A/C.1/70/L.41

United Nations

General AssemblyDistr.: Limited
21 October 2015
Original: English

Seventieth session

First Committee
Agenda item 97 (q)General and complete disarmament: towards a nuclearweapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear
disarmament commitments
Brazil, Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand and South Africa: draft resolution

Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating theimplementation of nuclear disarmament commitments
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 1 (I) of 24 January 1946, 67/34 of 3 December 2012,
68/39 of 5 December 2013 and 69/37 of 2 December 2014,
Reiterating its grave concern at the danger to humanity posed by nuclear
weapons, which should inform all deliberations, decisions and actions relating tonuclear 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 thecatastrophic 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 renewed attention to the catastrophic humanitarianconsequences and risks associated with nuclear weapons that has been generated by
the international community since 2010 and the growing awareness that thoseconcerns should underpin the need for nuclear disarmament and the urgency ofachieving and maintaining a nuclear-weapon-free world, and noting further withsatisfaction the prominence accorded to 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, by Mexico__________________
115-18349 (E)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 andrecommendations for follow-on actions.

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on 13 and 14 February 2014 and by Austria on 8 and 9 December 2014, aimed atunderstanding and developing a greater awareness of the catastrophic consequencesof nuclear weapons detonations, which further reinforce the urgency of nuclear
disarmament,
Emphasizing the compelling 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 wellbeyond national borders, the lack of capacity of States and internationalorganizations to deal with the aftermath, and the risk o f an occurrence, due to an
accident, systems failure or human error,
Noting in particular the research findings presented to the Vienna Conference
regarding the strongly disproportionate and gendered impact of exposure to ionizingradiation for women and girls,
Recalling the convening, on 26 September 2013, of the high -level meeting ofthe General Assembly on nuclear disarmament and resolution 69/58 of 2 December
2014, entitled “Follow-up to the 2013 high-level meeting of the General Assemblyon nuclear disarmament”, and the decisions contained therein, and welcoming thecommemoration and promotion of 26 September as the International Day for theTotal Elimination of Nuclear Weapons,
Recalling the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations, which wasestablished to save succeeding generations from the untold suffering of the scourgeof war, and recalling also that the United Nations emerged in the aftermath of theSecond World War and at the time of the immense trail of death and destruction
resulting from the first use of atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
representing a historic opportunity to advance nuclear disarmament,
Welcoming resolution 69/41 of 2 December 2014, in which it encouraged
Member States, international organizations and civil so ciety to take into account thereport of the Open-ended Working Group to develop proposals to take forward
multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations for the achievement and maintenanceof a world without nuclear weapons 2 and the report submitted by the SecretaryGeneral pursuant to resolution 68/46 of 5 December 2013 on how to take forward
multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations, 3 which includes the steps alreadytaken by Member States to promote multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations,
Underlining the importance of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation
education,
Reaffirming that transparency, verifiability and irreversibility are cardinalprinciples applying to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non -proliferation, which aremutually reinforcing processes,
Recalling the decisions and the resolution adopted at the 1995 Review andExtension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non -Proliferation ofNuclear Weapons, 4 the basis upon which the Treaty was indefinitely extended, and__________________
2

A/68/514.
A/69/154.
4See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferationof Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex.
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the Final Documents of the 2000 5 and the 2010 6 Review Conferences of the Parties
to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and in particular theunequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the totalelimination of their nuclear arsenals, leading to nuclear disarmament, in accordancewith commitments made under article VI of the Treaty on the Non -Proliferation ofNuclear Weapons, 7
Reaffirming the commitment of all States parties to the Treaty on theNon-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to apply the principles of irreversibility,verifiability and transparency in relation to the implementation of their treatyobligations,Recognizing the continued vital importance of the entry into force of theComprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty 8 to the advancement of nuclear
disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation objectives, and welcoming the recent
ratification of the Treaty by Angola,
Recalling that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absoluteguarantee 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 totalelimination of nuclear weapons,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, and welcoming the Conferences of States Parties and Signatories toTreaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones and Mongolia,
Welcoming the ratification by China, France, the Russian Federation and theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of the Protocol to the Treaty
on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia, and urging those States to co ntinue
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 suc hzones,
Recalling the encouragement expressed at the 2010 Review Conference for theestablishment of further nuclear-weapon-free zones, on the basis of arrangements
freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned, reaffirming theexpectation that this will be followed by concerted international efforts to createsuch zones in areas where they do not currently exist, especially in the Middle East,and in this context noting with deep disappointment the non -fulfilment of theagreement at the 2010 Review Conference on practical steps to fully implement the1995 resolution on the Middle East, and disappointed that no agreement could bereached at the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the__________________
52000 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)).
62010 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)).
7
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485.
8
See resolution 50/245 and A/50/1027.

