Chapter VII Disarmament · Momentum towards the entry into force and universalization of ... Chapter VII. Disarmament. Chapter VII: Disarmament 463. YUN 2013—3rd proof—9 November

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Disarmament to overcome its differences and agree on a programme of work that would allow for the resumption of substantive work. A major develop-ment in 2013 was the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty by the Assembly on 2 April. By the end of the year, 115 countries had signed the Treaty and 9 of them had become parties. Meanwhile, the Security Council adopted its first resolution on small arms and light weapons, recognizing the negative impact of the illicit flows of such weapons, which often un-dermined the Council’s efforts to restore peace and stability in conflict and post-conflict situations.

The Third Review Conference of States Parties to Review the Operation of the Convention (The Hague, 8–19 April) adopted a substantive and forward-looking final outcome document that reaffirmed States parties’ commitment to the global chemical weapons ban and provided future policy guidance. Following the decision by the Secretary-General to establish a United Nations Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic, the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weap-ons (opcw) elaborated an accelerated programme for removing those weapons from Syria, which was en-dorsed by the Security Council. That was an unprec-edented undertaking in an active war zone. Opcw was awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.

The United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament continued to help with capacity-building measures for preventing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, while also assisting Member States and key stakeholders in implement-ing Security Council resolution 1540(2004) con-cerning the proliferation of weapons of mass de-struction and their acquisition by non-State actors.

UN machinery

Disarmament issues before the United Nations were considered mainly through the Security Coun-cil, the General Assembly and its First (Disarmament and International Security) Committee, the Disarma-ment Commission (a deliberative body) and the Con-ference on Disarmament (a multilateral negotiating forum which met in Geneva). The Organization also maintained efforts to engage civil society organiza-tions concerned with disarmament issues.

Efforts by the United Nations to advance the inter-national disarmament and non-proliferation agenda through its disarmament machinery (the Disarma-ment Commission, the Conference on Disarmament and the General Assembly’s First Committee) were mixed during 2013. A landmark development during the year was the convening by the General Assembly of a one-day high-level meeting on 26 September, with the aim of contributing to the achievement of the goal of nuclear disarmament. The meeting agreed to convene, no later than 2018, a United Nations high-level international conference on nuclear disarmament to review progress made in that regard and declared 26 September as the International Day for the To-tal Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. Momentum towards the entry into force and universalization of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was sus-tained in 2013, with ratification by four more States. However, on 12 February, the Democratic People’s Re-public of Korea (dprk) carried out its third declared nuclear test explosion. In March, the Security Council condemned that nuclear test, as well as the dprk’s on-going nuclear activities. On the other hand, there was significant breakthroughs with respect to the nuclear programme of Iran, which reached agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (iaea) on a Joint Action Plan. In November, they also agreed on a Joint Statement on a Framework for Cooperation, including measures for resolving outstanding issues. The implementation of the commitments agreed to at the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (npt) remained a central focus. While acknowledging some progress in the implementation of the commit-ments made at the 2010 Review Conference, States parties recognized that greater implementation efforts were required. Meanwhile, the issue of the humanita-rian approach to disarmament continued to gain prominence, centered on building a better public understanding of the humanitarian consequences of using nuclear weapons. In March, Norway hosted an international conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons (Oslo, 4–5 March), which recog-nized the unlikelihood that any State or international body could adequately address the resulting imme-diate humanitarian emergency, or provide sufficient assistance to those affected.

Major progress in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, however, continued to be impeded in particular by the inability of the Conference on

Chapter VII

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Working Group I considered the Chair’s non-paper on the subject, and four working papers arising from the ensuing discussions. Working Group II discussed the Chair’s revised non-paper on the subject. On 17 April, the Chair announced his intention to issue the non-paper as a working paper without prejudice to the position of any delegation and its right to put forward further proposals. The Commission did not reach consensus on concrete proposals regarding ei-ther of the two items.

On 19 April, the Disarmament Commission adopted its report to the General Assembly.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION

On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the First (Disarmament and International Security) Committee [A/68/413], adopted resolution 68/63 without vote [agenda item 101 (b)].

Report of the Disarmament Commission

The General Assembly,Having considered the report of the Disarmament Com-

mission,Recalling its resolutions 47/54 A of 9 December 1992,

47/54 G of 8 April 1993, 48/77 A of 16 December 1993, 49/77 A of 15 December 1994, 50/72 D of 12 December 1995, 51/47 B of 10 December 1996, 52/40 B of 9 De-cember 1997, 53/79 A of 4 December 1998, 54/56 A of 1 December 1999, 55/35 C of 20 November 2000, 56/26 A of 29 November 2001, 57/95 of 22 November 2002, 58/67 of 8 December 2003, 59/105 of 3 December 2004, 60/91 of 8 December 2005, 61/98 of 6 December 2006, 62/54 of 5 December 2007, 63/83 of 2 December 2008, 64/65 of 2 December 2009, 65/86 of 8 December 2010, 66/60 of 2 December 2011 and 67/71 of 3 December 2012,

Considering the role that the Disarmament Commission has been called upon to play and the contribution that it should make in examining and submitting recommenda-tions on various problems in the field of disarmament and in promoting the implementation of the relevant decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth special session,

1. Takes note of the report of the Disarmament Com-mission;

2. Reaffirms the validity of its decision 52/492 of 8 September 1998 concerning the efficient functioning of the Disarmament Commission;

3. Recalls that, in its resolution 61/98, the General Assembly adopted additional measures for improving the effectiveness of the methods of work of the Disarmament Commission;

4. Reaffirms the mandate of the Disarmament Com-mission as the specialized, deliberative body within the United Nations multilateral disarmament machinery that allows for in-depth deliberations on specific disarmament issues, leading to the submission of concrete recommenda-tions on those issues;

5. Also reaffirms the importance of further enhancing the dialogue and cooperation among the First Commit-tee, the Disarmament Commission and the Conference on Disarmament;

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Af-fairs provided substantive and organizational support to UN bodies, fostered disarmament measures and disseminated impartial and up-to-date information.

UN Office for Disarmament Affairs

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Af-fairs (unoda) continued to provide for norm-setting in disarmament through the work of the General Assem-bly and its First Committee, the Disarmament Com-mission, the Conference on Disarmament and other bodies. It fostered disarmament measures, encouraged regional disarmament efforts, provided information on multilateral disarmament and reinforced the Or-ganization’s advocacy potential in disarmament and non-proliferation. The Office maintained regional cen-tres for Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Unoda supported activities related to implementa-tion of Security Council resolution 1540(2004) relat-ing to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass de-struction (wmds) [YUN 2004, p. 544]. It organized and supported 20 events focusing on facilitating national implementation activities, cooperation between inter-national, regional and subregional organizations, and effective partnerships with civil society and the private sector. The Office addressed the issues of armed vio-lence by developing guidelines on how to establish and maintain gun-free zones, and updated the database of the “Global Reported Arms Trade” platform, by add-ing several new functions to enhance its utility. As part of its effort to support implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy [YUN 2006, p. 66], unoda continued to maintain the roster of ex-perts and laboratories provided by Member States. The Office contributed to the Secretary-General’s report highlighting its work on mainstreaming gender in disarmament and the regulation of armaments.

During the year, unoda continued to build on its information and outreach activities. Its flagship publication, The United Nations Disarmament Year-book [Sales Nos. E.14.IX.9], as well as the Basic Guide to Disarmament.

Disarmament Commission

In 2013, the United Nations Disarmament Com-mission, comprising all UN Member States, held six plenary meetings (New York, 1–19 April) [A/68/42] and an organizational meeting on 20 December. The main agenda items were: recommendations for achieving the objective of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, addressed by the Commission’s Working Group I and practical confidence-building measures in the field of con-ventional weapons, addressed by Working Group II.

464 Part One: Political and security questions


Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Secretary-General of the Conference and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, called for an end to the continued stalemate concerning the work of the Conference to avoid jeopardizing its credibility. He stated that the Conference, as the single multilat-eral negotiating forum, was central to disarmament negotiation and strengthening the rule of law in global disarmament, and called upon States to ensure that it lived up to its responsibility and revived substantial negotiations without delay. The Conference concluded its 2013 session without reaching consensus on a pro-gramme of work.

On 12 September, the Conference adopted its report [CD/1963] for transmission to the General Assembly.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/413], adopted resolution 68/64 without vote [agenda item 101 (a)].

Report of the Conference on Disarmament

The General Assembly,Having considered the report of the Conference on Dis-

armament,Convinced that the Conference on Disarmament, as the

sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the in-ternational community, has the primary role in substantive negotiations on priority questions of disarmament,

Recognizing the message of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, as well as the addresses of Ministers for Foreign Affairs and other high-level officials in the Confer-ence on Disarmament, as expressions of support and con-cern for the endeavours of the Conference and as calls for the Conference to immediately commence negotiations to advance disarmament goals through the adoption of a bal-anced and comprehensive programme of work,

Recognizing also the need to conduct multilateral nego-tiations with the aim of reaching agreement on concrete is-sues, and considering that the present international climate should give additional impetus to multilateral negotiations,

Noting with renewed concern that, despite the intensive efforts by States members and successive Presidents of the Conference on Disarmament in the 2013 session to reach consensus on a programme of work on the basis of relevant proposals and suggestions, including the revised draft deci-sion of 11 February 2013 submitted for adoption and the draft decisions circulated on 21 June and 13 August 2013, the Conference did not succeed in commencing its substan-tive work, including negotiations, as called for by the Gen-eral Assembly in its resolution 67/72 of 3 December 2012, or in agreeing on and implementing a programme of work,

Recalling, in this respect, that the Conference on Dis-armament has a number of urgent and important issues for negotiation to achieve disarmament goals,

Welcoming the overwhelming call for greater flexibility with respect to commencing the substantive work of the Conference on Disarmament without further delay, on the basis of a balanced and comprehensive programme of work,

6. Requests the Disarmament Commission to continue its work in accordance with its mandate, as set forth in paragraph 118 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, and with paragraph 3 of Assembly resolution 37/78 H of 9 December 1982 and to that end to make every effort to achieve specific recommen-dations on the items on its agenda, taking into account the adopted “Ways and means to enhance the functioning of the Disarmament Commission”;

7. Recommends that the Disarmament Commission continue the consideration of the following items at its substantive session of 2014:

(a) Recommendations for achieving the objective of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons;

(b) Practical confidence-building measures in the field of conventional weapons;

8. Requests the Disarmament Commission to meet for a period not exceeding three weeks during 2014, namely from 7 to 25 April, and to submit a substantive report to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Disarmament Commission the annual report of the Con-ference on Disarmament, together with all the official records of the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly relating to disarmament matters, and to render all assist-ance that the Commission may require for implementing the present resolution;

10. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure full provision to the Disarmament Commission and its sub-sidiary bodies of interpretation and translation facilities in the official languages and to assign, as a matter of priority, all the resources and services necessary, including verbatim records, to that end;

11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “Review of the implementation of the recommendations and decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth special ses-sion”, the sub-item entitled “Report of the Disarmament Commission”.

Conference on Disarmament

The Conference on Disarmament, a multilateral negotiating body, held 29 formal and three informal plenary meetings (Geneva, 21 January–29 March, 13 May–28 June, and 29 July–13 September) [A/68/27]. The Conference considered the cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament (see p. 472); pre-vention of nuclear war (ibid.); prevention of an arms race in outer space (see p. 525); effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons (see p. 475); new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons: radiological weapons (see p. 489); comprehensive programme of disarma-ment (see p. 465); and transparency in armaments (see p. 521).

The Secretary-General, in his message to the Conference, delivered on 22 January [CD/PV.1273] by



9. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session a report on its work;

10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “Review of the implementation of the recommendations and decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth special ses-sion”, the sub-item entitled “Report of the Conference on Disarmament”.

Also on the same day (decision 68/519), the As-sembly decided to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth (2014) session the item entitled “Revital-izing the work of the Conference on Disarmament and taking forward multilateral disarmament negotiations”.

Comprehensive programme of disarmamentThe Conference on Disarmament discussed agenda

item 6, “Comprehensive Programme of Disarmament”, at one formal meeting (14 May). Delegations reaffirmed their respective positions on the agenda item.

Multilateral disarmament agreements

As at 31 December 2013, the following States had become parties to the multilateral arms regulation and disarmament agreements listed below (in chronologi-cal order, with the years in which they were signed or opened for signature).

Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacte-riological Methods of Warfare (1925 Geneva Protocol): 138 parties

Antarctic Treaty (1959): 50 partiesTreaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the At-

mosphere, in Outer Space and under Water (Partial Test Ban Treaty) (1963): 126 parties

Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, in-cluding the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (Outer Space Treaty) (1967) [YUN 1966, p. 41, GA res. 2222(XXI), annex]: 102 parties

Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) (1967): 33 parties

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weap-ons (npt) (1968) [YUN 1968, p. 17, GA res. 2373(XXII), an-nex]: 190 parties

Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass De-struction on the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof (Sea-bed Treaty) (1971) [YUN 1970, p. 18, GA res. 2660(XXV), annex]: 94 parties

Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Bio-logical) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction (bwc) (1972) [YUN 1971, p. 19, GA res. 2826(XXV), annex]: 168 parties

Appreciating the continued cooperation among the States members of the Conference on Disarmament as well as the six successive Presidents of the Conference at its 2013 session,

Noting with appreciation the significant contributions made during the 2013 session to promote substantive dis-cussions on issues on the agenda and, in addition, on the re-vitalization of the Conference on Disarmament, as well as the discussions held on other issues that could also be relevant to the current international security environment,

Emphasizing the importance of the United Nations Insti-tute for Disarmament Research, as a stand-alone, autonomous institution, and the contribution that its research makes,

Recognizing the importance of engagement between civil society and the Conference on Disarmament according to decisions taken by the Conference,

Stressing the urgent need for the Conference on Disarm-ament to commence its substantive work at the beginning of its 2014 session,

1. Reaffirms the role of the Conference on Disarmament as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community;

2. Appreciates the strong support expressed for the Con-ference on Disarmament during its 2013 session by Ministers for Foreign Affairs and other high-level officials, while also acknowledging their concern about its ongoing impasse, and takes into account their calls for greater flexibility with re-spect to commencing the substantive work of the Conference without further delay;

3. Calls upon the Conference on Disarmament to fur-ther intensify consultations and to explore possibilities for overcoming its ongoing deadlock of well over a decade by adopting and implementing a balanced and comprehensive programme of work at the earliest possible date during its 2014 session, bearing in mind the decision on the programme of work adopted by the Conference on 29 May 2009, as well as other relevant present, past and future proposals;

4. Welcomes the decision of the Conference on Disarm-ament to establish an informal working group with a man-date to produce a programme of work robust in substance and progressive over time in implementation, appreciates the efforts that led to its submission and adoption, and takes note of the provisions of that decision;

5. Also welcomes the decision of the Conference on Dis-armament to request the current President and the incoming President of the Conference to conduct consultations during the intersessional period and, if possible, to make recom-mendations, taking into account all relevant proposals, past, present and future, including those submitted as documents of the Conference, views presented and discussions held, and to endeavour to keep the membership of the Conference informed, as appropriate, of their consultations;

6. Requests all States members of the Conference on Disarmament to cooperate with the current President and successive Presidents in their efforts to guide the Conference to the early commencement of its substantive work, includ-ing negotiations, in its 2014 session;

7. Recognizes the importance of continuing consulta-tions on the question of the expansion of the membership of the Conference on Disarmament;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure and to strengthen, if needed, the provision to the Conference on Disarmament of all necessary administrative, substantive and conference support services;



disarmament and development. The report contained information received from nine countries (Armenia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Colombia, Iraq, Mexico, Portugal, Qatar, Spain) on measures to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social development. Within the United Nations, the main coordination mechanisms on issues relating to arms and development remained the United Nations Mine Action Team, the Coordinating Action on Small Arms, and the Inter-Agency Working Group on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration.

