Commitment Towards a World Free of Nuclear Weapons
A reflection by Delia Chatoor
Delia Chatoor, Pax Christi Scotland member in the Caribbean and UN commentator, shares her reflection on the March Meeting of the States Parties of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – a reflection all the more important because of the fragile global situation.
The third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was held at the United Nations Headquarters, New York from 03 to 07 March 2025. Included among the delegates were the signatory States, and observer States, as well as other observers, civil society, the scientific community, academia, individuals, religious leaders and survivors of nuclear weapons use and testing.
At the conclusion of the Meeting, a forty paragraph Declaration was adopted entitled: “Strengthening our commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons amidst the rising global instability.” Four decisions were also approved and included the proposal for the first Review Conference of the TPNW to be held within the week of 30 November to 04 December 2026, an intersessional structure for the implementation of the Treaty, continued work on the elaboration of an International Trust Fund for victim assistance and environmental remediation from the consequences of nuclear use and testing and the continued role of the Scientific Advisory Group.
Delegates were very united in their recognition that the Meeting was being held in the 80th year after nuclear weapons were first tested and used. It was made abundantly clear that nuclear weapons were never to be used again so that it was imperative for increased efforts to be made towards the universalisation of the TPNW. There are now 94 signatories and 73 States Parties.
There is, however, an increased awareness and concern about the retention of nuclear weapons and the devastating humanitarian and environmental consequences of the use of nuclear weapons. While in the past it was argued that there was no evidence to substantiate such claims, the reality now is that there is new scientific evidence of the harms occasioned with the risks once there are nuclear weapons.
The dangers associated with heightened geopolitical tensions must give all peace-loving citizens of the world more food for thought. The states which possess nuclear weapons may be aware of this reality but they are still expanding their arsenals as well as devoting considerable human and financial resources to modernise them. Such action is unrealistic as the diversion may reduce these resources from life-saving programmes associated with climate change, health, education, and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In his statement at the Third Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW, H.E. Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio, and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations observed that there was a “growing sense of mistrust and fear in the international community.” He further intoned that investments should be “directed towards a paradigm of peace and security defined by fraternity, as opposed to deterrence and military escalation.”
Even within states which possess nuclear weapons or are under the so-called nuclear umbrella, parliamentarians and large groups of civil society have been advocating for the universalisation of the TPNW as well as the establishment of the proposed International Trust Fund which would render much needed support to communities affected by nuclear weapons and nuclear testing. Just as there is the call for “climate justice”, the international community must also enhance support for “nuclear justice”.
At the meeting, delegates considered the principle of “nuclear deterrence” which is seen as the reality whereby governments may seek to act with greater caution should they come “to the nuclear brink.” It may nevertheless be argued that the clearest effect of nuclear deterrence should be the decision not to use nuclear weapons. There is, however, the new or emerging concern that “nuclear stability” could be threatened “by some advanced technological capabilities; including low-yield nuclear weapons, cyber offensive capabilities, autonomous weapons and artificial intelligence-based decision systems, hypersonic glide vehicles, anti-satellite weapons, and missile defences.”
Such has been the unease that States Parties included in the said Declaration, their alarm at the intensification of the “reliance on nuclear deterrence in security doctrines.” It is because of such situations that there is an urgent call for civil society through its wide-range of organisations as well as individuals to join hands and support existing campaigns which call for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
Greater dialogue must also be fostered by States Parties to the equally relevant treaty – the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT) – so that all nuclear-weapon States would be reminded of their binding obligations and, in particular, Article VI with its key commitments which also call for the total elimination of their nuclear weapons.
Even though many decisions of the UN General Assembly may not be binding, they do seek to show the moral compass of the international community. The inclusion in the Pact for the Future which was the outcome document of the Summit of the Future, held at the UN in 2024, of the rejection of nuclear weapons and the recognition that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” is the clear temperature of the international community. As individuals and groups, we are charged with the obligation to do all we can to engender the hope of a nuclear-weapons free world.