United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/69/37

by the United Nations

⁠United Nations

A/RES/69/37

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⁠

General Assembly

Distr.: General 11 December 2014

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Sixty-ninth session
Agenda item 96 (w)

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2014

[without reference to a Main Committee (A/69/440)]

69/37. Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 1 (I) of 24 January 1946, 67/34 of 3 December 2012 and 68/39 of 5 December 2013,

Reiterating its grave concern at the danger to humanity posed by nuclear weapons, which should inform all deliberations, decisions and actions relating to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation,

Recalling the expression of deep concern by the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and its resolve to seek a safer world for all and to achieve the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons,^[1]

Noting with satisfaction the growing awareness of the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons in multilateral disarmament forums,

Bearing in mind the discussions held at the Conferences on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, hosted by Norway on 4 and 5 March 2013 and by Mexico on 13 and 14 February 2014, aimed at understanding and developing a greater awareness of the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons detonations, which further reinforce the urgency of nuclear disarmament, and welcoming the announcement by Austria to convene a third meeting on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons on 8 and 9 December 2014,

Emphasizing the evidence presented at the Conferences on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, which detailed the catastrophic consequences that would result from a nuclear weapon detonation, reaching well beyond national borders, the lack of capacity of States and international organizations to deal with the aftermath, and the risk of an occurrence due to an accident, systems failure or human error,

Recalling the convening, on 26 September 2013, of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament and resolution 68/32 of 5 December 2013 on the follow-up to the 2013 high-level meeting of the Assembly on nuclear disarmament and the decisions contained therein,

Recalling also that the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons will take place 20 years after the indefinite extension of the Treaty and 70 years after the use of nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, representing a historic opportunity to advance nuclear disarmament,

Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on taking forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations,^[2] which includes the steps already taken by Member States to promote multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations pursuant to resolution 68/46 of 5 December 2013,

Underlining the importance of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation education,

Reaffirming that transparency, verifiability and irreversibility are cardinal principles applying to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, which are mutually reinforcing processes,

Recalling the decisions and the resolution adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,^[3] the basis upon which the Treaty was indefinitely extended, and the Final Documents of the 2000^[4] and the 2010^[5] Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and in particular the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, leading to nuclear disarmament, in accordance with commitments made under article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,^[6]

Reaffirming the commitment of all States parties to the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to apply the principles of irreversibility, verifiability and transparency in relation to the implementation of their treaty obligations,

Recalling that the 2010 Review Conference reaffirmed and recognized that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons and the legitimate interest of non-nuclear-weapon States in receiving unequivocal and legally binding negative security assurances from nuclear-weapon States pending the total elimination of nuclear weapons,

Recognizing the continued vital importance of the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty^[7] to the advancement of nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation objectives, and welcoming the recent ratification of the Treaty by the Congo and Niue,

Reaffirming the conviction that, pending the total elimination of nuclear weapons, the establishment and maintenance of nuclear-weapon-free zones enhances global and regional peace and security, strengthens the nuclear non proliferation regime and contributes towards realizing the objectives of nuclear disarmament, welcoming the third preparatory meeting for the third Conference of States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones and Mongolia, held in New York on 7 May 2014, and welcoming also the coordination by Indonesia of the third Conference, to be held in 2015,

Welcoming the signing by the nuclear-weapon States of the Protocol to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia on 6 May 2014, and urging those States to continue to make real progress towards strengthening all existing nuclear-weapon-free zones through, inter alia, the withdrawal or revision of any reservations or interpretative declarations contrary to the object and purpose of the treaties establishing such zones,

Recalling the encouragement expressed at the 2010 Review Conference for the establishment of further nuclear-weapon-free zones, on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned, reaffirming the expectation that this will be followed by concerted international efforts to create such zones in areas where they do not currently exist, especially in the Middle East, and in that context recognizing the agreement at the 2010 Review Conference on practical steps to fully implement the 1995 resolution on the Middle East,

Acknowledging the ongoing efforts towards the full implementation of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, while re-emphasizing the encouragement of the 2010 Review Conference to both States to continue discussions on follow-on measures in order to achieve deeper reductions in their nuclear arsenals,

Deeply disappointed at the continued absence of progress towards multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament, in particular in the Conference on Disarmament, despite intensive efforts during its 2014 session,

Underlining the importance of multilateralism in relation to nuclear disarmament, while recognizing also the value of unilateral, bilateral and regional initiatives and the importance of compliance with the terms of such initiatives,

Recalling the third session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, held in New York from 28 April to 9 May 2014,

Taking note of the reports presented by the nuclear-weapon States to the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference at its third session,^[8] pursuant to actions 5, 20 and 21 of the action plan on nuclear disarmament contained in the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference,

Emphasizing the importance of a successful 2015 Review Conference, which should contribute to strengthening the Treaty and making progress towards achieving its full implementation and universality, and monitor the implementation of commitments made and actions agreed at the 1995, 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences,

1. Reiterates that each article of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons6 is binding on the States parties at all times and in all circumstances and that all States parties should be held fully accountable with respect to strict compliance with their obligations under the Treaty, and calls upon all States parties to comply fully with all decisions, resolutions and commitments made at the 1995, 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences;