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Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, held in New York from 27 April to 22 May
2015, on this issue,
Deeply disappointed at the continued absence of progress towards multilateralnegotiations on nuclear disarmament, in particular in the Conference onDisarmament,
Deeply regretting the lack of any substantive outcome of the 2015 Review
Conference,Disappointed that the 2015 Review Conference missed an opportunity tostrengthen the Treaty, enhance progress towards its full implementation anduniversality, and monitor the implementation of commit ments made and actions
agreed at the 1995, 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences, and deeply concerned
about the impact of that failure on the credibility of the Treaty and the balanceamong its three pillars,
Acknowledging the ongoing efforts towards the full implementation of theTreaty 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 bothStates to continue discussions on follow-on measures in order to achieve deeper
reductions in their nuclear arsenals,
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 those initiatives,
Taking note of the reports presented by the nuclear-weapon States to the 2015
Review Conference, pursuant to actions 5, 20 and 21 of the Final Document of the2010 Review Conference, 9 and taking note also of the first edition of a glossary of
key nuclear terms,
1.
Reiterates that each article of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons is binding on the States parties at all times and in all
circumstances and that all States parties should be held fully accountable withrespect 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 need for all States at all times to comply withapplicable international law, including international humanitarian law, and toacknowledge the evidence acquired at the Conferences on the Human itarian Impactof Nuclear Weapons which has significant implications for the assessment ofnuclear weapons under the fundamental rules of international humanitarian law;__________________
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Implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: report submitted bythe People's Republic of China (NPT/CONF.2015/PC.III/13); report submitted by France underactions 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 Irelandpursuant 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 toactions 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).

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3.
Calls upon Member States, in their relevant decisions and actions, togive due prominence to the humanitarian imperatives that underpin nuclear
disarmament and to the urgency of achieving this goal;
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 tothe Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 10 including the specificreaffirmation of the unequivocal undertaking of the nuclear-weapon States toaccomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear
disarmament, to which all States parties are committed under article VI of theTreaty, 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 theircommitments;
5.
Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to fulfil their commitment toundertake 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.
Urges all States possessing nuclear weapons to decrease the operational
readiness of nuclear weapons systems in a verifiable and transparent manner with aview to ensuring that all nuclear weapons are removed from high alert status;
7.
Encourages the nuclear-weapon States to make concrete reductions in
the role and significance of nuclear weapons in all military and security concepts,
doctrines and policies, pending their total elimination;
8.
Encourages all States that are part of regional alliances that include
nuclear-weapon States to promote a diminishing role for nuclear weapons in theircollective security doctrines, pending their total elimination;
9.
Underlines the recognition by States parties to the Treaty of thelegitimate interest of non-nuclear-weapon States in the constraining by the nuclearweapon States of the development and qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons
and their ending the development of advanced new types of nuclear weapons, andcalls upon the nuclear-weapon States to take steps in this regard;
10. Encourages further steps by all nuclear-weapon States, in accordancewith the previous commitments and obligations on nuclear disarmament, 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 tosupport, within the context of the International Atomic Energy Agency, thedevelopment of appropriate nuclear disarmament verification capabilities andlegally binding verification arrangements, thereby ensuring that such materialremains permanently outside military programmes in a verifiable manner;
11. Calls upon all States parties to the Treaty to work towards the full
implementation of the resolution on the Middle East adopted at the 1995 Reviewand Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation ofNuclear Weapons, which is inextricably linked to the indefinite extension of the__________________
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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.

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Treaty, and expresses disappointment and deep concern at the lack of a substantive
outcome of the 2015 Review Conference, including on the process of establishing in
the Middle East a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass
destruction as set out in the 1995 resolution on the Middle East, which remains
valid until fully implemented;
12. Expresses its profound disappointment at the failure to convene aconference in 2012 on the establishment in the Middle East of a zone free of nuclear
weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, as mandated at the 2010
Review Conference;
13. Stresses the fundamental role of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation ofNuclear Weapons in achieving nuclear disarmament and nuclear non -proliferation,and calls upon all States parties to spare no effort to achieve the universality of theTreaty, 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;
14. Urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to fulfil its
commitments under the Six-Party Talks, including those in the September 2005 jointstatement, to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes, toreturn, 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, 11with a view to achieving the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in a peacefulmanner, and reaffirms its firm support for the Six-Party Talks;15. Urges all States to work together to overcome obstacles within theinternational disarmament machinery that are inhibiting efforts to advance the causeof nuclear disarmament in a multilateral context, and urges the Conference on
Disarmament once again to commence, without delay, substantive work that
advances the agenda of nuclear disarmament, particularly, through multilateralnegotiations;
16. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to include in their reports during thereview cycle for the 2020 Review Conference concrete and detailed information
concerning the implementation of their undertakings on nuclear disarmament;
17. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to implement their nuclear
disarmament commitments, both qualitative and quantitative, in a ma nner thatenables the States parties to regularly monitor progress, including through astandard detailed reporting format, thereby enhancing confidence and trust not only
among the nuclear-weapon States but also between the nuclear-weapon States andthe non-nuclear-weapon States and contributing to sustainable nuclear disarmament;
18. Calls upon all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons to implement without delay all the commitments and obligationsof the 2010 Review Conference action plan;
19. Urges Member States to pursue multilateral negotiations without delay,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__________________
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Nuclear Weapons, and to this end, urges Member States to explore options andsupport efforts to identify, elaborate and negotiate legally binding effective
measures for nuclear disarmament;
20. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-first session,under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub -item entitled“Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nucle ardisarmament commitments” and to review the implementation of the present
resolution at that session.

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