UN Briefing: The Third Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW

The 3MSP is the third gathering of the States Parties to the TPNW and serves as a forum for these states to assess the progress of the treaty’s implementation, review actions taken to eliminate nuclear weapons, and strengthen global commitments toward disarmament. The meeting brings together governments, civil society organisations, and disarmament experts to discuss the practicalities of achieving the Treaty’s goals, reinforcing the collective effort to ensure that nuclear weapons be permanently consigned to history.

The main diplomatic meetings are the plenary sessions - led by the Ambassador to Kazakhstan - which will provide states with the opportunity to share updates on their individual progress, raise questions or concerns and offer recommendations on how to further the goals of the Treaty. In addition to these meetings, there will be thematic sessions on victim assistance and environmental remediation, legal and technical sessions on National Implementation Measures, as well as a wide range of side events and meetings facilitated by NGOs and civil society groups.

At the 3MSP, States Parties are expected to focus on several key outcomes, building on various conclusions of past meetings:

1. Review of Treaty Implementation: The meeting will assess how well countries are adhering to their commitments under the TPNW, particularly in relation to the destruction of nuclear stockpiles, providing assistance to victims of nuclear explosions, and ensuring that nuclear weapons are never used again. States will also examine compliance with obligations to prohibit activities related to the development, testing, production, and acquisition of nuclear weapons. 
2. Strengthening International Cooperation: The 3MSP will offer opportunities to further strengthen cooperation among States Parties, as well as with international organisations, non-governmental actors, and civil society. Enhanced partnerships are crucial to ensuring effective, comprehensive support for the treaty’s objectives and fostering a stronger global disarmament network.
3. Addressing Nuclear Harm: A central focus of the meeting will be addressing the long-term consequences of nuclear weapons, both for human health and the environment. The meeting may include the establishment of specific legal, medical or financial measures to support survivors of nuclear bombings and testing. 
4. Building Momentum for Global Disarmament: The 3MSP will provide a platform to encourage more states to ratify the TPNW. As nuclear tensions continue to pose global risks, the meeting will emphasise the importance of multilateral engagement and solidarity in advancing the goal of a nuclear-free world.
5. Progressing the TPNW Trust Fund: The 3MSP will advance discussions on establishing an international trust fund to support victims of nuclear weapons use and testing and remediate impacted environments, a key commitment under Articles 6 and 7 of the TPNW. Building on Action 29 of the Vienna Action Plan and prior deliberations, progress is essential to ensure sustainable and long-term assistance and to reinforce the treaty’s commitment to justice and remediation. This is of particular relevance to UNA-UK’s work on addressing the impact of British nuclear testing on Kiribati.

The UK has firmly opposed the TPNW, refusing to sign or ratify it despite its clear humanitarian objectives. The UK Government has dismissed the Treaty as being impractical, stating that the TPNW “fails to address the key issues that must be overcome to achieve lasting global nuclear disarmament” and “contradicts, and risks undermining, the NPT”. While the UK presents itself as a champion of arms control, pointing to its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), its actions contradict these claims as evidenced through continued expansion of its nuclear arsenal and weapons spending. 

Many non-nuclear armed states argue that the progress with the NPT has been too slow, and there are  growing concerns about nuclear armed states dedication to its core principles. The NPT obligates the 185 non-nuclear armed signatories to not pursue nuclear weapons, while the nuclear armed states - including the UK - are obligated to engage in genuine negotiations towards multilateral disarmament. 

Instead of engaging with the TPNW, the UK - along with other nuclear-armed states - actively undermines efforts to establish a legally binding path towards total disarmament. By rejecting the TPNW, the UK isolates itself from the many states that see nuclear weapons as an existential threat and a violation of international humanitarian principles.

The importance of the TPNW as a landmark legal instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons has already been demonstrated. 3MSP presents a critical opportunity to generate momentum for continued progress and to demonstrate the collective resolve of the international community. The outcomes of the meeting will send a powerful signal that the elimination of nuclear weapons is not only necessary but achievable, reminding the world of the urgency of disarmament in the face of growing global insecurity.

As nuclear threats remain present, the 3MSP offers hope for a future where the catastrophic dangers posed by nuclear weapons are consigned to history, laying the groundwork for lasting peace and security.

Articles 6 and 7 of the TPNW are particularly vital as they commit States Parties to addressing the humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons. They mandate victim assistance, environmental remediation and international cooperation to support communities affected by nuclear weapons and their testing. The role of 3MSP in advancing implementation of these objectives - particularly through the establishment of the trust fund - will be crucial in delivering tangible relief and reinforcing the Treaty’s commitment to justice.

UNA-UK will be attending 3MSP to advocate for the further strengthening of the TPNW, aligning with the call from NGO experts, academics and Kiribati communities to address the long-lasting impacts of nuclear testing and to enhance global security in line with international law. We aim to raise awareness of the humanitarian risks and the unaffordability of the UK’s nuclear programmes, while collaborating with diplomats and civil society groups to advance broader nuclear disarmament efforts.

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Read More:

• The joint letter calling on the UK Government to attend 3MSP
• UNA-UK's briefing on The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
• Dr Becky Alexis-Martin's blog on addressing the harmful legacy of British nuclear testing in Kiritimati

Photo: 5 more nations sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in September 2022. Credit: ICAN | Darren Ornitz.