2. Also reiterates the deep concern expressed by the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and the need for all States at all times to comply with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law;

3. Calls upon the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, in its decisions and follow-on actions, to give due prominence to the humanitarian imperatives which further underpin the need for nuclear disarmament and to the urgency, in the light of those imperatives, of achieving and maintaining a world free of nuclear weapons;

4. Recalls the reaffirmation of the continued validity of the practical steps agreed to in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,^[9] including the specific reaffirmation of the unequivocal undertaking of the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties are committed under article VI of the Treaty, recalls the commitment of the nuclear-weapon States to accelerate concrete progress on the steps leading to nuclear disarmament, and calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to take all steps necessary to accelerate the fulfilment of their commitments;

5. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to fulfil their commitment to undertake further efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate all types of nuclear weapons, deployed and non-deployed, including through unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures;

6. Underlines the recognition by the 2010 Review Conference of the legitimate interest of non-nuclear-weapon States in the constraining by the nuclear-weapon States of the development and qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons and their ending the development of advanced new types of nuclear weapons, and calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to take steps in this regard;

7. Encourages further steps by all nuclear-weapon States, in accordance with the action plan on nuclear disarmament contained in the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference, to ensure the irreversible removal of all fissile material designated by each nuclear-weapon State as no longer required for military purposes, and calls upon all States to support, within the context of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the development of appropriate nuclear disarmament verification capabilities and legally binding verification arrangements, thereby ensuring that such material remains permanently outside military programmes in a verifiable manner;

8. Calls upon all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to work towards the full implementation of the resolution on the Middle East adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, recognizes the endorsement by the 2010 Review Conference of practical steps in a process leading to the full implementation of the 1995 resolution, and, while noting efforts undertaken to date, expresses its serious concern regarding the lack of implementation of those steps;

9. Stresses the fundamental role of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in achieving nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, and calls upon all States parties to spare no effort to achieve the universality of the Treaty, and in this regard urges India, Israel and Pakistan to accede to the Treaty as non-nuclear-weapon States promptly and without conditions, and to place all of their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards;

10. Urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to fulfil its commitments under the Six-Party Talks, including those in the September 2005 joint statement, to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes, to return, at an early date, to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to adhere to its International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards agreement,^[10] with a view to achieving the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in a peaceful manner, and reaffirms its firm support for the Six-Party Talks;

11. Urges all States to work together to overcome obstacles within the international disarmament machinery that are inhibiting efforts to advance the cause of nuclear disarmament in a multilateral context, and to immediately implement the three specific recommendations of the 2010 Review Conference action plan addressed to the Conference on Disarmament, and once again urges the Conference on Disarmament to commence, without delay, substantive work that advances the agenda of nuclear disarmament, particularly through multilateral negotiations;

12. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to supplement the reports presented to the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference at its third session8 with concrete and detailed information concerning their implementation of the undertakings set out in action 5 of the action plan on nuclear disarmament contained in the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference;

13. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to implement their nuclear disarmament commitments, both qualitative and quantitative, in a manner that enables the States parties to regularly monitor progress, including through a standard detailed reporting format, thereby enhancing confidence and trust not only among the nuclear-weapon States but also between the nuclear-weapon States and the non-nuclear-weapon States and contributing to sustainable nuclear disarmament;

14. Calls upon all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to implement without delay all elements of the 2010 Review Conference action plan so that progress across all of the pillars of the Treaty can be realized;

15. Urges Member States to pursue multilateral negotiations without delay and in good faith on effective measures for the achievement and maintenance of a nuclear-weapon-free world, in keeping with the spirit and purpose of General Assembly resolution 1 (I) and article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and to this end urges States parties to the Treaty to explore, during the 2015 Review Conference, options for the elaboration of the effective measures envisaged in and required by article VI of the Treaty;

16. Calls upon the 2015 Review Conference to agree on an additional set of measures to build on the commitments made and actions agreed at the 1995, 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences and take forward the aims and purpose of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;

17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventieth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments” and to review the implementation of the present resolution at that session.

62nd plenary meeting
2 December 2014

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1. See 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vol. I)), part I, Conclusions and recommendations for follow-on actions.
2. A/69/154 and Add.1.
3. See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex.
4. 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I–III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I–IV)).
5. 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I–III (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vols. I–III)).
6. United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485.
7. See resolution 50/245 and A/50/1027.
8. Implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: report submitted by the People’s Republic of China (NPT/CONF.2015/PC.III/13); report submitted by France under actions 5, 20 and 21 of the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference (NPT/CONF.2015/PC.III/14); report submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland pursuant to actions 5, 20 and 21 of the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference (NPT/CONF.2015/PC.III/15); report submitted by the United States of America pursuant to actions 5, 20 and 21 of the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference (NPT/CONF.2015/PC.III/16); statement on measures taken by the Russian Federation as regards actions 5, 20 and 21 contained in the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference (NPT/CONF.2015/PC.III/17).
9. 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled “Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs”, para. 15.
10. United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1677, No. 28986.