The Secretary-General said that progress in dis-armament could create a conducive environment for development, and vice versa. In particular, an exces-sive accumulation of arms in a country could have a negative impact on its development. While arms in themselves might not be the root cause of violence and conflict, their spread and easy availability, and the increased likelihood of their diversion and misuse, could endanger stability and welfare, as well as dimin-ish investors’ confidence and lead to social inequality. The need to include peace and security into the post-2015 development framework was emphasized in the report of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Agenda (see p. 780) as one of the four key dimensions of development where progress was needed. Inclusion of a goal targeting reduction of vio-lence would require sustained investment, not only in arms control, but also in support of law enforcement capacity-building, violence prevention strategies, local governance, citizen security, and a range of measures intended to improve the responsiveness and oversight of national justice and security sector institutions.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/37 without vote [agenda item 99 (o)].

Relationship between disarmament and development

The General Assembly,Recalling that the Charter of the United Nations envis-

ages the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world’s human and economic resources,

Recalling also the provisions of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly con-cerning the relationship between disarmament and devel-opment, as well as the adoption on 11 September 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development,

Recalling further its resolutions 49/75 J of 15 December 1994, 50/70 G of 12 December 1995, 51/45 D of 10 De-cember 1996, 52/38 D of 9 December 1997, 53/77 K of 4 December 1998, 54/54 T of 1 December 1999, 55/33 L of 20 November 2000, 56/24 E of 29 November 2001,

Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (1977) [YUN 1976, p. 45, GA res. 31/72, annex]: 76 parties

Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (1979) [YUN 1979, p. 111, GA res. 34/68, annex]: 15 parties

Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indis-criminate Effects (ccw) (1981): 117 parties

South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (Rarotonga Treaty) (1985): 13 parties

Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (cfe Treaty) (1990): 30 parties

Treaty on Open Skies (1992): 34 partiesConvention on the Prohibition of the Development,

Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (cwc) (1993): 190 parties

Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Bangkok Treaty) (1995): 10 parties

African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Pelin-daba Treaty) (1996): 37 parties

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (ctbt) (1996): 161 parties

Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stock-piling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Mine-Ban Con-vention, formerly known as the Ottawa Convention) (1997): 161 parties

Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Man-ufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammuni-tion, Explosives, and Other Related Materials (1997): 31 parties

Inter-American Convention on Transparency in Conventional Weapons Acquisitions (1999): 16 parties

Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia (canwfz Treaty) (2006): 5 parties

Convention on Cluster Munitions (2008): 84 partiesCentral African Convention for the Control of

Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and All Parts and Components that Can Be Used for Their Manufacture, Repair and Assembly (Kinshasa Convention) (2010): 4 parties

Arms Trade Treaty (2013): 9 parties, 115 signatories.

UN role in disarmament

Disarmament and development

Report of Secretary-General. In response to Gen-eral Assembly resolution 67/40 [YUN 2012, p. 470], the Secretary-General in July [A/68/119 & Add.1] reported on trends to further strengthen the relationship between



6. Reiterates its invitation to Member States to pro-vide the Secretary-General with information regarding measures and efforts to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social develop-ment, with a view to reducing the ever-widening gap be-tween developed and developing countries;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Gen-eral Assembly at its sixty-ninth session on the implemen-tation of the present resolution, including the information provided by Member States pursuant to paragraph 6 above;

8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Relation-ship between disarmament and development”.

Women and disarmament

In response to General Assembly resolution 67/48 [YUN 2012, p. 470], the Secretary-General submitted a report on women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control [A/68/166 &Add.1] containing the replies of 12 Member States, the European Union, and six UN organizations to his request for their views on ways and means of promoting the role of women in those areas.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/33 without vote [agenda item 99 (t)].

Women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control

The General Assembly,Recalling that the Charter of the United Nations reaf-

firms the equal rights of women and men,Recalling also its resolutions 65/69 of 8 December 2010

and 67/48 of 3 December 2012,Recalling further General Assembly and Security Coun-

cil resolutions on the issue of women and peace and security,Recognizing that the equal, full and effective participation

of both women and men is one of the essential factors for the promotion and attainment of sustainable peace and security,

Recognizing also the valuable contribution of women to practical disarmament measures carried out at the local, na-tional, subregional and regional levels in the prevention and reduction of armed violence and armed conflict, and in pro-moting disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control,

Recognizing further that the role of women in disarma-ment, non-proliferation and arms control should be further developed,

Noting with appreciation the efforts of Member States to increase the participation of women in their national and regional coordination mechanisms on disarmament-related matters, including in efforts to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects,

1. Urges Member States, relevant subregional and re-gional organizations, the United Nations and the special-

57/65 of 22 November 2002, 59/78 of 3 December 2004, 60/61 of 8 December 2005, 61/64 of 6 December 2006, 62/48 of 5 December 2007, 63/52 of 2 December 2008, 64/32 of 2 December 2009, 65/52 of 8 December 2010, 66/30 of 2 December 2011 and 67/40 of 3 December 2012, and its decision 58/520 of 8 December 2003,

Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Sixteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Tehran from 26 to 31 August 2012,

Mindful of the changes in international relations that have taken place since the adoption in 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relation-ship between Disarmament and Development, including the development agenda that has emerged over the past decade,

Bearing in mind the new challenges for the international community in the fields of development, poverty eradication and the elimination of the diseases that afflict humanity,

Stressing the importance of the symbiotic relationship between disarmament and development and the impor-tant role of security in this connection, and concerned at increasing global military expenditure, which could oth-erwise be spent on development needs,

Recalling the report of the Group of Governmental Ex-perts on the relationship between disarmament and Devel-opment and its reappraisal of this significant issue in the current international context,

Bearing in mind the importance of following up on the implementation of the action programme adopted at the 1987 International Conference on the Relationship be-tween Disarmament and Development,

1. Stresses the central role of the United Nations in the relationship between disarmament and development, and requests the Secretary-General to strengthen further the role of the Organization in this field, in particular the high-level Steering Group on Disarmament and Develop-ment, in order to ensure continued and effective coordina-tion and close cooperation between the relevant United Nations departments, agencies and subagencies;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take action, through appropriate organs and within available resources, for the implementation of the action programme adopted on 11 September 1987 at the International Con-ference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development;

3. Urges the international community to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social development, with a view to reducing the ever-widening gap between developed and developing countries;

4. Encourages the international community to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to make reference to the contribution that disarmament could provide in meeting them when it reviews its progress towards this pur-pose in 2013, as well as to make greater efforts to integrate disarmament, humanitarian and development activities;

5. Encourages the relevant regional and subregional organizations and institutions, non-governmental organi-zations and research institutes to incorporate issues related to the relationship between disarmament and development into their agendas and, in this regard, to take into account the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on the relationship between disarmament and development;



cooperation among nuclear-weapon-free zones, includ-ing the possible creation of a platform/forum for the exchange of lessons learned, benefits and limitations; explore the challenges and all aspects to the establish-ment of new zones; encourage further participation of think tanks and civil society in overcoming current deadlocks; and support efforts to establish a zone free of nuclear weapons and all weapons of mass destruc-tion in the Middle East. The Secretary-General should encourage the promotion of confidence-building and constructive dialogue among the States of the region with the objective of breaking the current impasse. He should also consider the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in North-East Asia, including by promoting a more active role for the regional forums in encouraging transparency and confidence-building among the countries of the region.

The Board further recommended that the Secretary-General take the issue of disarmament and the security implications of emerging technologies in hand, emphasize the possible dangers of weapon sys-tems controlled by machine algorithms and encour-age increased transparency in the field, while noting the value of such technologies in the service of peace and security. He should commission a comprehensive study on emerging technological trends and the legal, ethical and other aspects of and limits to the develop-ment, proliferation and use of the increasingly autono-mous weapons technology.

As the Board of Trustees for unidir, the Advisory Board approved the report of the Institute’s Director from August 2012 to July 2013 and the 2013–2014 programme of work and budget for submission to the General Assembly. The Board recommended continu-ing the subvention from the UN regular budget for the 2014–2015 biennium and reiterated its earlier recom-mendation for an increase in the level of that subven-tion. The Board approved the unidir Director’s report entitled “A sustainable funding structure for unidir” for submission to the Secretariat. It agreed to establish a subgroup to manage the process of succession for the Institute’s Director. Concerning the change manage-ment proposals and their impact on unidir, the Board was not persuaded that the autonomy and independ-ence of unidir would be upheld in the new structure, doubted that the outline plan would enable the Insti-tute to flourish in terms of fundraising and original research, and remained concerned that the value of unidir risked being significantly reduced.

Nuclear disarmament

In response to General Assembly resolutions 67/33 [YUN 2012, p. 484], 67/45 [ibid., p. 473] and 67/60 [ibid., p. 475], the Secretary-General submitted a July report

ized agencies to promote equal opportunities for the repre-sentation of women in all decision-making processes with regard to matters related to disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control, in particular as it relates to the prevention and reduction of armed violence and armed conflict;

2. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the measures taken by Member States to implement General Assembly resolution 67/48;

3. Also welcomes the continuing efforts of the United Nations organs, agencies, funds and programmes to accord high priority to the issue of women and peace and security, and in this regard notes the role of the United Nations En-tity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) in promoting the implementation of all reso-lutions related to women in the context of peace and security;

4. Urges Member States to support and strengthen the effective participation of women in organizations in the field of disarmament at the local, national, subregional and regional levels;

5. Calls upon all States to empower women, including through capacity-building efforts, as appropriate, to parti-cipate in the design and implementation of disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control efforts;

6. Requests the relevant United Nations organs, agen-cies, funds and programmes to assist States, upon request, in promoting the role of women in disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control, including in preventing, combating and eradicating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on ways and means of promoting the role of women in disarmament, non-proliferation and arms con-trol and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution;

8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control”.

Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters

The Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, which advised the Secretary-General and served as the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (unidir), held its fifty-ninth (New York, 27 February–1 March) and sixtieth (Geneva, 26–28 June) sessions. The Board considered the relations between nuclear-weapon-free zones in ad-vancing regional and global security and disarmament and security implications of emerging technologies. A report of the Secretary-General [A/68/206] summarized the Board’s deliberations.

The Board recommended that the Secretary-General continue to emphasize the important role of nuclear-weapon-free zones for regional and in-ternational peace and security, disarmament and non-proliferation, take the lead in promoting and strengthening existing zones, and encourage all nuclear-weapon States to extend formal endorsement to all zones. He should promote closer interaction and



Security Council. Efforts to convene the Conference on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, mandated by States parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty had not yet been successful. The number of nu-clear weapons in national arsenals remained high, with thousands of warheads maintained on high-alert status as part of continued adherence, on the part of some States, to a doctrine of nuclear deterrence. In addition, nuclear-weapon States continued to modernize their nuclear arsenals and nuclear-weapon delivery systems. Emerging issues, such as the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, continued to gain greater attention, as had new efforts to reinvigorate the debate and dis-cussion over the steps towards nuclear disarmament. Serious setbacks and concerns, however, at the slow pace of progress undercut the momentum generated by the successful 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference [YUN 2010, p. 531] and the 2012 session of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee [YUN 2012, p. 486].

Included in the report were replies from five Mem-ber States on measures that they had taken to imple-ment resolution 66/46 [YUN 2011, p. 498] concerning the follow-up to the advisory opinion of the Interna-tional Court of Justice (see p. 479) on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/40 by recorded vote (125-50-10) [agenda item 99 (r)].

Reducing nuclear danger

The General Assembly,Bearing in mind that the use of nuclear weapons poses

the most serious threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization,

Reaffirming that any use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would constitute a violation of the Charter of the United Nations,

Convinced that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects would seriously enhance the danger of nuclear war,

Convinced also that nuclear disarmament and the com-plete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war,

Considering that, until nuclear weapons cease to exist, it is imperative on the part of the nuclear-weapon States to adopt measures that assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons,

Considering also that the hair-trigger alert of nuclear weapons carries unacceptable risks of unintentional or ac-cidental use of nuclear weapons, which would have cata-strophic consequences for all mankind,

Emphasizing the need to adopt measures to avoid acci-dental, unauthorized or unexplained incidents arising from computer anomaly or other technical malfunctions,

[A/68/137] on nuclear disarmament. He observed that States had undertaken efforts to facilitate implemen-tation of nuclear and non-proliferation agreements. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative, at its sixth ministerial meeting (The Hague, 9 April), issued a joint ministerial statement stressing the need for systematic and continued reduction of all nuclear weapons, including non-strategic nuclear weapons, by all nuclear-weapon States, in a pragmatic and step-by-step approach aimed at their total elimi-nation. The statement also highlighted the Initiative’s continuing focus on transparency as a vital confidence-building measure on disarmament and on the impor-tance of reducing the role and significance of nuclear weapons in military and nuclear doctrines. At the fourth conference of Nuclear-weapon States (Geneva 18–19 April), under the chairmanship of the Russian Federation, the nuclear-weapon States reaffirmed their commitment to the shared goal of nuclear disarma-ment and to general and complete disarmament, and emphasized the importance of working together in implementing the actions agreed to at the 2010 Re-view Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [YUN 2010, p. 531]. At the second session of the meeting of the Pre-paratory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference (Geneva, 22 April–3 May), some States parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty continued to call for greater progress by the nuclear-weapon States, especially in achieving deeper reductions in all types of nuclear weapons, greater transparency and agreement on a standard reporting form, reductions in the operational status of nuclear weapons and in the role of nuclear weapons in security doctrines, and for the removal of weapons deployed on the territory of third-party coun-tries. Many States parties at the Preparatory Commit-tee stressed the need for the negotiation of a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons within a specified time frame, including a nuclear weapons convention. Norway hosted an in-ternational conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons (Oslo, 4–5 March) (see p. 481), mark-ing the first time that Governments had come together specifically to address the humanitarian impact caused by any use of nuclear weapons.

