Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

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Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

• Understanding the basics of the NPT
• By Dimity Hawkins
• On behalf of ICAN Australia
• March 2008
• International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

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Introduction

• The NPT is considered by many as a cornerstone of
  international agreement on the need for complete
  nuclear disarmament.
• But how does this treaty, which by name is all
  about non-proliferation, deal with disarmament?
• And what can we do to strengthen disarmament
  efforts both through the NPT and other
  international mechanisms?

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What is the NPT?

• The nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is a
  landmark international treaty which became
  international law in 1970.
• The main objectives of the NPT are
• to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and
  weapons technology and
• to achieve nuclear disarmament.
• Problematically, it also provides for the
  inalienable right of all parties to research,
  produce and use nuclear technologies for peaceful
  purposes.
• Currently every nation in the world except four
  (4) are Parties to the NPT.

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Definitions

• For the purposes of this treaty, a nuclear-weapon
  State (NWS) is defined as one which has
  "manufactured and exploded a nuclear weapons or
  other nuclear device prior to 1 January 1967.
• Therefore only five (5) nations are recognised as
  NWS
• the USA
• Russia
• China
• France
• the United Kingdom

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The unrecognised

• Only Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea
  stand outside of this important treaty agreement
  - and all have nuclear weapons.
• How to bring these nations into an international
  framework which recognises their status without
  rewarding it, but also allows for them to join in
  efforts towards complete nuclear disarmament, are
  perennial problems for the international
  community.

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Whats the problem?

• There are currently estimated to be around 26,000
  nuclear weapons in the world, owned by nine (9)
  nations.
• According to the Weapons of Mass Destruction
  Commission report in 2006, the nuclear weapons
  in one strategic submarine have a combined
  explosive force several times greater than all
  the conventional bombs dropped in World War II.
• 96 of the worlds nuclear weapons today are owned
  by the USA and Russia.

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What does the Treaty offer?

• The NPT is essentially a bargain between those
  nations with nuclear weapons, who have undertaken
  to get rid of them, and those without, who have
  undertaken never to acquire them.
• The NPT contains, in Article VI, the only
  existing binding and explicit commitment to
  nuclear disarmament on the part of the nuclear
  weapon States.

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Article VI

• The text of this key Article reads
• Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to
  pursue negotiations in good faith on effective
  measures relating to cessation of the nuclear
  arms race at an early date and to nuclear
  disarmament and on a treaty on general and
  complete disarmament under strict and effective
  international control.

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The review cycle

• Governments who are Parties to the NPT meet every
  five years at a Review Conference in the United
  Nations to assess the implementation of the
  Treaty.
• Originally intended as a temporary treaty, the
  NPT was indefinitely extended in 1995. Since that
  time, Preparatory Committee meetings are held in
  the three years in the lead up to the major
  Review Conference to assist in the work of the
  Treaty.
• The next Preparatory Committee meetings will be
  held in April 2008 and 2009.
• The next Review Conference will be held in 2010.

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Shortcomings

• Some key problems and deficiencies within the NPT
  are worthy of note
• Exclusion of four nuclear armed nations through
  limited definition of nuclear weapon State is
  problematic and seen as discriminatory by some
  nations
• Providing for the inalienable right of all
  parties to nuclear technology for peaceful
  purposes fails to recognise the inherent links
  between civilian and military nuclear technology
• No timeframe or clear steps for disarmament as
  obligated in Article VI were provided within the
  Treaty

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However

• Even with its flaws, the NPT is the only treaty
  in which the leading powers are explicitly
  committed to nuclear disarmament, a step that is
  essential if we are to halt the spread of nuclear
  weapons.
• The abolition of today's 26,000 nuclear weapons
  remains an urgent global imperative.
• The NPT still has an important and central role
  to play in the work towards nuclear abolition.
  But we can make moves to strengthen the Treaty
  too

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Strengthening the NPT

• Working in conjunction with the existing NPT
  disarmament obligation for disarmament, a Nuclear
  Weapons Convention would advance negotiations to
  prohibit the development, testing, production,
  stockpiling, transfer, use or threat of use of
  nuclear weapons.
• A Nuclear Weapons Convention would strengthen the
  NPT further by laying out a systematic program to
  achieve the goal of the NPT's Article VI for
  nuclear weapons states to disarm their nuclear
  weapons.

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What is a Nuclear Weapons Convention?

• A Nuclear Weapons Convention would
• Define terms in precise detail to establish
  thresholds and limits
• Create rules so that everybody understands what
  is prohibited and what is allowed
• Establish a schedule for sequenced steps to
  remove the threat of nuclear weapons by their
  dismantlement
• Outline patterns of behaviour and cooperation
  that will enhance the communication and
  transparency in implementing the treaty and those
  that will arouse suspicion and sanctions
• Establish verification measures to make sure that
  no-one is cheating

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ICAN imagine a world without nuclear weapons!

• ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish
  Nuclear weapons, asks for your support in
  advocating for a world free from nuclear weapons.
  
• We aim to create a groundswell of popular opinion
  to abolish nuclear weapons. Inform yourself about
  nuclear issues and sign on as a supporter.
• www.icanw.org

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More information

• Booklet Understanding the nuclear
  Non-Proliferation Treaty downloadable from
  www.mapw.org.au
• Detail on the NPT and the review processes
  www.reachingcriticalwill.org
• Book Securing Our Survival the case for a
  Nuclear Weapons Convention downloadable from
  www.icanw.org/securingoursurvival