About

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament (UNIDIR) is a voluntarily funded, autonomous institute within the United Nations. One of the few policy institutes worldwide focusing on disarmament, UNIDIR generates knowledge and promotes dialogue and action on disarmament and security. Based in Geneva, UNIDIR assists the international community to develop the practical, innovative ideas needed to find solutions to critical security problems.

The Nuclear Weapon-Free Zones Hub provides information about and the text treaties of the General Assembly recognized nuclear weapon-free zones (NWFZs), namely, the treaties of Tlatelolco (1967), Rarotonga (1985), Bangkok (1995), Pelindaba (1996), and Central Asia (2006), as well as Mongolia (1998).

It also provides a comparison tool of the five NWFZ regional treaties. The tool includes the treaties’ texts, declarations of member states, and those made by extraregional states, including the five Nuclear Weapon States (China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States) as well as states with de jure or de facto international responsibility for territories within the zone of application.

The novelty of this tool lies in its side-by-side comparison feature, which is divided into nine overarching topics: Preamble, Definitions, States Parties’ Obligations and Rights, Verification, Compliance and Enforcement, Organization, The Final Clauses, Protocols, and Annexes. Each overarching topic is further divided into categories, providing a clearer view of the similarities, differences, and nuances among the NWFZs. Some categories are relevant only to one or a few treaties – reflecting the evolution of NWFZs over time, as well as regional-specific issues.

The in-depth comparison facilitates a better understanding of existing provisions and mechanisms, equipping stakeholders with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of NWFZs and related agreements. The tool can be used by negotiators, officials, decision-makers, international and regional organizations, researchers, and other relevant stakeholders. Not only can it assist in strengthening the frameworks of current NWFZs, but it can also promote enhanced cooperation and information sharing among these zones. Furthermore, the tool serves as a critical asset for diplomats and experts currently engaged in the negotiations or considerations regarding the establishment of new NWFZs. In addition, it plays a pivotal role in informing the UN General Assembly (UNGA)-mandated comprehensive study of the question of nuclear-weapon-free zones in all its aspects. The hub could also serve as an educational tool for research, training, and teaching, providing experts, scholars, educators, and students with a resource to conduct comparative studies and educate about the intricacies and importance of NWFZs.

The Nuclear Weapon-Free Zones Hub is developed by UNIDIR’s Middle East WMD-Free Zone project with funding by the European Union.

Disclaimer

• The tool cites directly from the original documents. No attempt was made to amend the original text for factual or language corrections. In the comparison tool, each quotation includes a reference to the relevant Article and provision in the original text.

• The titles of the overarching topics and categories were created to encompass similar issues across treaties that do not necessarily share the same Article name or location as in the original text.

• Feedback on any issue related to the tool is welcome, including mistakes and missing information.