW negotiations

Vanuatu 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, Vanuatu 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

Vanuatu 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.

Nuclear-weapon-free state

Has joined the TPNW

[HIGHLIGHTS]

SIGNED

20 September 2017

RATIFIED

26 September 2018

IN FORCE

22 January 2021

 

Status

Vanuatu 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

Bruno Leingkone, the then-minister of foreign affairs of Vanuatu, signed the TPNW at a high-level ceremony in New York when it opened for signature on 20 September 2017. Charlot Salwai, the then-prime minister, deposited the country’s instrument of ratification with the UN secretary-general on 26 September 2018.

In an address to the United Nations following the signing of the TPNW, Salwai reaffirmed Vanuatu’s “commitment to total nuclear disarmament” and saluted “the treaty adopted by the conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons”.

Bruno Leingkone, the then-minister of foreign affairs of Vanuatu, signs the TPNW in 2017. Photo: ICAN

An act of parliament providing for ratification of the TPNW, titled the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (Ratification) Act of 2018, was assented to on 6 July 2018, having received unanimous support in the parliament on 4 June 2018.

Vanuatu was the equal 16th state to ratify or accede to the TPNW.

Charlot Salwai, the then-prime minister of Vanuatu, deposits the country’s instrument of ratification in 2018. Photo: ICAN

 

Implementation

In accordance with Article 2 of the TPNW, Vanuatu submitted a declaration to the UN secretary-general on 17 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, Vanuatu 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”.

Vanuatu has also utilised the UN Human Rights Council’s universal periodic review process to encourage other states to join the TPNW.

ICAN campaigners visit Vanuatu’s permanent mission in New York ahead of the treaty’s entry into force in 2021. Photo: ICAN

 

TPNW negotiations

Vanuatu 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, Vanuatu 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

Vanuatu 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.

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