Third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (3MSP TPNW) General exchange of views

Mr President,

Excellencies, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am honoured to represent the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at the third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), alongside representatives of organizations and communities that fought hard, over decades, to outlaw these catastrophic and inhumane weapons.

Today, almost half of the world’s States have expressed their will to be bound by the TPNW. This is a groundbreaking achievement. A victory for multilateralism and a resounding call to make humanity the centre of all debates and decision-making on nuclear disarmament.

Let me highlight why the TPNW is so important.

First, it fills a legal gap by comprehensively prohibiting nuclear weapons. The ICRC and the entire Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement have been advocating for such a prohibition ever since witnessing first-hand the horrific impact of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The prohibition fully aligns with the rules and principles of international humanitarian law (IHL), upon which the treaty is premised. It is extremely doubtful that nuclear weapons could ever be used in compliance with IHL. 

Second, it advances nuclear disarmament, at a time when progress in this respect is woefully lacking. The prohibition of nuclear weapons is an indispensable step towards their elimination and an effective measure in line with Article VI of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Third, it seeks to mitigate the harm caused by past nuclear weapons use and testing on people and on the environment, by establishing robust obligations regarding victim assistance and environmental remediation.
Ultimately, the TPNW makes a real contribution to peace efforts; for how can there be lasting peace in a world where nuclear weapons exist?

Mr President, 

We meet at a bleak moment in history. Current dynamics and geopolitical tensions, the ongoing modernization of nuclear arsenals, technological developments, changes in nuclear doctrines and unbridled rhetoric – all have alarmingly increased the risk of deliberate or accidental use of nuclear weapons. History and science show that any such use would have catastrophic humanitarian consequences, to which no State or international organization can ever respond. 

Threatening to use nuclear weapons through statements or other actions has become commonplace. Nuclear threats raise serious concerns from a humanitarian, legal and ethical perspective. They increase the probability of use and risk normalizing it in political discourse and public opinion, thus eroding the long-established taboo. They fuel tensions, give impetus to the arms race and may even trigger proliferation.  
Nuclear threats are unequivocally prohibited under the TPNW and are inconsistent with the object and purpose of the NPT. By implying the possibility of using nuclear weapons, such threats are abhorrent to the principles of humanity and the dictates of public conscience. 

I call on all States in the room today, and on those not here with us this week, to consistently condemn nuclear threats to lower the risk of escalation and strengthen the nuclear taboo. 

Mr. President, 

I cannot stress it enough: universalizing the TPNW is critical. There are currently 73 States party to the TPNW, while 25 other States have signed it, and I congratulate Indonesia, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone and Solomon Islands on becoming High Contracting Parties last year. 

The TPNW complements and reinforces other instruments that make up the broader nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation framework, including the NPT, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and the regional Treaties establishing zones free from nuclear weapons (NWFZ). It promotes the objectives of these treaties, countering the proliferation of nuclear weapons, prohibiting their testing, and aiming towards a universal nuclear weapon-free zone. 

We must build on this complementarity to foster trust and cooperation. I am pleased to see many Observer States here today – a testament to the fact that nuclear disarmament is a common interest and shared responsibility. I call on them and on all other States to join the TPNW without delay.

Lastly, Mr President, let me underscore the importance of ensuring the full and effective implementation of the treaty. As outlined in more detail in our Working Paper, I call on States Parties to:

• Reiterate the deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, reaffirm the incompatibility of IHL with such use, and condemn any threat of use of nuclear weapons by anyone. This is in itself an important risk reduction and confidence-building measure.
• Continue and advance work towards the establishment of an International Trust Fund for victim assistance and environmental remediation.
• Agree on concrete actions to highlight the security concerns posed by the continued existence of nuclear weapons, based on the outcome of the consultative process; and
• Explore, develop, and promote complementarity and synergies with the NPT and NWFZ treaties, together with all States Party to those treaties.

The complete elimination of nuclear weapons is an unwavering priority for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. I assure you that we will continue to work tirelessly until a world free from nuclear weapons becomes reality.