A WORLDWIDE AND COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR

TEST BAN

A WORLDWIDE AND COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR

TEST BANTHE ROLE OF NON-NUCLEAR-WEAPON STATES

Randy Rydell Ph. D.UN Department for Disarmament AffairsStatement at the Organization of American States

Committee on Hemispheric Security 15 March 2007

THE ROLE OF NON-NUCLEAR-WEAPON STATES

Randy Rydell Ph. D.UN Department for Disarmament AffairsStatement at the Organization of American States

Committee on Hemispheric Security 15 March 2007

NUCLEAR WEAPONS

• … un atentado a la integridad de la especie humana y aún pueden tornar finalmente toda la Tierra inhabitable.

Preamble, Treaty of Tlatelolco

The Nuclear Weapon ChallengeMore than “Falling into the Wrong Hands”

• “The mere existence of nuclear weapons constitutes a threat to all humanity …”

Resolved, in Santiago de Chile Declaration

(Opanal General Conference, 2005)

• WMD (Blix) Commission, 2006

MEETING THE CHALLENGE

• Technical -- verification, irreversibility

• Economic -- dismantling and disposal

• Military -- security without the bomb

• Political -- networks in and among states

NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT AND THE RULE OF LAW

• First UNGA Resolution (1946)

• Countless UNGA resolutions to follow

• 5 NWFZ treaties

• NPT

• 1996 ICJ Advisory Opinion

• NPT: 1995 and 2000 Commitments

INTERNATIONAL LAW AND NUCLEAR TESTS

Goal found in a dozen global treaties:• CTBT and PTBT• NPT -- part of 1995 ‘package deal’• 5 NWFZ treaties• Antarctic and Seabed treaties• Moon and Outer Space treaties

UNGA resolutions, recently Res. 61/104• Adopted by vote of 172-2-4 (2006)

Goals of a CTBT

SHORT TERM: ban all nuclear tests

MEDIUM TERM: nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation

LONG TERM: “General and Complete Disarmament”

BENEFITS OF A CTBT

• Prevent “vertical” proliferation

• Reinforce norm against possession

• Advance non-proliferation goals

• Environment, health, and safety

Building on Tlatelolco

• Pelindaba and Semipalatinsk: entry into force

• Universal regional membership• P5 ratification of Protocols• Promote new zones: Southern

Hemisphere, Middle East, South Asia, Northeast Asia

• Explore WMD-free zone concept

Progress on WMD-free Zones

• Long-standing goal in the Middle East, recognized by all states

• “We declare our objective to make the Americas a region free of biological and chemical weapons.” - Declaration on Security in the Americas (2003)

• A model WMD-free zone treaty? Keep the nuclear disarmament priority, and coordinate with international WMD regimes.

Coordinated efforts needed on many levels

• Unilateral

• Bilateral

• Plurilateral

• Regional

• Multilateral/global

Importance of Expanding Participation

• Parliamentarians, mayors, governors

• Networking among diverse NGOs

• Expanded support from foundations

• Coordinated action in multilateral fora

• High-level policy statements

• Education and training

Conclusion

• “Security is strengthened when we deepen its human dimension.” Declaration on Security in the Americas (2003)

• Freeing the world from WMD requires sustained efforts at all political levels -- grassroots to global

• The OAS has shown how regional action can advance global norms -- a strong foundation for meeting the WMD challenges ahead.