United Nations’ Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty: Practical Provisions for States Parties and Observer States

This is the last of our four-part series about the United Nations’ Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty.  Friday, January 22^nd, 2021 is the historic day when the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty enters into force and establishes in international law a categorical ban on nuclear weapons that may lead to a reduction in the U.S. nuclear arsenal.  The purpose of the Treaty is, in part, to outlaw the development, manufacture, testing, possession, transfer, acquisition, stockpiling, use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.  https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/tpnw/ and  https://www.icanw.org/here_are_five_examples_of_the_type_of_activities_that_will_be_illegal_under_international_law_on_22_january_2021

The Treaty was approved in July 2017 by 122 Nation States.  On October 24^th, 2020, Honduras was the fiftieth Nation State to sign and ratify it, which meant the Treaty would enter into force ninety days later, on January 22^nd.

In previous weeks we discussed the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons http://nuclearactive.org/the-united-nations-nuclear-weapons-ban-treaty-to-enter-into-force-in-january/ , Victim Assistance and Environmental Remediation http://nuclearactive.org/the-united-nations-nuclear-weapons-ban-treaty-article-6-victim-assistance-and-environmental-remediation/, and International Cooperation http://nuclearactive.org/united-nations-nuclear-weapons-ban-treaty-article-7-international-cooperation-and-assistance/ .  Today we look at Treaty provisions for three practical issues: the costs, the goal of universality, and the duration of membership and the means for withdraw.

Article 9, on Costs, says that costs of meetings shall be borne by States Parties.  Costs for the required verification measures, for the destruction of nuclear weapons and for the elimination of nuclear-weapons programs, including “the elimination or conversion of all nuclear-weapons-related facilities” will be borne by the applicable States Parties.

Article 12, titled Universality, asks each State Party to encourage States not party to the Treaty to sign, ratify and accept it, with the goal of universal adherence of all States.

Finally, Article 17 considers the duration of membership.  Paragraph One says, “This Treaty shall be of unlimited duration,” while Paragraphs Two and Three provide for orderly withdrawal if a State Party “decides that extraordinary events … have jeopardized the supreme interests of its country.”

Joni Arends, of CCNS, says, “The Treaty makes it possible for Americans to get out from under the heavy thumb of the nuclear weapons industry.  We celebrate the Treaty’s entry into force and all the people who’ve worked toward this historical moment.  We will continue our work to ensure the United States of America steps up, signs and ratifies the Treaty.”

This concludes our four-part series on the United Nations’ Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty.  To celebrate the Treaty’s entry into force locally, please join us at the corner of St. Francis Drive and Cerrillos Road at noon on Friday, January 22^nd to hold bright yellow banners declaring nuclear weapons are now illegal.

At 1 pm, people will travel from there to Ashley Pond in Los Alamos to extend the celebration.  Join us there.

For more information and resources, please visit:  Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance https://orepa.org/nuclear-ban-treaty-entry-into-force-resources/, Nukewatch (Wisconsin) https://nukewatchinfo.org/long-sought-anti-war-landmark-treaty-prohibiting-nuclear-weapons-becomes-law/, Nuclear Resister http://www.nukeresister.org/,  and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons https://www.icanw.org/ .

Did You Know about these Resources to Celebrate the Entry into Force of the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty? 

CCNS, with Veterans for Peace and others, will be on the corner of St. Francis Drive and Cerrillos Road on Friday, January 22^nd from noon to 1 pm with our banners declaring nuclear weapons are now illegal.  At 1 pm we’ll be journeying to Ashley Pond in Los Alamos.  Please plan to join us in the celebrations that so many of us have been working for decades to achieve!  CCNS is grateful for each and every one of you!!!

And here’s a list of other resources, opportunities to sign-on statements, and livestream events:

• Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance https://orepa.org/nuclear-ban-treaty-entry-into-force-resources/
• Nukewatch (Wisconsin) https://nukewatchinfo.org/long-sought-anti-war-landmark-treaty-prohibiting-nuclear-weapons-becomes-law/
• Nuclear Resister http://www.nukeresister.org/
• International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons https://www.icanw.org/
• Peace Boat and Other Japanese NGOs – Jan. 21 – 23 livestreamed events, including a press conference, broadcasts and presentations at https://peaceboat.org/english/news/celebrating-entry-into-force-day
• Faith Communities Concerned about Nuclear Weapons has a sign-on Joint Interfaith Statement on the Entry into Force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. To endorse the statement, fill out the endorsement form by Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 9 am PDT at https://forms.gle/kG6sAEvYXAiYQ2mJ8
• Nuclear Free Schools Statement on Capitol Riots and U.S. Nuclear Launch Authority https://www.nuclearfreeschools.com/post/statement-on-capitol-riots-and-us-nuclear-launch-authority
• PeaceWorks Kansas City Treaty billboards at http://peaceworkskc.org/

Tags: 2021 entry into force, CCNS, Costs, Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Honduras, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, international cooperation and assistance, January 22, Joni Arends, Membership, Nuclear Resister, Nukewatch (Wisconsin), Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, TPNW, Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, United Nations’ Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty, Universality, Victim Assistance and Environmental Remediation