A number of setbacks and growing impatience with the slow pace of progress in other areas of key importance remained. The continued inability of the Conference on Disarmament to start substantive work on the basis of an agreed programme of work increased the level of frustration and concerns regarding the ef-fectiveness of that multilateral disarmament machin-ery. On 12 February, the Democratic People’s Repub-lic of Korea conducted its third nuclear test, despite the strong and unequivocal call from the international community to refrain from any further provocative measures, and contrary to the relevant decisions of the



Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz-stan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thai-land, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuni-sia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ger-many, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kiri-bati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zea-land, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, China, Geor-gia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Serbia, Uzbekistan.

General Assembly High-level meeting on nuclear disarmament

On 26 September, the General Assembly, as de-cided in resolution 67/39 [YUN 2012, p. 474], convened a one-day plenary high-level meeting on nuclear disarmament, with the aim of contributing to the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament. Seventy-four statements were made by Heads of State and Govern-ment, ministers and representatives at the meeting. Statements were made also by 48 speakers at the min-isterial level, and by five international organizations. Cuba, as President pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, circulated the Declaration of the Community of Latin Ameri-can and Caribbean States on nuclear disarmament [A/68/395], adopted at a meeting of senior officials (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 20 August).

Participants at the high-level meeting expressed their views on a range of issues related to nuclear dis-armament and the existing commitments and future opportunities that might lead towards the realization of that goal. The Assembly President prepared a sum-mary document as the outcome of the high-level meeting [A/68/563].

During the meeting, participants conducted a general review of and the general principles related to nuclear disarmament, took stock of unilateral, bi-

Conscious that limited steps relating to de-alerting and de-targeting have been taken by the nuclear-weapon States and that further practical, realistic and mutually reinforc-ing steps are necessary to contribute to the improvement in the international climate for negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons,

Mindful that a diminishing role for nuclear weapons in the security policies of nuclear-weapon States would positively impact on international peace and security and improve the conditions for the further reduction and the elimination of nuclear weapons,

Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly and by the international community,

Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of the threat or use of nu-clear weapons that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotia-tions leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control,

Recalling also the call, in the United Nations Millen-nium Declaration, to seek to eliminate the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction and the resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, par-ticularly nuclear weapons, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers,

1. Calls for a review of nuclear doctrines and, in this context, immediate and urgent steps to reduce the risks of unintentional and accidental use of nuclear weapons, includ-ing through de-alerting and de-targeting nuclear weapons;

2. Requests the five nuclear-weapon States to take measures towards the implementation of paragraph 1 above;

3. Calls upon Member States to take the measures nec-essary to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to promote nuclear disarmament, with the objective of eliminating nuclear weapons;

4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to paragraph 5 of its resolution 67/45 of 3 December 2012;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts and support initiatives that would contribute towards the full implementation of the seven recommendations identi-fied in the report of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters that would significantly reduce the risk of nuclear war, and also to continue to encourage Member States to consider the convening of an international conference, as proposed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session;

6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Reducing nuclear danger”.

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 68/40:In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and

Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bar-bados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,



Acknowledging the important role of civil society, includ-ing non-governmental organizations, academia, parliamen-tarians and the mass media, in advancing the objective of nuclear disarmament,

Sharing the deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and in this con-text reaffirming the need for all States at all times to comply with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law,

Mindful of the solemn obligations of States parties, un-dertaken in article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, particularly to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament,

Determined to work collectively towards the realization of nuclear disarmament,

1. Underlines the strong support, expressed at the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarm-ament, held on 26 September 2013, for taking urgent and effective measures to achieve the total elimination of nuclear weapons;

2. Calls for urgent compliance with the legal obliga-tions and the fulfilment of the commitments undertaken on nuclear disarmament;

3. Endorses the wide support expressed at the high-level meeting for a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons;

4. Calls for the urgent commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament for the early conclu-sion of a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons to prohibit their possession, development, production, acquisi-tion, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use or threat of use and to provide for their destruction;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States with regard to achieving the objective of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, in particular on the el-ements of a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons, and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session, and also to transmit the report to the Conference on Disarmament;

6. Decides to convene, no later than 2018, a United Nations high-level international conference on nuclear dis-armament to review the progress made in this regard;

7. Declares 26 September as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons devoted to fur-thering this objective, including through enhancing public awareness and education about the threat posed to human-ity by nuclear weapons and the necessity for their total elimi-nation, in order to mobilize international efforts towards achieving the common goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to make all the ar-rangements necessary to commemorate and promote the International Day;

9. Calls upon Member States, the United Nations sys-tem and civil society, including non-governmental organi-zations, academia, parliamentarians, the mass media and individuals, to commemorate and promote the International Day through all means of educational and public awareness-raising activities;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General As-sembly at its sixty-ninth session;

lateral and multilateral disarmament commitments and disarmament proposals, considered approaches on how to take forward multilateral negotiations for the achievement and maintenance of a world without nuclear weapons, and proposed follow-up action.

As part of the follow-up action, many States called for the establishment of an international day for nuclear disarmament and the convening of a high-level confer-ence in 2018 to review progress achieved on nuclear disarmament. Those States considered that the confer-ence could identify ways to eliminate nuclear weapons with the briefest possible delay, aimed at agreeing on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons within a specific time frame for ban-ning the development, production, acquisition, test-ing, stockpiling, transfer, use or threat of use of nuclear weapons and providing for their destruction.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/32 by recorded vote (137-28-20) [agenda item 99 (aa)].

Follow-up to the 2013 high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolution 67/39 of 3 December 2012,Welcoming the convening of the high-level meeting of

the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament, on 26 Sep-tember 2013, and recognizing its contribution to furthering the objective of the total elimination of nuclear weapons,

Emphasizing the importance of seeking a safer world for all and achieving peace and security in a world without nu-clear weapons,

Reaffirming that effective measures of nuclear disarma-ment have the highest priority, as affirmed at the first special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament,

Convinced that nuclear disarmament and the total elimi-nation of nuclear weapons are the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons,

Acknowledging the significant contribution made by a number of countries towards realizing the objective of nu-clear disarmament by the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, as well as by voluntary renunciation of nuclear weapon programmes or withdrawal of all nuclear weapons from their territories, and strongly supporting the speedy es-tablishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East,

Recalling the resolve of the Heads of State and Govern-ment, as contained in the United Nations Millennium Dec-laration, to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibil-ity of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers,

Reaffirming the central role of the United Nations in the field of disarmament, and also reaffirming the continued importance and relevance of multilateral disarmament ma-chinery as mandated by the General Assembly at its first special session devoted to disarmament,



a letter from Pakistan transmitting the press release issued by the Pakistan National Command Authority on 5 December 2013 [CD/1962 & Corr.1].


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/47 by recorded vote (122-44-17) [agenda item 99 (aa)].

Nuclear disarmament

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolution 49/75 E of 15 December 1994 on

a step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat, and its reso-lutions 50/70 P of 12 December 1995, 51/45 O of 10 De-cember 1996, 52/38 L of 9 December 1997, 53/77 X of 4 December 1998, 54/54 P of 1 December 1999, 55/33 T of 20 November 2000, 56/24 R of 29 November 2001, 57/79 of 22 November 2002, 58/56 of 8 December 2003, 59/77 of 3 December 2004, 60/70 of 8 December 2005, 61/78 of 6 December 2006, 62/42 of 5 December 2007, 63/46 of 2 December 2008, 64/53 of 2 December 2009, 65/56 of 8 December 2010, 66/51 of 2 December 2011 and 67/60 of 3 December 2012 on nuclear disarmament,

Reaffirming the commitment of the international com-munity to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weap-ons and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free world,

Bearing in mind that the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bac-teriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1972 and the Convention on the Prohibi-tion of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1993 have already established legal regimes on the complete pro-hibition of biological and chemical weapons, respectively, and determined to achieve a nuclear weapons convention on the prohibition of the development, testing, production, stockpiling, loan, transfer, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons and on their destruction, and to conclude such an international convention at an early date,

Recognizing that there now exist conditions for the estab-lishment of a world free of nuclear weapons, and stressing the need to take concrete practical steps towards achieving this goal,

Bearing in mind paragraph 50 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, the first special session devoted to disarmament, calling for the ur-gent negotiation of agreements for the cessation of the qual-itative improvement and development of nuclear-weapon systems and for a comprehensive and phased programme with agreed time frames, wherever feasible, for the progres-sive and balanced reduction of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, leading to their ultimate and complete elimination at the earliest possible time,

Reaffirming the conviction of the States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons that the Treaty is a cornerstone of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament, and the importance of the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty, the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, the decision on the extension of the Treaty and the resolution on the Middle East, adopted by

11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, a sub-item entitled “Follow-up to the 2013 high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament”.


Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhu-tan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hon-duras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao Peo-ple’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mon-golia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Phil-ippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uz-bekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Albania, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ger-many, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Lux-embourg, Micronesia, Monaco, Netherlands, Palau, Poland, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstaining: Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece, Japan, Montenegro, Norway, Portu-gal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine.

Conference on Disarmament

The Conference on Disarmament discussed agenda items 1: “Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nu-clear disarmament, and 2: “Prevention of nuclear war, including all related matters” in two plenary meetings (5 and 12 March) [CD/1963]. Delegations reaffirmed their respective positions on those agenda items. Among the documents before the Conference were a note verbale from Cuba transmitting the text of the Declaration adopted at the Workshop of Cuban Civil Society Organizations on Nuclear Disarmament (Ha-vana, 12 March) [CD/1950]; a note verbale from the United States transmitting the text of the White House fact sheet on nuclear weapons employment strategy of the United States of America [CD1953]; a working Paper submitted by Bangladesh, on behalf of member States of the G-21 on nuclear disarmament” [CD/1959]; and



Conference on Disarmament was called upon to establish, as soon as possible and as the highest priority, an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament and to commence ne-gotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimi-nation of nuclear weapons within a specified framework of time, including a nuclear weapons convention,

Noting the adoption of the programme of work for the 2009 session by the Conference on Disarmament on 29 May 2009, after years of stalemate, while regretting that the Conference has not been able to undertake substantive work on its agenda in 2013,

Welcoming the establishment of the informal working group with a mandate to produce a programme of work ro-bust in substance and progressive over time in implementa-tion by the Conference on Disarmament on 16 August 2013,

Reaffirming the importance and validity of the Conference on Disarmament as the sole multilateral negotiating forum on disarmament, and expressing the need to adopt and im-plement a balanced and comprehensive programme of work on the basis of its agenda and dealing with, inter alia, four core issues, in accordance with the rules of procedure, and by taking into consideration the security concerns of all States,

Reaffirming also the specific mandate conferred upon the Disarmament Commission by the General Assembly, in its decision 52/492 of 8 September 1998, to discuss the sub-ject of nuclear disarmament as one of its main substantive agenda items,

Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration, in which Heads of State and Government resolved to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, in par-ticular nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers,

Recalling also the statement on the total elimination of nuclear weapons adopted by the Sixteenth Ministerial Con-ference and Commemorative Meeting of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, from 23 to 27 May 2011, and recalled by the Heads of State and Government of Non-Aligned Countries at their Six-teenth Conference, in which the Movement reiterated its call for an international conference to identify ways and means of eliminating nuclear weapons at the earliest possible date,

Welcoming the successful convening of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament on 26 September 2013, at which it was proposed that 26 September be designated the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons,

Reaffirming that, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, States should refrain from the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons in settling their disputes in inter-national relations,

Seized of the danger of the use of weapons of mass de-struction, particularly nuclear weapons, in terrorist acts and the urgent need for concerted international efforts to control and overcome it,

1. Recognizes that the time is now opportune for all the nuclear-weapon States to take effective disarmament measures to achieve the total elimination of these weapons at the earliest possible time;

2. Reaffirms that nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are substantively interrelated and mutu-ally reinforcing, that the two processes must go hand in

the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,

Stressing the importance of the 13 steps for the systematic and progressive efforts to achieve the objective of nuclear disarmament leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons, as agreed to by the States parties in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,

Recognizing the important work done at the 2010 Re-view Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and affirming its action plan as an impetus to intensify work aimed at beginning negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention,

Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly and by the international community,

Reiterating its call for an early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,

Noting the entry into force of the new strategic arms reduction treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America, in order to achieve further deep cuts in their strategic and tactical nuclear weapons, and stressing that such cuts should be irreversible, verifiable and transparent,

Recalling the entry into force of the Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Strategic Offensive Reductions (the Moscow Treaty) as a significant step towards reducing their deployed strategic nuclear weapons, while calling for further irreversible deep cuts in their nuclear arsenals,

Noting the positive statements by nuclear-weapon States of their intention to pursue actions in achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, while reaffirming the need for urgent concrete actions by nuclear-weapon States to achieve this goal within a specified framework of time, and urging them to take further measures for progress on nuclear disarmament,

Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament, and that bilateral negotiations can never replace multilateral ne-gotiations in this respect,

Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elabora-tion of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and the multilateral efforts in the Conference on Disarmament to reach agreement on such an international convention at an early date,

Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weap-ons, issued on 8 July 1996, and welcoming the unanimous reaffirmation by all Judges of the Court that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control,

Mindful of paragraph 102 of the Final Document of the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Havana from 27 to 30 April 2009,

Recalling paragraph 157 and other relevant recommenda-tions in the Final Document of the Sixteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Tehran from 26 to 31 August 2012, in which the



14. Also calls for the full implementation of the action plan as set out in the conclusions and recommendations for follow-on actions of the Final Document of the 2010 Re-view Conference, particularly the 22-point action plan on nuclear disarmament;

15. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to carry out fur-ther reductions of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process;

16. Calls for the immediate commencement of ne-gotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effec-tively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices on the basis of the report of the Special Coordinator and the mandate contained therein;

17. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to com-mence as early as possible its substantive work during its 2014 session, while welcoming the establishment of the informal working group with a mandate to produce a pro-gramme of work robust in substance and progressive over time in implementation, on the basis of a comprehensive and balanced programme of work that takes into consideration all the real and existing priorities in the field of disarmament and arms control, including the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty with a view to their conclu-sion within five years;

18. Calls for the conclusion of an international legal instrument or instruments on adequate and unconditional security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States;

19. Also calls for the early entry into force and strict observance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, while welcoming the recent ratification of the Treaty by Bru-nei Darussalam, Chad, Guinea-Bissau and Iraq;

20. Expresses its regret that the Conference on Disarm-ament was unable to establish an ad hoc committee to deal with nuclear disarmament in 2013, as called for by the Gen-eral Assembly in its resolution 67/60;

21. Reiterates its call upon the Conference on Disarma-ment to establish, as soon as possible and as the highest pri-ority, an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament in 2014 and to commence negotiations on a phased programme of nuclear disarmament leading to the total elimination of nu-clear weapons within a specified framework of time;

22. Calls for the convening of an international confer-ence on nuclear disarmament in all its aspects at an early date to identify and deal with concrete measures of nuclear disarmament;

23. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution;

24. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Nuclear disarmament”.


Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangla-desh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dem-

hand and that there is a genuine need for a systematic and progressive process of nuclear disarmament;

3. Welcomes and encourages the efforts to establish new nuclear-weapon-free zones in different parts of the world, in-cluding the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nu-clear weapons, on the basis of agreements or arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the regions concerned, which is an effective measure for limiting the further spread of nuclear weapons geographically and contributes to the cause of nuclear disarmament;

4. Welcomes the ongoing efforts between the States members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the nuclear-weapon States, and encourages the nuclear-weapon States in their early signing of the Protocol to the Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone;

5. Recognizes that there is a genuine need to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in strategic doctrines and security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination;

6. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to stop immediately the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems;

7. Also urges the nuclear-weapon States, as an interim measure, to de-alert and deactivate immediately their nu-clear weapons and to take other concrete measures to reduce further the operational status of their nuclear-weapon sys-tems, while stressing that reductions in deployments and in operational status cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in and the total elimination of nuclear weapons;

8. Reiterates its call upon the nuclear-weapon States to undertake the step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat and to carry out effective nuclear disarmament measures with a view to achieving the total elimination of these weap-ons within a specified framework of time;

9. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States, pending the achievement of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, to agree on an internationally and legally binding instru-ment on a joint undertaking not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and calls upon all States to conclude an interna-tionally and legally binding instrument on security assur-ances of non-use and non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States;

10. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to commence plurilateral negotiations among themselves at an appropri-ate stage on further deep reductions of nuclear weapons as an effective measure of nuclear disarmament;

11. Underlines the importance of applying the princi-ples of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to the process of nuclear disarmament and to nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures;

12. Also underlines the importance of the unequivo-cal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties are committed under article VI of the Treaty, and the reaf-firmation by the States parties that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons;

13. Calls for the full and effective implementation of the 13 practical steps for nuclear disarmament contained in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference;



non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of the use of nuclear weapons” (or “negative security assurances”) on 26 March, in one plenary meeting. The Conference considered a working paper on nega-tive security assurances, submitted on 9 September by Bangladesh, on behalf of member States of the Group of 21 (G-21) [CD/1960].

Many States parties of the Conference on Disarm-ament reaffirmed that the total elimination of nuclear weapons was the only effective guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. They recalled that non-nuclear-weapon States had a legitimate inter-est in receiving unequivocal and legally binding secu-rity assurances from nuclear-weapon States not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against them. Non-nuclear-weapon States expressed concerns regarding the continued role of nuclear weapons in national and regional military doctrines, noting that quantitative reductions in nuclear weapons should be accompanied by steps to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in all such concepts, doctrines and policies. Some States par-ties called for the reduction and elimination of nuclear weapons, which continued to be stationed outside the territories of the non-nuclear-weapon States.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/408], adopted resolution 68/28 by recorded vote (127-0-57) [agenda item 96].

Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or

threat of use of nuclear weapons

The General Assembly,Bearing in mind the need to allay the legitimate concern

of the States of the world with regard to ensuring lasting security for their peoples,

Convinced that nuclear weapons pose the greatest threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization,

Noting that the renewed interest in nuclear disarm-ament should be translated into concrete actions for the achievement of general and complete disarmament under effective international control,

Convinced that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war,

Determined to abide strictly by the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations on the non-use of force or threat of force,

Recognizing that the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of non-nuclear-weapon States need to be safeguarded against the use or threat of use of force, includ-ing the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons,

Considering that, until nuclear disarmament is achieved on a universal basis, it is imperative for the international community to develop effective measures and arrangements to ensure the security of non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons from any quarter,

ocratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao Peo-ple’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Is-lands, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philip-pines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swazi-land, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Ger-many, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechten-stein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Micronesia, Monaco, Nether-lands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstaining: Armenia, Austria, Belarus, India, Ireland, Ja-pan, Malta, Mauritius, Montenegro, New Zealand, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Serbia, South Africa, Sweden, Uzbekistan.

Fissile material

Report of Secretary-General. In a July report [A/68/154 & Add.1] entitled “Treaty banning the produc-tion of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices”, the Secretary-General transmitted the replies of 38 Member States and the European Union in response to his request for their views on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explo-sive devices, as requested by the General Assembly in resolution 67/53 [YUN 2012, p. 479].

The 2013 Preparatory Committee for the 2015 npt Review Conference (Geneva, 22 April–3 May) [NPT/CONF.2015/PC.II/12] considered a working paper submitted by Canada and Spain on provision regard-ing implementation of the fissile material cut-off treaty over time: duration, entry into force and withdrawal [NPT/CONF.2015/PC.II/WP.13/Rev.1].

The Assembly, by decision 68/518 of 5 December, welcomed the Secretary-General’s report and decided to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth (2014) session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices”.

Security assurances

The Conference on Disarmament discussed agenda item 4: “Effective international arrangements to assure



52/36 of 9 December 1997, 53/75 of 4 December 1998, 54/52 of 1 December 1999, 55/31 of 20 November 2000, 56/22 of 29 November 2001, 57/56 of 22 November 2002, 58/35 of 8 December 2003, 59/64 of 3 December 2004, 60/53 of 8 December 2005, 61/57 of 6 December 2006, 62/19 of 5 December 2007, 63/39 of 2 December 2008, 64/27 of 2 December 2009, 65/43 of 8 December 2010, 66/26 of 2 December 2011 and 67/29 of 3 December 2012,

1. Reaffirms the urgent need to reach an early agree-ment on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons;

2. Notes with satisfaction that in the Conference on Disarmament there is no objection, in principle, to the idea of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, although the difficulties with regard to evolving a common approach acceptable to all have also been pointed out;

3. Appeals to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work actively towards an early agreement on a common approach and, in particular, on a common formula that could be included in an international instrument of a legally binding character;

4. Recommends that further intensive efforts be devoted to the search for such a common approach or common for-mula and that the various alternative approaches, includ-ing, in particular, those considered in the Conference on Disarmament, be further explored in order to overcome the difficulties;

5. Also recommends that the Conference on Disarma-ment actively continue intensive negotiations with a view to reaching early agreement and concluding effective interna-tional agreements to assure the non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, taking into account the widespread support for the conclusion of an international convention and giving consideration to any other proposals designed to secure the same objective;

6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session the item entitled “Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons”.RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 68/28:

In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Bar-buda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bru-nei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambo-dia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Ja-pan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libe-ria, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Gren-adines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and

Recognizing that effective measures and arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons can contribute positively to the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons,

Bearing in mind paragraph 59 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, the first special session devoted to disarmament, in which it urged the nuclear-weapon States to pursue efforts to conclude, as appropriate, effective arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and desirous of promoting the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Final Document,

Recalling the relevant parts of the special report of the Committee on Disarmament submitted to the General As-sembly at its twelfth special session, the second special ses-sion devoted to disarmament, and of the special report of the Conference on Disarmament submitted to the Assembly at its fifteenth special session, the third special session devoted to disarmament, as well as the report of the Conference on its 1992 session,

Recalling also paragraph 12 of the Declaration of the 1980s as the Second Disarmament Decade, contained in the annex to its resolution 35/46 of 3 December 1980, in which it is stated, inter alia, that all efforts should be exerted by the Committee on Disarmament urgently to negotiate with a view to reaching agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons,

Noting the in-depth negotiations undertaken in the Conference on Disarmament and its Ad Hoc Committee on Effective International Arrangements to Assure Non-Nuclear-Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons, with a view to reaching agreement on this question,

Taking note of the proposals submitted under the item in the Conference on Disarmament, including the drafts of an international convention,

Taking note also of the relevant decision of the Thir-teenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Kuala Lumpur on 24 and 25 February 2003, which was reiterated at the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Conferences of Heads of State or Govern-ment of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006, and in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 15 and 16 July 2009, as well as the relevant recommendations of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation,

Taking note further of the unilateral declarations made by all the nuclear-weapon States on their policies of non-use or non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against the non-nuclear-weapon States,

Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elabora-tion of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, as well as the difficulties pointed out in evolving a common approach acceptable to all,

Taking note of Security Council resolution 984(1995) of 11 April 1995 and the views expressed on it,

Recalling its relevant resolutions adopted in previous years, in particular resolutions 45/54 of 4 December 1990, 46/32 of 6 December 1991, 47/50 of 9 December 1992, 48/73 of 16 December 1993, 49/73 of 15 December 1994, 50/68 of 12 December 1995, 51/43 of 10 December 1996,



including support for bilateral, regional and multilat-eral outreach initiatives, capacity-building and train-ing activities, and cooperation with civil society and international organizations. It recognized that the establishment of a Group of Eminent Persons by the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for ctbt would assist the activities of ratifying States to promote the objectives of the Treaty and facilitate its early entry into force.



Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

The General Assembly,Reiterating that the cessation of nuclear-weapon test

explosions or any other nuclear explosions constitutes an effective nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation mea-sure, and convinced that this is a meaningful step in the realization of a systematic process for achieving nuclear disarmament,

Recalling that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, adopted by the General Assembly by its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, was opened for signature on 24 September 1996,

Stressing that a universal and effectively verifiable Treaty constitutes a fundamental instrument in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and that, after more than 15 years, its entry into force is more urgent than ever before,

Encouraged by the signing of the Treaty by 183 States, including 41 of the 44 whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, and welcoming the ratification of the Treaty by 161 States, including 36 of the 44 whose ratifi-cation is needed for its entry into force, among which there are 3 nuclear-weapon States,

Recalling its resolution 67/76 of 3 December 2012,Welcoming the adoption by consensus of the conclu-

sions and recommendations for follow-on actions of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, in which the Conference, inter alia, reaffirmed the vital importance of the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty as a core element of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime and included specific actions to be taken in support of the entry into force of the Treaty,

Welcoming also the Final Declaration adopted by the eighth Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, held in New York on 27 September 2013, convened pursuant to arti-cle XIV of the Treaty, and recalling the Joint Ministerial Statement on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, adopted at the ministerial meeting held in New York on 27 September 2012,

Noting the establishment of a group of eminent per-sons to complement efforts to secure ratifications from the

Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emir-ates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Ven-ezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: None.Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Aus-

tralia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxem-bourg, Malta, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedo-nia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

Status

As at 31 December, 183 States had signed the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (ctbt) adopted by General Assembly resolution 50/245 [YUN 1996, p. 454], and 161 had ratified it. During the year, instruments of ratification were deposited by Brunei Darussalam, Chad, Guinea-Bissau and Iraq. In accordance with article XIV, ctbt would enter into force 180 days after the 44 States possessing nuclear reactors listed in annex 2 of the Treaty had deposited their instruments of ratification. By year’s end, 37 of those States had ratified the Treaty.

Report of Secretary General. In July, respond-ing to Assembly resolution 67/76 [YUN 2012, p. 482], the Secretary-General reported [A/68/136], in consultation with the Preparatory Commission for ctbt, on the ef-forts of States that had ratified the Treaty towards its universalization, and possibilities for providing assist-ance on ratification procedures to States that requested it, covering the period June 2012 to May 2013.

Conference on facilitating entry into force

The eighth biennial Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of ctbt took place in New York, on 27 September [CTBT-ART.XIV/2013/6]. The Conference affirmed the importance and urgency of achieving the Treaty’s early entry into force as a crucial practical step for systematic and progressive efforts towards nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, and a vi-tal step towards the reduction of and the ultimate goal of eliminating nuclear weapons by constraining their development and qualitative improvement, thereby strengthening the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. Participants appreciated the effectiveness the ctbt verification regime as dem-onstrated in the response to the nuclear test explosion announced by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 12 February (see p. 338). The Conference adopted its Final Declaration containing 11 concrete measures to accelerate the Treaty’s entry into force,



RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 68/68:In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, An-

gola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Re-public, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethio-pia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechten-stein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mo-zambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Re-public of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Gren-adines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Swit-zerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.Abstaining: India, Mauritius, Syrian Arab Republic.

Preparatory Commission for the CTBT Organization

The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehen-sive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (ctbto), established by the signatory States in 1996 [YUN 1996, p. 452], held its fortieth session on 13 June [CTBT/PC40/2], a special session on 12 September [CTBT/PC40/2 & Add.1], and its forty-first session on 28 Oc-tober [CTBT/PC-341/2 & Corr.1] in Vienna. With nearly 85 per cent of the International Monitoring System [YUN 1999, p. 472] stations operational, the ctbt veri-fication regime continued to provide credible assur-ance to Member States that the treaty was effectively verifiable. In addition, the Commission’s monitoring technologies and data had proven their utility for civil and scientific applications. In October, the Commis-sion concluded a tsunami warning agreement with the Russian Federation, bringing to 11 the number of States that had, as at December, concluded such agreements with the Commission.

