Governments submit draft resolution to commence ban treaty negotiations
A group of governments have submitted a draft UN
General Assembly resolution to start negotiations on a treaty
banning nuclear weapons. The document was circulated on Wednesday by its lead
sponsors Austria, Mexico, South Africa, Ireland, Brazil and Nigeria and follows
on from the recommendation of a UN Working Group, at which the overwhelming
majority of states supported the call for ban treaty negotiations in 2017.
General Assembly resolution to start negotiations on a treaty
banning nuclear weapons. The document was circulated on Wednesday by its lead
sponsors Austria, Mexico, South Africa, Ireland, Brazil and Nigeria and follows
on from the recommendation of a UN Working Group, at which the overwhelming
majority of states supported the call for ban treaty negotiations in 2017.
The draft resolution would convene a UN conference
to “negotiate a legally-binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading
toward their total elimination” and would take place over 2 sessions comprising
a total of 20 days in 2017.
to “negotiate a legally-binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading
toward their total elimination” and would take place over 2 sessions comprising
a total of 20 days in 2017.
The adoption of this resolution would mark a major
breakthrough for nuclear disarmament. Nuclear weapons are the only weapon of
mass destruction not yet explicitly banned by an international treaty, unlike
chemical and biological weapons. In recent years this has come to be considered
an anomaly and an obstacle to progress on nuclear disarmament.
breakthrough for nuclear disarmament. Nuclear weapons are the only weapon of
mass destruction not yet explicitly banned by an international treaty, unlike
chemical and biological weapons. In recent years this has come to be considered
an anomaly and an obstacle to progress on nuclear disarmament.
Announcing the resolution at the UN General
Assembly in New York, Austria’s foreign minister, Sebastian Kurz said,
“experience shows that the first step to eliminate weapons of mass destruction
is to prohibit them through legally binding norms”.
Assembly in New York, Austria’s foreign minister, Sebastian Kurz said,
“experience shows that the first step to eliminate weapons of mass destruction
is to prohibit them through legally binding norms”.
Opposition to the resolution from the nuclear-armed
states is expected to be fierce. Already they have sent “démarches”, or
diplomatic instructions, demanding that governments withdraw their support for
ban treaty negotiations. Many expect this pressure to continue behind closed
doors during consultations on the resolution in New York.
states is expected to be fierce. Already they have sent “démarches”, or
diplomatic instructions, demanding that governments withdraw their support for
ban treaty negotiations. Many expect this pressure to continue behind closed
doors during consultations on the resolution in New York.
The negotiations of the ban treaty will pose very
uncomfortable questions to the group of non-nuclear weapon states in nuclear
weapons alliances with nuclear-armed states. Several of these governments have
already faced significant domestic pressure for their opposition to the
negotiation of a prohibition of nuclear weapons. Australia was widely
criticized for attempting to thwart the recommendation of a ban treaty at the
recent UN Working Group in Geneva, while the governments of the Netherlands and
Norway have also been rebuked for their opposition to the ban by the political
majority in their own national parliaments.
uncomfortable questions to the group of non-nuclear weapon states in nuclear
weapons alliances with nuclear-armed states. Several of these governments have
already faced significant domestic pressure for their opposition to the
negotiation of a prohibition of nuclear weapons. Australia was widely
criticized for attempting to thwart the recommendation of a ban treaty at the
recent UN Working Group in Geneva, while the governments of the Netherlands and
Norway have also been rebuked for their opposition to the ban by the political
majority in their own national parliaments.
“This is an historic breakthrough in global efforts
to rid the world of nuclear weapons. A treaty banning nuclear weapons will be
of enormous importance in establishing a clear, legal rejection of these
weapons by the majority of the international community and has the potential to
jump start the nuclear disarmament movement – even in the face of resistance
from the nuclear-armed states,” said Beatrice Fihn, executive director of ICAN.
to rid the world of nuclear weapons. A treaty banning nuclear weapons will be
of enormous importance in establishing a clear, legal rejection of these
weapons by the majority of the international community and has the potential to
jump start the nuclear disarmament movement – even in the face of resistance
from the nuclear-armed states,” said Beatrice Fihn, executive director of ICAN.
The voting on the resolution will take place at the
end of October or early November.
end of October or early November.