Note by Secretary-General. In July [A/68/136], the Secretary-General transmitted to the General As-sembly the report of the Executive Secretary of the

remaining Annex 2 countries and to support the article XIV process,

Gravely concerned that, since its previous resolution on the subject, a nuclear test has been carried out,

1. Stresses the vital importance and urgency of signa-ture and ratification, without delay and without conditions, in order to achieve the earliest entry into force of the Com-prehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;

2. Welcomes the contributions by the signatory States to the work of the Preparatory Commission for the Com-prehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, in particular its efforts to ensure that the verification regime of the Treaty will be capable of meeting the verification requirements of the Treaty upon its entry into force, in accordance with article IV of the Treaty;

3. Underlines the need to maintain momentum to-wards completion of all elements of the verification regime;

4. Urges all States not to carry out nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions, to main-tain their moratoriums in this regard and to refrain from acts that would defeat the object and purpose of the Treaty, while stressing that these measures do not have the same permanent and legally binding effect as the entry into force of the Treaty;

5. Shares the grave concern of the Security Council about the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic Peo-ple’s Republic of Korea on 12 February 2013, expressed in Council resolution 2094(2013) of 7 March 2013, recalls Council resolutions 1718(2006) of 14 October 2006 and 1874(2009) of 12 June 2009, calls for full compliance with the obligations under the relevant resolutions, and reaffirms its support for the Six-Party Talks;

6. Urges all States that have not yet signed the Treaty, in particular those whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, to sign and ratify it as soon as possible;

7. Urges all States that have signed but not yet ratified the Treaty, in particular those whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, to accelerate their ratification processes with a view to ensuring their earliest successful conclusion;

8. Welcomes, since its previous resolution on the sub-ject, the ratification of the Treaty by Brunei Darussalam, Chad, Guinea-Bissau and Iraq as significant steps towards the early entry into force of the Treaty;

9. Also welcomes the recent expressions from among the remaining States whose ratification is needed for the Treaty to enter into force of their intention to pursue and complete the ratification process;

10. Urges all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level and, where in a position to do so, to promote adherence to the Treaty through bilateral and joint outreach, seminars and other means;

11. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, to prepare a report on the efforts of States that have ratified the Treaty towards its universalization and on possibilities for providing assist-ance on ratification procedures to States that so request it and to submit such a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session;

12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session the item entitled “Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty”.



nuclear disarmament, agreed at the 2000 Review Confer-ence of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and the action points agreed at the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as part of the conclu-sions and recommendations for follow-on actions on nuclear disarmament,

Sharing the deep concern at the catastrophic humanita-rian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and in this context reaffirming the need for all States at all times to comply with applicable international law, including in-ternational humanitarian law,

Calling upon all nuclear-weapon States to undertake concrete disarmament efforts, and stressing that all States need to make special efforts to achieve and maintain a world without nuclear weapons,

Noting the five-point proposal for nuclear disarmament of the Secretary-General, in which he proposes, inter alia, the consideration of negotiations on a nuclear weapons convention or agreement on a framework of separate mu-tually reinforcing instruments, backed by a strong system of verification,

Recalling the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, and expressing its satisfaction at the increasing num-ber of States that have signed and ratified the Treaty,

Recognizing with satisfaction that the Antarctic Treaty, the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba and the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia, as well as Mongolia’s nuclear-weapon-free status, are gradually freeing the entire southern hemisphere and adja-cent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons,

Recognizing the need for a multilaterally negotiated and legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the threat or use of nuclear weapons pending the total elimination of nuclear weapons,

Reaffirming the central role of the Conference on Dis-armament as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum,

Emphasizing the need for the Conference on Disarma-ment to commence negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time,

Stressing the urgent need for the nuclear-weapon States to accelerate concrete progress on the 13 practical steps to im-plement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons leading to nuclear disarmament, contained in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference,

Taking note of the Model Nuclear Weapons Conven-tion that was submitted to the Secretary-General by Costa Rica and Malaysia in 2007 and circulated by the Secretary-General,

Desiring to achieve the objective of a legally binding prohibition of the development, production, testing, de-ployment, stockpiling, threat or use of nuclear weapons and their destruction under effective international control,

Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of the threat or use of nu-clear weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,

1. Underlines once again the unanimous conclusion of the International Court of Justice that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclu-

Preparatory Commission for 2012, pursuant to article IV, paragraph 1, of the Agreement to Regulate the Relationship between the United Nations and ctbto, annexed to General Assembly resolution 54/280 [YUN 2000, p. 501].

Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice

Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 67/33 [YUN 2012, p. 484] relating to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice that the threat of use of nuclear weapons was contrary to the UN Char-ter [YUN 1999, p. 461], the Secretary-General, in July [A/68/137], presented information from four Member States (Austria, Cuba, Mexico, Qatar) on measures they had taken to implement the resolution and to-wards nuclear disarmament.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/42 by recorded vote (133-24-25) [agenda item 99 (k)].

Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality

of the threat or use of nuclear weapons

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 49/75 K of 15 December 1994,

51/45 M of 10 December 1996, 52/38 O of 9 December 1997, 53/77 W of 4 December 1998, 54/54 Q of 1 De-cember 1999, 55/33 X of 20 November 2000, 56/24 S of 29 November 2001, 57/85 of 22 November 2002, 58/46 of 8 December 2003, 59/83 of 3 December 2004, 60/76 of 8 December 2005, 61/83 of 6 December 2006, 62/39 of 5 December 2007, 63/49 of 2 December 2008, 64/55 of 2 December 2009, 65/76 of 8 December 2010, 66/46 of 2 December 2011 and 67/33 of 3 December 2012,

Convinced that the continuing existence of nuclear weapons poses a threat to humanity and all life on Earth, and recognizing that the only defence against a nuclear ca-tastrophe is the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the certainty that they will never be produced again,

Reaffirming the commitment of the international com-munity to the realization of the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world through the total elimination of nuclear weapons,

Mindful of the solemn obligations of States par-ties, undertaken in article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, particularly to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament,

Recalling the principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the unequivo-cal commitment of nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to



dertake negotiations on the subject, as called for in General Assembly resolution 66/57 [YUN 2011, p. 499]. The Assembly reiterated its request to the Conference to commence negotiations.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/412], adopted resolution 68/58 by recorded vote (126-49-9) [agenda item 100 (b)].

Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons

The General Assembly,Convinced that the use of nuclear weapons poses the

most serious threat to the survival of mankind,Bearing in mind the advisory opinion of the Interna-

tional Court of Justice of 8 July 1996 on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons,

Convinced that a multilateral, universal and binding agreement prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would contribute to the elimination of the nuclear threat and to the climate for negotiations leading to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons, thereby strength-ening international peace and security,

Conscious that some steps taken by the Russian Federa-tion and the United States of America towards a reduction of their nuclear weapons and the improvement in the in-ternational climate can contribute towards the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons,

Recalling that in paragraph 58 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly it is stated that all States should actively participate in efforts to bring about conditions in international relations among States in which a code of peaceful conduct of nations in international affairs could be agreed upon and which would preclude the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons,

Reaffirming that any use of nuclear weapons would be a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against humanity, as declared in its resolutions 1653(XVI) of 24 November 1961, 33/71 B of 14 December 1978, 34/83 G of 11 December 1979, 35/152 D of 12 December 1980 and 36/92 I of 9 December 1981,

Determined to achieve an international convention pro-hibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons, leading to their ultimate destruction,

Stressing that an international convention on the prohibi-tion of the use of nuclear weapons would be an important step in a phased programme towards the complete elimina-tion of nuclear weapons, with a specified framework of time,

Noting with regret that the Conference on Disarma-ment, during its 2013 session, was unable to undertake ne-gotiations on this subject as called for in General Assembly resolution 67/64 of 3 December 2012,

1. Reiterates its request to the Conference on Disarm-ament to commence negotiations in order to reach agree-ment on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances;

2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report to the General Assembly on the results of those negotiations.

sion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control;

2. Calls once again upon all States immediately to fulfil that obligation by commencing multilateral negotiations leading to an early conclusion of a nuclear weapons con-vention prohibiting the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, transfer, threat or use of nuclear weapons and providing for their elimination;

3. Requests all States to inform the Secretary-General of the efforts and measures they have taken with respect to the implementation of the present resolution and nuclear disarmament, and requests the Secretary-General to ap-prise the General Assembly of that information at its sixty-ninth session;

4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons”.


Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bur-kina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Repub-lic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guy-ana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emir-ates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Lat-via, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Bela-rus, Canada, Croatia, Finland, Georgia, Iceland, Japan, Liech-tenstein, Micronesia, Montenegro, Norway, Palau, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, Tajik-istan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

Prohibition of the use of nuclear weaponsIn 2013, no progress was made on a convention

on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons, as the Conference on Disarmament was unable to un-



pressed interest in exploring the issue and in broaden-ing the discourse. Mexico offered to host a follow-up conference in 2014.

South Africa, in a joint statement issued at the second session of the Preparatory Commit-tee for the 2015 NPT Review Conference (Geneva, 22 April–3 May) (see below), declared that experi-ence from the use and testing of nuclear weapons had demonstrated the unacceptable harm caused by their uncontrollable and indiscriminate nature.

Non-proliferation

Non-proliferation treatyStatus

In 2013, the number of States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (npt) stood at 190. Regarded as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, the Treaty was adopted by the General Assembly in 1968 by reso-lution 2373(XXIII) [YUN 1968, p. 16], and entered into force in 1970. It was extended indefinitely in 1995 by Assembly resolution 50/70 Q [YUN 1995, p. 189].

2015 review conference

Following the entry into force of npt, quinquen-nial review conferences, as called for under article VIII, paragraph 3 of the Treaty, were held beginning in 1975 [YUN 1975, p. 27], with the most recent in 2010 [YUN 2010, p. 531].

Preparatory Committee. In accordance with the decision of npt parties, as noted in General Assem-bly resolution 66/33 [YUN 2011, p. 502], the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference held its second session (Geneva, 22 April–3 May) [NPT/CONF.2015/PC.II/12] to conduct preparatory work for the review of the operation of the Treaty. Among the documents before the Committee were a note by the Secretariat on the estimated cost of the 2015 Review Conference [NPT/CONF.2015/PC.II/2]; the financial re-port [NPT/CONF.2015/PC.II/11]; report of the Facilita-tor [NPT/CONF.2015/PC.II/10]; reports by Austria [NPT/CONF.2015/PC.II/1] on the implementation of recom-mendations for follow-on actions of the 2010 Review Conference; by Switzerland [NPT/CONF.2015/PC.II/3] on implementation of the action plan of the 2010 Re-view Conference; by the Islamic Republic of Iran on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East [NPT/CONF.2015/PC.II/5]; and by Canada on steps to promote achievement of a nuclear weapon-free zone in the Middle East [NPT/CONF.2015/PC.II/8]; as well as working papers on various aspects of the subject [NPT/CONF.2015/PC.II/WP.1–49]. The Committee de-

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 68/58:In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Bar-

buda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambo-dia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Le-sotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Gren-adines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syr-ian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ger-many, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstaining: Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Japan, Malawi, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Serbia, Uzbekistan.

Humanitarian approach to nuclear disarmament

The Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons (Oslo, 4–5 March), hosted by Norway, had as its objective the promotion of a fact-based understanding of the humanitarian aspect of the detonation of a nuclear weapon and to facilitate an informed discussion of those effects with stake-holders. Attended by 127 States, the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and representatives of civil society, presentations fo-cused on possible preparedness and first response in the event of a detonation, as well as the medium-term economic, social and environmental consequences.

The chair’s summary of the Conference highlighted a number of key points, including the unlikelihood that any State or international body could adequately address the resulting immediate humanitarian emer-gency, or provide sufficient assistance to those affected. It concluded that the effects of a nuclear detonation would be felt across national borders with significant regional and global impacts. A number of States ex-



mitments made under article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,

Reaffirming the commitment of all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to ap-ply the principles of irreversibility, verifiability and trans-parency in relation to the implementation of their treaty obligations,

Recalling that the 2010 Review Conference reaffirmed and recognized that the total elimination of nuclear weap-ons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons and the legitimate interest of non-nuclear-weapon States in receiving unequivocal and legally binding negative security assurances from nuclear-weapon States pending the total elimination of nuclear weapons,

Recognizing the continued vital importance of the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty to the advancement of nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation objectives, and welcoming the recent ratifica-tion of the Treaty by Brunei Darussalam, Chad, Guinea-Bissau and Iraq,

Reaffirming the conviction that, pending the total elimi-nation of nuclear weapons, the establishment and mainte-nance of nuclear-weapon-free zones enhances global and regional peace and security, strengthens the nuclear non-proliferation regime and contributes towards realizing the objectives of nuclear disarmament, urging further concrete progress towards strengthening all existing nuclear-weapon-free zones, including through the withdrawal of any reserva-tions or interpretative declarations contrary to the object and purpose of the treaties establishing these zones, recognizing the second preparatory meeting for the third Conference of States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones and Mongolia, held in Geneva on 26 April 2013, and welcoming the announcement by In-donesia of its intention to host the third Conference in 2015,

Recalling the encouragement expressed at the 2010 Re-view Conference for the establishment of further nuclear-weapon-free zones, on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned, reaf-firming the expectation that this will be followed by con-certed international efforts to create such zones in areas where they do not currently exist, especially in the Middle East, and in that context recognizing the agreement at the 2010 Review Conference on practical steps to fully imple-ment the 1995 resolution on the Middle East,

Acknowledging the ongoing efforts towards the full im-plementation of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Measures for the Fur-ther Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, while re-emphasizing the encouragement of the 2010 Re-view Conference to both States to continue discussions on follow-on measures in order to achieve deeper reductions in their nuclear arsenals,

Deeply disappointed at the continued absence of progress towards multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament issues, in particular in the Conference on Disarmament, despite intensive efforts during its 2013 session to agree on a programme of work, and underlining the importance of multilateralism in relation to nuclear disarmament, while recognizing also the value of bilateral and regional initiatives,

Acknowledging the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weap-

cided to hold the 2015 Review Conference in New York from 27 April to 22 May 2015. It asked the Secretariat to provide revised cost estimates before its third session scheduled for 28 April to 9 May, 2014, in New York.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/39 by recorded vote (171-7-5) [agenda item 99 (l)].

Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 1(I) of 24 January 1946 and

67/34 of 3 December 2012,Reiterating its grave concern at the danger to humanity

posed by nuclear weapons, which should inform all delibera-tions, decisions and actions relating to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation,

Recalling the expression of deep concern by the 2010 Re-view Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and its resolve to seek a safer world for all and to achieve the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons,

Bearing in mind the discussions held at the Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, hosted by Norway on 4 and 5 March 2013, aimed at developing a greater awareness and understanding of the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons detonations, and welcom-ing the announcement by Mexico of its intention to convene a meeting on 13 and 14 February 2014 on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons,

Welcoming the convening on 26 September 2013 of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear dis-armament, which was aimed at bolstering efforts towards a nuclear-weapon-free world,

Welcoming also the convening of the Open-ended Work-ing Group established by the General Assembly in its reso-lution 67/56 of 3 December 2012 to develop proposals to take forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations for the achievement and maintenance of a world without nuclear weapons, and acknowledging the final report of the Working Group,

Underlining the importance of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation education,

Reaffirming that nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are mutually reinforcing processes requiring urgent irreversible progress on both fronts,

Recalling the decisions and the resolution adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the basis upon which the Treaty was indefinitely extended, and the Final Documents of the 2000 and the 2010 Re-view Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and in particular the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, leading to nuclear disarmament, in accordance with com-



7. Calls upon all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to work towards the full implementation of the resolution on the Middle East adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and recognizes the endorsement by the 2010 Review Confer-ence of practical steps in a process leading to the full imple-mentation of the 1995 resolution, including the convening of a conference in 2012 to be attended by all States of the region on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction;

8. Expresses its profound disappointment at the failure to convene a conference in 2012 on the establishment in the Middle East of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, and calls upon the Secretary-General and the co-sponsors of the 1995 resolution to con-vene the conference without any further delay;

9. Continues to emphasize the fundamental role of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weap-ons in achieving nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, and calls upon all States parties to spare no effort to achieve the universality of the Treaty, and in this regard urges India, Israel and Pakistan to accede to the Treaty as non-nuclear-weapon States promptly and without conditions, and to place all of their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards;

10. Urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to fulfil its commitments under the Six-Party Talks, including those in the September 2005 joint statement, to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes, to return, at an early date, to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nu-clear Weapons and to adhere to its International Atomic En-ergy Agency safeguards agreement, with a view to achieving the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in a peaceful manner, and reaffirms its firm support for the Six-Party Talks;

11. Urges all States to work together to overcome obsta-cles within the international disarmament machinery that are inhibiting efforts to advance the cause of nuclear disarm-ament in a multilateral context, and to immediately imple-ment the three specific recommendations of the 2010 Re-view Conference action plan addressed to the Conference on Disarmament, and urges the Conference on Disarmament to commence without delay substantive work that advances the agenda of nuclear disarmament;

12. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to implement their nuclear disarmament commitments in a manner that enables the States parties to regularly monitor progress, and to agree as soon as possible on a standard reporting format to facilitate reporting and to enhance confidence not only among the nuclear-weapon States but also between the nuclear-weapon States and the non-nuclear-weapon States;

13. Welcomes the announcements made by some nuclear-weapon States providing information about their nuclear arsenals, policies and disarmament efforts, and urges those nuclear-weapon States that have not yet done so also to provide this information, which would build increased confidence and trust and would contribute to sustainable disarmament;

14. Calls upon all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to implement all elements of the 2010 Review Conference action plan in a faithful and timely manner so that progress across all of the pillars of the Treaty can be realized;

ons, held in Geneva from 22 April to 3 May 2013, and em-phasizing the importance of a constructive and successful preparatory process leading to the 2015 Review Conference, which should contribute to strengthening the Treaty and making progress towards achieving its full implementation and universality, and monitor the implementation of com-mitments made and actions agreed at the 1995, 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences,

1. Reiterates that each article of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is binding on the States parties at all times and in all circumstances and that all States parties should be held fully accountable with respect to strict compliance with their obligations under the Treaty, and calls upon all States parties to comply fully with all decisions, resolutions and commitments made at the 1995, 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences;

2. Also reiterates the deep concern expressed by the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons at the cata-strophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and the need for all States at all times to comply with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law;

3. Recalls the reaffirmation of the continued validity of the practical steps agreed to in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, including the specific reaffirmation of the unequivocal undertaking of the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties are committed under article VI of the Treaty, recalls the commitment of the nuclear-weapon States to accelerate concrete progress on the steps leading to nuclear disarmament as envisaged in action 5 of the action plan on nuclear disarmament contained in the Final Docu-ment of the 2010 Review Conference, and calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to take all steps necessary to acceler-ate the fulfilment of their commitments, including the re-quirement to report to the Preparatory Committee in 2014;

4. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to fulfil their commitment to undertake further efforts to reduce and ul-timately eliminate all types of nuclear weapons, deployed and non-deployed, including through unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures;

5. Underlines the recognition by the 2010 Review Con-ference of the legitimate interests of non-nuclear-weapon States in the constraining by the nuclear-weapon States of the development and qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons and their ending the development of advanced new types of nuclear weapons, and calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to take steps in this regard;

6. Encourages further steps by all nuclear-weapon States, in accordance with the action plan on nuclear dis-armament contained in the Final Document of the 2010 Re-view Conference, to ensure the irreversible removal of all fissile material designated by each nuclear-weapon State as no longer required for military purposes, and calls upon all States to support, within the context of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the development of appropriate nu-clear disarmament verification capabilities and legally bind-ing verification arrangements, thereby ensuring that such material remains permanently outside military programmes in a verifiable manner;



Noting that the ultimate objective of the efforts of States in the disarmament process is general and complete dis-armament under strict and effective international control,

Recalling its resolution 67/59 of 3 December 2012,Expressing deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian

consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and reaffirm-ing the need for all States at all times to comply with appli-cable international law, including international humanita-rian law, while convinced that every effort should be made to avoid the use of nuclear weapons,

Recognizing that the catastrophic humanitarian conse-quences that would result from the use of nuclear weapons should be fully understood, and noting in this regard that efforts should be made to increase such understanding,

Reaffirming that the enhancement of international peace and security and the promotion of nuclear disarmament are mutually reinforcing,

Reaffirming also that further advancement in nuclear disarmament will contribute to consolidating the interna-tional regime for nuclear non-proliferation, which is, inter alia, essential to international peace and security,

Reaffirming further the crucial importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as the corner-stone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and an essential foundation for the pursuit of the three pil-lars of the Treaty, namely, nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy,

Recalling the decisions and the resolution of the 1995 Re-view and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Final Documents of the 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,

Welcoming the successful outcome of the 2010 Review Conference, held from 3 to 28 May 2010, in the year of the sixty-fifth anniversary of the atomic bombings in Hi-roshima and Nagasaki, Japan, and reaffirming the neces-sity of fully implementing the action plan adopted at the Review Conference,

Welcoming also the deliberations and results of the sec-ond session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Re-view Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, held from 22 April to 3 May 2013,

Noting the high-level meeting on revitalizing the work of the Conference on Disarmament and taking forward multilateral disarmament negotiations, convened by the Secretary-General on 24 September 2010, and the plenary meeting of the General Assembly to follow up on the high-level meeting, held from 27 to 29 July 2011,

Noting also the meetings of the Open-ended Working Group “to take forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations” held in Geneva from 14 to 24 May, on 27 June and from 19 to 30 August 2013, as well as the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament, held on 26 September 2013,

Welcoming the entry into force on 5 February 2011 of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms,

Welcoming also the announcements on overall stockpiles of nuclear warheads by France, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States

15. Urges Member States to pursue multilateral nego-tiations in good faith towards a nuclear-weapon-free world, in keeping with the spirit and purpose of General Assembly resolution 1(I) and article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;

16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments” and to review the implementation of the present resolution at that session.RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 68/39:

In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, An-gola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bar-bados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croa-tia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecua-dor, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Fin-land, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hon-duras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Ku-wait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nica-ragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singa-pore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Af-rica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Re-public of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, France, In-dia, Israel, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstaining: Bhutan, China, Micronesia, Pakistan, Palau.

Also on 5 December [meeting 60], the General As-sembly, on the recommendation of the First Commit-tee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/51 by recorded vote (169-1-14) [agenda item 99 (z)].

United action towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons

The General Assembly,Recalling the need for all States to take further practical

steps and effective measures towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons, with a view to achieving a peaceful and secure world free of nuclear weapons, and in this regard confirming the determination of Member States to take united action,



of nuclear weapons, deployed and non-deployed, includ-ing through unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures;

5. Emphasizes the importance of applying the principles of irreversibility, verifiability and transparency in relation to the process of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation;

6. Recognizes that nuclear disarmament and achieving the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons require openness and cooperation, affirms the importance of enhanced confidence through increased transparency and effective verification, emphasizes the importance of the commitment made by the nuclear-weapon States at the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to accelerate con-crete progress on the steps leading to nuclear disarmament contained in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Con-ference in a way that promotes international stability, peace and undiminished and increased security, and the call upon the nuclear-weapon States to report their undertakings in 2014 to the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference, and welcomes in this regard the convening, in Paris on 30 June and 1 July 2011, in Washington, D.C., from 27 to 29 June 2012, and at the Mission of the Russian Fed-eration to the United Nations Office at Geneva on 18 and 19 April 2013, of the follow-up meetings to the 2010 Re-view Conference of the five nuclear-weapon States as a trans-parency and confidence-building measure among them;

7. Welcomes the ongoing implementation by the Rus-sian Federation and the United States of America of the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limi-tation of Strategic Offensive Arms, and encourages them to continue discussions on follow-on measures in order to achieve deeper reductions in their nuclear arsenals;

8. Urges all States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty at the earliest opportunity, with a view to its early entry into force and universalization, stresses the importance of maintaining existing moratoriums on nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions pending the entry into force of the Treaty, and reaffirms the importance of the continued development of the Treaty verification regime, which will be a significant contribution to providing assurance of compli-ance with the Treaty;

9. Reiterates its call for the immediate commencement of negotiations on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive de-vices and its early conclusion, regrets that negotiations have not yet started, and calls upon all nuclear-weapon States and States not parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to declare and maintain moratoriums on the production of fissile material for any nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices pending the entry into force of the treaty;

10. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to take measures to further reduce the risk of an accidental or un-authorized launch of nuclear weapons in ways that promote international stability and security, while welcoming the measures already taken by several nuclear-weapon States in this regard;

11. Also calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to promptly engage with a view to further diminishing the role and significance of nuclear weapons in all military and security concepts, doctrines and policies;

of America, as well as the update of the Russian Federation on its nuclear arsenals, which further enhance transparency and increase mutual confidence,

Welcoming further the high-level national statement made on 19 June 2013 regarding the long-term goal of achieving the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons, and expressing renewed determination to increase momen-tum for global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation,

Expressing deep concern regarding the growing dangers posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, inter alia, nuclear weapons, including that caused by prolif-eration networks,

Recognizing the importance of the objective of nuclear security, along with the shared goals of Member States of nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and peace-ful uses of nuclear energy, welcoming the Nuclear Security Summit held in Washington, D.C., on 12 and 13 April 2010 and in Seoul on 26 and 27 March 2012, and looking forward to the Nuclear Security Summit to be held in the Netherlands in 2014,

Condemning in the strongest terms the nuclear test con-ducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 12 February 2013, recognizing the importance of the im-plementation of Security Council resolutions 1718(2006) of 14 October 2006, 1874(2009) of 12 June 2009, 2087(2013) of 22 January 2013 and 2094(2013) of 7 March 2013, not-ing the requirements of resolutions 1718(2006), 1874(2009) and 2094(2013), which were adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, and in particular not-ing the requirements that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes and immediately cease all related activities, in this respect expressing concern regarding the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s uranium enrichment pro-gramme and light water reactor construction, as well as the launches on 13 April and 12 December 2012 and its recent statements of its intention to readjust and restart its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon, including the 5 MW(e) graphite-moderated reactor and uranium enrichment activities, and declaring that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea cannot have the status of a nuclear-weapon State under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, nor will it be accepted that it possess nuclear weapons under any circumstances,

1. Reaffirms the importance of all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons complying with their obligations under all the articles of the Treaty;

2. Also reaffirms the vital importance of the universal-ity of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weap-ons, and calls upon all States not parties to the Treaty to accede as non-nuclear-weapon States to the Treaty promptly and without any conditions and, pending their accession to the Treaty, to adhere to its terms and take practical steps in support of the Treaty;

3. Further reaffirms the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimina-tion of their nuclear arsenals, leading to nuclear disarma-ment, to which all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons are committed under article VI thereof;

4. Calls upon nuclear-weapon States to undertake further efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate all types



21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “United ac-tion towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons”.


gola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barba-dos, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salva-dor, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guate-mala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jor-dan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Li-beria, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mada-gascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Ne-pal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Para-guay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Mac-edonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tu-nisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia.

Against: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.Abstaining: Brazil, China, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Iran,

Israel, Mauritius, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Follow-up to disarmament obligations of 1995, 2000 and 2010 NPT Review ConferencesGENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION

On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/35 by recorded vote (120-53-9) [agenda item 99 (d)].

Follow-up to nuclear disarmament obligations agreed to at the 1995, 2000 and 2010 Review

Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

The General Assembly,Recalling its various resolutions in the field of nuclear

disarmament, including resolutions 60/72 of 8 December 2005, 62/24 of 5 December 2007, 64/31 of 2 December 2009, 66/28 of 2 December 2011 and 67/33 and 67/60 of 3 December 2012,

12. Recognizes the legitimate interest of non-nuclear-weapon States in receiving unequivocal and legally bind-ing security assurances from nuclear-weapon States which could strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime;

13. Recalls Security Council resolution 984(1995) of 11 April 1995, noting the unilateral statements by each of the nuclear-weapon States, and calls upon all nuclear-weapon States to fully respect their existing commitments with regard to security assurances;

14. Encourages the establishment of further nuclear-weapon-free zones, where appropriate, on the basis of ar-rangements freely arrived at among States of the region concerned and in accordance with the 1999 guidelines of the Disarmament Commission, and recognizes that, by signing and ratifying relevant protocols that con-tain negative security assurances, nuclear-weapon States would undertake individual legally binding commitments with respect to the status of such zones and not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against States parties to such treaties;

15. Urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea not to conduct any further nuclear tests and to comply fully with its commitments under the joint statement of the Six-Party Talks of 19 September 2005 and its obliga-tions under the relevant Security Council resolutions;

16. Calls upon all States to redouble their efforts to prevent and curb the proliferation of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery and to fully respect and comply with obligations undertaken to forswear nuclear weapons;

17. Stresses the importance of the universalization of the comprehensive safeguards agreements of the Inter-national Atomic Energy Agency to include States which have not yet adopted and implemented such an agreement, while also strongly reaffirming the follow-on action of the 2010 Review Conference encouraging all States which have not done so to conclude and bring into force as soon as pos-sible the Model Protocol Additional to the Agreement(s) between State(s) and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards approved by the Board of Governors of the Agency on 15 May 1997, and the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolu-tions, including resolution 1540(2004) of 28 April 2004;

18. Encourages every effort to secure all vulnerable nuclear and radiological material in order to, inter alia, prevent nuclear terrorism, and calls upon all States to work cooperatively as an international community to advance nuclear security, while requesting and providing assistance, including in the field of capacity-building, as necessary;

19. Encourages all States to implement the recommen-dations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education, in support of achieving a world without nuclear weapons, and to voluntarily share infor-mation on efforts they have been undertaking to that end;

20. Commends and further encourages the construc-tive role played by civil society in promoting nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament, and encourages all States to promote, in cooperation with civil society, disarmament and non-proliferation education which, inter alia, contributes to raising public awareness of the tragic consequences of the use of nuclear weapons and strength-ens the momentum of international efforts to promote nu-clear disarmament and non-proliferation;



disarmament in a way that promotes international stability and, based on the principle of undiminished security for all:

(a) Further efforts to be made by the nuclear-weapon States to reduce their nuclear arsenals unilaterally;

(b) Increased transparency by the nuclear-weapon States with regard to nuclear weapons capabilities and the implementation of agreements pursuant to article VI of the Treaty and as a voluntary confidence-building measure to support further progress in nuclear disarmament;

(c) The further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process;

(d) Concrete agreed measures to reduce further the operational status of nuclear weapons systems;

(e) A diminishing role for nuclear weapons in secu-rity policies so as to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination;

( f ) The engagement, as soon as appropriate, of all the nuclear-weapon States in the process leading to the total elimination of their nuclear weapons;

4. Notes that the 2000 and 2010 Review Confer-ences agreed that legally binding security assurances by the five nuclear-weapon States to the non-nuclear-weapon States parties to the Treaty strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime;

5. Urges the States parties to the Treaty to follow up on the implementation of the nuclear disarmament obliga-tions under the Treaty agreed to at the 1995, 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences within the framework of review conferences and their preparatory committees;

6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventieth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Follow-up to nuclear disarmament obligations agreed to at the 1995, 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons”.


Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bang-ladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Repub-lic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Le-sotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philip-pines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thai-land, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmeni-stan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Bearing in mind its resolution 2373(XXII) of 12 June 1968, the annex to which contains the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,

Noting the provisions of article VIII, paragraph 3, of the Treaty regarding the convening of review conferences at five-year intervals,

Recalling its resolution 50/70 Q of 12 December 1995, in which the General Assembly noted that the States parties to the Treaty affirmed the need to continue to move with determination towards the full realization and effective im-plementation of the provisions of the Treaty, and accord-ingly adopted a set of principles and objectives,

Recalling also that, on 11 May 1995, the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons adopted three decisions on, respectively, strengthening the review process for the Treaty, principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and extension of the Treaty,

Reaffirming the resolution on the Middle East adopted on 11 May 1995 by the 1995 Review and Extension Confer-ence, in which the Conference reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty and placement of nuclear facilities under full-scope Inter-national Atomic Energy Agency safeguards,

Reaffirming also its resolution 55/33 D of 20 November 2000, in which the General Assembly welcomed the adop-tion by consensus on 19 May 2000 of the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, includ-ing, in particular, the documents entitled “Review of the operation of the Treaty, taking into account the decisions and the resolution adopted by the 1995 Review and Exten-sion Conference” and “Improving the effectiveness of the strengthened review process for the Treaty”,

Taking into consideration the unequivocal undertak-ing by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty are committed under article VI of the Treaty,

Welcoming the adoption by the 2010 Review Confer-ence of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of a substantive Final Document con-taining conclusions and recommendations for follow-on actions relating to nuclear disarmament,

1. Recalls that the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons reaffirmed the continued validity of the practical steps agreed to in the Final Document of the 2000 Re-view Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;

2. Determines to pursue practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and para-graphs 3 and 4 (c) of the decision on principles and objec-tives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;

3. Calls for practical steps, as agreed to at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to be taken by all nuclear-weapon States, which would lead to nuclear



tion of the Code in all its aspects, and strengthening outreach activities for advancing the process of hcoc universalization. Subscribing States stressed the im-portance of the full implementation of the Code, in particular with regard to pre-launch-notifications and the timely submission of annual declarations.

Non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

Security Council Committee on WMDs

Committee reports. The Security Council Com-mittee, set up to report on the implementation of resolution 1540(2004) [YUN 2004, p. 544] on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (wmds), and extended to 25 April 2021 by resolution 1977(2011) [YUN 2011, p. 506], submitted its December report [S/2013/769] on the review of the implementation of resolution 1540(2004) for 2013.

The report reviewed implementation of resolution 1540(2004) in 2011, summarizing its work in the ar-eas of monitoring and national implementation of the resolution; assistance and capacity building; coopera-tion with other organizations and entities; and trans-parency and outreach and assessment of progress and future perspectives. The Committee, with the objective of achieving universal reporting by 2014, the tenth an-niversary of the adoption of the resolution, continued to encourage States that had not yet done so to submit their first report. As at December, 171 of the 193 Mem-ber States had submitted national implementation re-ports. In addition, 28 States provided additional infor-mation, including on their effective national policies, such as those preventing financial institutions from engaging in the proliferation of wmds and on strength-ened controls to prevent the trafficking of such weap-ons and related materials. In 2013, Kyrgyzstan and the United Kingdom submitted national implementation plans, bringing to eight the total number of such plans received by the Committee. The Committee’s work-ing group on monitoring and national implementation recommended revisions to the matrix template so as to increase efficiency in recording information and mak-ing it more user-friendly. The updated matrix template was amended to include, among others, relevant and recently adopted internationally legally binding instru-ments and follow-up resolutions related to resolution 1540(2004), and its layout simplified. The Committee’s working group also started consideration of the com-pilation of effective practices, templates and guidance and a possible technical reference guide for resolution 1540(2004). In November, Member States and inter-national, regional and subregional organizations were invited to share experiences, lessons learned and affec-tive practices in areas of concern of the resolution. A mandatory reporting element to resolution 1540(2004)

Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Geor-gia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zea-land, Norway, Palau, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Swit-zerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstaining: Armenia, China, India, Malawi, Morocco, Nauru, Pakistan, Samoa, Togo.

MissilesThe Security Council, in resolution 2087(2013)

of 22 January (see p. 338), condemned the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (dprk) launch of 12 De-cember 2012, which used ballistic missile technology, demanded that the dprk not proceed with any further launches using such technology, suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme and, in that context, re-establish its pre-existing commitments to a moratorium on missile launches.

The Missile Technology Control Regime (mtcr), held its twenty-seventh plenary meeting (Rome, Italy, 14–18 October) to review and evaluate its activities and to further intensify efforts to prevent the prolif-eration of delivery means of weapons of mass destruc-tion (wmd). Mtcr partners had a thorough exchange of information regarding existing and possible missile proliferation developments that had taken place since their last meeting. Members also discussed various country issues, including the dprk and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and expressed concerns associ-ated with global missile proliferation activities. They agreed to redouble efforts to inform and assist inter-ested parties supportive of missile non-proliferation and of the objectives and purposes of mtcr, and called on all countries to exercise extreme vigilance to prevent the transfer of any items, materials, goods and technology that could contribute to wmd missile programmes of proliferation concern, in accordance with national legislation and international law.

The General Assembly, by decision 68/517 of 5 December, decided to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth (2014) session the item enti-tled “Missiles”.

Hague Code of Conduct

The 134 Subscribing States to The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (hcoc), adopted in 2002 [YUN 2002, p. 504], held their twelfth regular meeting (Vienna, 30–31 May) to discuss ways to further develop the Code and encourage new sub-scriptions. The Chairperson outlined the objectives for 2013–2014 as the full and comprehensive implementa-



the period 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013, stated that the Agency continued to assist States to build and develop their nuclear security capacity by providing nuclear security guidance, facilitating adherence to and implementation of relevant international legal nu-clear security instruments, including facilitating the entry into force of the 2005 Amendment [YUN 2005, p. 602] to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (cppnm) [YUN 1980, p. 161], and help-ing States to establish comprehensive national nuclear security infrastructure. Three States became parties to cppnm during the reporting period, and 12 States adhered to the 2005 Amendment to the Convention, bringing the number of Contracting States to 68. As at 30 June 2013, 117 States had informed the Agency’s Director General of their intention to implement the 2003 Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources [YUN 2003, p. 1033]—a non-binding international legal instrument that provided guidance for ensuring the control of radioactive sources—and 81 States of their intention to implement its supplemen-tary Guidance on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources [YUN 2005, p. 1563]. The International Conven-tion for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 59/290 [YUN 2005, p. 1411], gained seven adherents, bringing the number of States Parties to 86 as at 30 June 2013. The Agency continued to facilitate adherence to and implementation of international instruments, not only through its regular activities within its legislative assist-ance programme, but also by holding a Treaty Event during the fifty-sixth General Conference and by tak-ing part in initiatives launched by member States.

The iaea International Conference on “Nuclear Security: Enhancing Global Efforts” took place from 1 to 5 July. The secretariat provided technical support to member States in their negotiation of an outcome document.

The Agency continued to hold working-level dis-cussions with international and regional organizations and initiatives involved in nuclear security, in informa-tion exchange meetings convened in November 2012 and March 2013. The Border Monitoring Working Group (bmwg), established to coordinate the activities of the secretariat, the United States and the eu in pro-viding financial support, technical assistance, human resource development and policy development relating to the detection of materials out of regulatory control, facilitated implementation of programmes in mem-ber States through the optimization of international assistance, including distribution of radiation detec-tion equipment, development of related training pro-grammes, development of concept of operations and standard operating procedures in Cambodia, Lebanon, Malaysia and Vietnam. The Agency hosted regional forums on effective border control for the Asia and Pacific region (20–22 February) and for Latin America

was introduced by the Security Council, in resolution 2118(2013) of 27 September (see p. 438), requiring Member States to inform immediately the Council of any violations of the resolution, including acquisition by non-State actors of chemical weapons, their means of delivery and related materials, in order to take nec-essary measures. The Committee’s recommendations included taking possible steps to facilitate implementa-tion of the obligations under paragraph 14 of Coun-cil resolution 2118(2013); beginning deliberations on steps to be taken to undertake the next comprehensive review of the status of implementation of resolution 1540(2004), to be held before December 2016; en-hancing efforts to establish the added value of activi-ties aimed at encouraging States to take effective steps towards full implementation of resolution 1540(2004); and aligning the dates of the annual review and pro-gramme of work. Annexed to the report was a list of outreach events held in 2013.

During the year, reports on implementation of the resolution were submitted by Georgia [S/AC.44/2013/20], Mexico [S/AC.44/2013/16], Panama [S/AC.44/2013/15] and the United States [S/AC.44/2013/17].

In May [S/2013/327], the Committee submitted its twelfth programme of work for the period from 1 June 2013 to 31 May 2014.

New types of WMDs

Conference on Disarmament. The issue of ra-diological weapons, which had been on the agenda of the Conference on Disarmament since 1979, was con-sidered in plenary meetings on 14 May, under agenda item 5, on “New types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons; radiological weap-ons”. Delegations reaffirmed their respective positions on the agenda item.

Terrorism and WMDs

The United Nations continued to promote interna-tional action against terrorism through collaborative efforts with Member States and regional and inter-national organizations, and through the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (see p. 55) and the Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee (see p. 325).

Report of Secretary-General. In response to General Assembly resolution 67/44 [YUN 2012, p. 498], the Secretary-General, in July [A/68/164 & Add.1], pre-sented the views of 15 Member States, the European Union (eu) and 14 international organizations, in-cluding UN agencies, on measures taken to prevent terrorists from acquiring wmds, their means of deliv-ery, and related materials and technologies.

IAEA report. The International Atomic Energy Agency (iaea) Director General, in a July report [GOV/2013/36-GC(57)/16] on nuclear security covering



tection of Nuclear Material by the International Atomic Energy Agency on 8 July 2005,

Noting the support expressed in the Final Document of the Sixteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, which was held in Tehran from 26 to 31 August 2012, for measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction,

Noting also that the Group of Eight, the European Un-ion, the Regional Forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and others have taken into account in their deliberations the dangers posed by the likely acquisition by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction and the need for international cooperation in combating it, and that the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism has been launched jointly by the Russian Federation and the United States of America,

Noting further the holding of the Nuclear Security Sum-mit on 12 and 13 April 2010 in Washington, D.C., and on 26 and 27 March 2012 in Seoul,

Noting the holding of the high-level meeting on coun-tering nuclear terrorism, with a focus on strengthening the legal framework, in New York on 28 September 2012,

Acknowledging the consideration of issues relating to ter-rorism and weapons of mass destruction by the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters,

Noting the holding by the International Atomic Energy Agency of the International Conference on Nuclear Secu-rity: Enhancing Global Efforts, in Vienna from 1 to 5 July 2013, and taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Conference of the Agency at its fifty-seventh regular session,

Noting also the tenth anniversary of the Code of Con-duct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency on 8 September 2003,

Taking note of the 2005 World Summit Outcome adopted at the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly on 16 September 2005 and the adoption of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy on 8 September 2006,

Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to paragraph 5 of resolution 67/44,

Mindful of the urgent need for addressing, within the United Nations framework and through international co-operation, this threat to humanity,

Emphasizing that progress is urgently needed in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation in order to maintain international peace and security and to contribute to global efforts against terrorism,

1. Calls upon all Member States to support interna-tional efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery;

2. Appeals to all Member States to consider early ac-cession to and ratification of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism;

3. Urges all Member States to take and strengthen na-tional measures, as appropriate, to prevent terrorists from ac-quiring weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and materials and technologies related to their manufacture;

4. Encourages cooperation among and between Mem-ber States and relevant regional and international organiza-tions for strengthening national capacities in this regard;

and the Caribbean region (12–14 June). The Work-ing Group on Radioactive Source Security, at its May meeting, identified several activities and priorities, such as using regional and local partnership to enhance na-tional programmes related to the protection and con-trol of radioactive sources, providing security guidance and assistance related to portable and mobile high-activity sources and improving information sharing.

During the reporting period, 10 States joined the Agency’s Illicit Trafficking Database (itdb), renamed the “Incident and Trafficking Database (itdb): Inci-dents of nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control,” bringing the total number of par-ticipants to 124. States reported 155 incidents to itdb, 14 of which involved illegal possession of and attempts to sell nuclear material or radioactive sources, with 4 of those involving nuclear material. There were 40 re-ported cases of theft or loss of radioactive sources, 2 of which involved the theft of Category 1 to 3 radioactive sources. In one of the two incidents, the radioactive sources had not been reported as being recovered. The remaining 101 incidents involved unauthorized ac-tivities without apparent relation to criminal activities. Since the database began in 1995, States had reported a total of 2,407 incidents. The Agency continued to give high priority to the development and implementation of Integrated Nuclear Security Support Plans, assisting member States in applying a structured and holistic ap-proach to nuclear security capacity building, as well as enabling increased coordination among the Agency, the States concerned and potential donors. It also continued to develop the Nuclear Security Information Portal.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/41 without vote [agenda item 99 (q)].

Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolution 67/44 of 3 December 2012,Recognizing the determination of the international

community to combat terrorism, as evidenced in relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions,

Deeply concerned by the growing risk of linkages be-tween terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and in particular by the fact that terrorists may seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction,

Cognizant of the steps taken by States to implement Secu-rity Council resolution 1540(2004) on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, adopted on 28 April 2004,

Recalling the entry into force on 7 July 2007 of the Inter-national Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism,

Recalling also the adoption, by consensus, of amend-ments to strengthen the Convention on the Physical Pro-



moval of threats to the peace and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the prin-ciples of justice and international law, adjustment or set-tlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace, as enshrined in the Charter,

Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Decla-ration, in which it is stated, inter alia, that the responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social development, as well as threats to international peace and security, must be shared among the nations of the world and should be exercised multilaterally and that, as the most universal and most representative organization in the world, the United Nations must play the central role,

Convinced that, in the globalization era and with the information revolution, arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament problems are more than ever the concern of all countries in the world, which are affected in one way or another by these problems and therefore should have the possibility to participate in the negotiations that arise to tackle them,

Bearing in mind the existence of a broad structure of dis-armament and arms regulation agreements resulting from non-discriminatory and transparent multilateral negotia-tions with the participation of a large number of countries, regardless of their size and power,

Aware of the need to advance further in the field of arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament on the basis of universal, multilateral, non-discriminatory and transpar-ent negotiations with the goal of reaching general and com-plete disarmament under strict international control,

Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilat-eral and multilateral negotiations on disarmament,

Recognizing also that the proliferation and development of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weap-ons, are among the most immediate threats to international peace and security which need to be dealt with, with the highest priority,

Considering that the multilateral disarmament agree-ments provide the mechanism for States parties to consult one another and to cooperate in solving any problems which may arise in relation to the objective of, or in the application of, the provisions of the agreements and that such consul-tations and cooperation may also be undertaken through appropriate international procedures within the framework of the United Nations and in accordance with the Charter,

Stressing that international cooperation, the peaceful settlement of disputes, dialogue and confidence-building measures would make an essential contribution to the crea-tion of multilateral and bilateral friendly relations among peoples and nations,

Being concerned at the continuous erosion of multilater-alism in the field of arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament, and recognizing that a resort to unilateral ac-tions by Member States in resolving their security concerns would jeopardize international peace and security and un-dermine confidence in the international security system as well as the foundations of the United Nations itself,

Noting that the Sixteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Teh-ran from 26 to 31 August 2012, welcomed the adoption of resolution 66/32 on the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, and underlined

5. Requests the Secretary-General to compile a report on measures already taken by international organizations on issues relating to the linkage between the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruc-tion and to seek the views of Member States on additional relevant measures, including national measures, for tack-ling the global threat posed by the acquisition by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session;

6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and com-plete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Measures to pre-vent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction”.

Multilateralism in disarmament and non-proliferation

Report of Secretary-General. In response to General Assembly resolution 67/38 [YUN 2012, p. 499], the Secretary-General, in July and September [A/68/152 & Add.1], presented replies received from China, Co-lombia, Cuba, Iraq, Mauritius, Uruguay and the eu regarding their views on the promotion of multilateral-ism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation.

Open-ended Working Group. By an October note [A/68/514], the Secretary-General transmitted to the Assembly the report of the Open-ended Work-ing Group to develop proposals to take forward mul-tilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations for the achievement and maintenance of a world without nuclear weapons. The Working group, established by resolution 67/56 [YUN 2012, p. 500], met from 14 to 24 May, 27 June and 19 to 30 August.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/38 by recorded vote (127-5-52) [agenda item 99 (n)].

Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation

The General Assembly,Determined to foster strict respect for the purposes and

principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,Recalling its resolution 56/24 T of 29 November 2001

on multilateral cooperation in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and global efforts against terrorism and other relevant resolutions, as well as its resolutions 57/63 of 22 November 2002, 58/44 of 8 December 2003, 59/69 of 3 December 2004, 60/59 of 8 December 2005, 61/62 of 6 December 2006, 62/27 of 5 December 2007, 63/50 of 2 December 2008, 64/34 of 2 December 2009, 65/54 of 8 December 2010, 66/32 of 2 December 2011 and 67/38 of 3 December 2012 on the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation,

Recalling also the purpose of the United Nations to main-tain international peace and security and, to that end, to take effective collective measures for the prevention and re-



sotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mon-golia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nic-aragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swazi-land, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Israel, Micronesia, Palau, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine.

On the same date [meeting 60], the Assembly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/46 by recorded vote (158-4-20) [agenda item 99 (w)].

Taking forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolution 67/56 of 3 December 2012, by

which the General Assembly established the Open-ended Working Group to develop proposals to take forward mul-tilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations for the achieve-ment and maintenance of a world without nuclear weapons,

Deeply concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons,

Recalling the Declaration of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, the first special session devoted to disarmament, in which it is stated, inter alia, that all the peoples of the world have a vital interest in the success of disarmament negotiations and that all States have the right to participate in disarmament negotiations,

Reaffirming the role and functions of the Conference on Disarmament and the Disarmament Commission, as set out in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,

Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declara-tion, in which it is stated, inter alia, that responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social development, as well as threats to international peace and security, must be shared among the nations of the world and should be exercised multilaterally and that, as the most universal and most representative organization in the world, the United Nations must play the central role,

Welcoming the efforts of Member States to secure pro-gress in multilateral disarmament and the support of the Secretary-General for such efforts, and noting in this re-gard the Secretary-General’s five-point proposal on nuclear disarmament,

the fact that multilateralism and multilaterally agreed so-lutions, in accordance with the Charter, provide the only sustainable method of addressing disarmament and inter-national security issues,

Reaffirming the absolute validity of multilateral diplo-macy in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, and determined to promote multilateralism as an essential way to develop arms regulation and disarmament negotiations,

1. Reaffirms multilateralism as the core principle in ne-gotiations in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation with a view to maintaining and strengthening universal norms and enlarging their scope;

2. Also reaffirms multilateralism as the core principle in resolving disarmament and non-proliferation concerns;

3. Urges the participation of all interested States in multilateral negotiations on arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament in a non-discriminatory and transparent manner;

4. Underlines the importance of preserving the ex-isting agreements on arms regulation and disarmament, which constitute an expression of the results of interna-tional cooperation and multilateral negotiations in re-sponse to the challenges facing mankind;

5. Calls once again upon all Member States to renew and fulfil their individual and collective commitments to multilateral cooperation as an important means of pursu-ing and achieving their common objectives in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation;

6. Requests the States parties to the relevant instruments on weapons of mass destruction to consult and cooperate among themselves in resolving their concerns with regard to cases of non-compliance as well as on implementation, in accordance with the procedures defined in those instru-ments, and to refrain from resorting or threatening to resort to unilateral actions or directing unverified non-compliance accusations against one another to resolve their concerns;

7. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General containing the replies of Member States on the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, submitted pursuant to resolution 67/38;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the issue of the promotion of multilat-eralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session;

9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation.


Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bang-ladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dji-bouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Le-



ament and peace and security are addressed, taking into ac-count the report of the Working Group and the proposals contained therein;

7. Encourages Member States, international organiza-tions and civil society to take into account the report of the Working Group and the proposals contained therein in the discussions in other forums in which humanitarian, health, human rights, environmental and development affairs are addressed;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on how to take forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations, including on steps that Member States have already taken to that end, and to submit a report on that subject to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session;

9. Decides to review at its sixty-ninth session progress made in the implementation of the present resolution and to further explore options for taking forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations, including if necessary through the Working Group;

10. Reaffirms the urgency of securing substantive pro-gress in multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations, and welcomes further efforts in this respect;

11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Taking for-ward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations”.RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 68/46:

In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azer-baijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bo-tswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Gua-temala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao Peo-ple’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauri-tania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Neth-erlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstaining: Andorra, Belarus, China, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Monaco, Por-tugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan.

Recalling the outcome, including the action points, of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,

Reaffirming the absolute validity of multilateral diplo-macy in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, and determined to promote multilateralism as an essential way to develop arms regulation and disarmament negotiations,

Recognizing the absence of concrete outcomes of multi-lateral nuclear disarmament negotiations within the United Nations framework for more than a decade,

Recognizing also the increased political attention to dis-armament and non-proliferation issues and that the interna-tional political climate is more conducive to the promotion of multilateral disarmament and moving towards the goal of a world without nuclear weapons,

Welcoming the high-level meeting of the General Assem-bly on nuclear disarmament, held on 26 September 2013 pursuant to its resolution 67/39 of 3 December 2012, which highlighted the wish of the international community for progress in this field,

Emphasizing the importance and urgency of substantive progress on priority disarmament and non-proliferation issues,

Recognizing the important contribution that civil society makes to multilateral disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control processes,

Mindful of Article 11 of the Charter of the United Na-tions concerning the functions and powers of the General Assembly to consider and make recommendations with re-gard to, inter alia, disarmament,

1. Notes with satisfaction that the Open-ended Work-ing Group to develop proposals to take forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations for the achievement and maintenance of a world without nuclear weapons, established by the General Assembly by its resolution 67/56, which met during 2013 as a step towards taking forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations, engaged in discussions in an open, constructive, transparent and interactive manner to address various issues related to nuclear disarmament;

2. Welcomes the report of the Working Group on its work, reflecting the discussions and proposals made during its deliberations to take forward multilateral nuclear disarm-ament negotiations for the achievement and maintenance of a world without nuclear weapons;

3. Recognizes the value of the contribution that inter-national organizations, civil society, academia and research make to taking forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations, as demonstrated during the work of the Working Group;

4. Emphasizes that the universal objective of taking forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations re-mains the achievement and maintenance of a world without nuclear weapons, and also emphasizes the importance of ad-dressing issues related to nuclear weapons in a comprehen-sive, interactive and constructive manner, for the advance-ment of multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the report of the Working Group to the Conference on Disarmament and the Disarmament Commission for their consideration;

6. Calls upon all Member States, international organi-zations and civil society to continue to enrich the discussions on how to take forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations in the United Nations bodies in which disarm-



that it immediately retract its announcement of with-drawal from the npt and return to iaea safeguards.

In August [GOV/2013/39-GC(57)/22], the Director General submitted a report to the iaea Board of Gov-ernors and General Conference on the application of safeguards in the dprk, which indicated that it con-tinued to be unable to conduct safeguards activities since 1994 and to draw any safeguards conclusions regarding that country. In that regard, the Agency maintained its readiness to return to the dprk if re-quested to do so, and continued to monitor, mainly through satellite imagery, that country’s nuclear in-stallations and activities. Following the announcement on 12 February that, on that date, it had conducted a third nuclear test, dprk further announced on 1 April its intention to bolster its nuclear deterrence and nu-clear retaliatory strike power. On 2 April, dprk indi-cated that it would take measures aimed at readjust-ing and restarting all nuclear facilities in Nyongbyon, including the uranium enrichment plant and graphite moderated reactor.

IAEA General Conference. In a September reso-lution [GC(57)/RES/14], the iaea General Conference condemned the 12 February nuclear test by the dprk, deplored its ongoing nuclear activities and urged it not to conduct any further nuclear tests and to comply with all its obligations. The dprk should come in full compliance with npt and cooperate with iaea in im-plementing the Agency’s comprehensive safeguards. (For more information on UN concern with the dprk’s nuclear programme and related sanctions, see p. 338.)

IranDuring the year, the Director General submitted

four reports [GOV/2013/6, GOV/2013/27, GOV/2013/40, GOV/2013/56] to the Board of Governors on the im-plementation of Iran’s npt safeguards agreements and relevant Security Council resolutions, including reso-lution 2105(2013) (see p. 348). While iaea continued to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material at the nuclear facilities and locations outside of those declared by Iran under its comprehensive safeguards agreement, the Agency was unable to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear ma-terial in that country, and to therefore conclude that all nuclear material held there was for peaceful activi-ties. Contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Board and the Security Council, Iran had not implemented the provisions of its Additional Protocol or the Sub-sidiary Arrangements to its comprehensive safeguards agreement, nor suspended its enrichment and heavy water-related activities, or addressed the Agency’s seri-ous concerns about possible military dimensions to its nuclear programmes. In keeping with the 2011 request of the Board of Governors [YUN 2011, p. 514], iaea and Iranian officials held several rounds of talks in October to reach agreement on a structured approach docu-

IAEA safeguardsThe verification programme of the International

Atomic Energy Agency (iaea) remained at the core of multilateral efforts to curb the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The Agency had an essential verification role under the npt, as well as other treaties, such as those establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones. Comprehen-sive safeguards agreements concluded pursuant to the npt and the Model Additional Protocols to those agreements, which granted the Agency complemen-tary verification authority, were approved by the iaea Board of Governors in 1997 [YUN 1997, p. 486]; they remained the principal legal instruments strengthen-ing the Agency’s safeguards regime.

According to the iaea 2013 annual report [GC(58)/3], safeguards were applied during the year for 180 States with safeguards agreements in force with the Agency. States for which both comprehensive safe-guards agreements and additional protocols were in force numbered 117. For 63 of those States, the Agency concluded that all nuclear material remained in peace-ful activities. For the remaining 54 States, as all the necessary evaluations remained ongoing, the Agency was unable to draw the same conclusion.

For those 54 States and for the 55 with a compre-hensive safeguards agreement in force but no additional protocol, the Agency was only able to conclude that de-clared nuclear material remained in peaceful activities. Integrated safeguards were implemented for 53 States.

Safeguards were also implemented with regard to declared nuclear material in the five nuclear-weapon States with voluntary offer agreements; the Agency concluded that nuclear material to which safeguards had been applied in selected facilities remained in peaceful activities or had been withdrawn as provided for in the agreements. For three States in which the Agency implemented safeguards, the secretariat con-cluded that the nuclear material, facilities or other items to which safeguards were applied remained in peaceful activities. The Agency could not draw any safeguards conclusions for 12 npt non-nuclear-weapon States without safeguards agreements in force.

The General Assembly, in resolution 68/10 of 6 November (see p. 981), took note of iaea resolution [GC(57)/RES/13] on strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of the Agency’s safeguards system.

Democratic People’s Republic of KoreaIn resolution 2094(2013) of 7 March (see p. 340),

the Security Council condemned the 12 February nu-clear test by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (dprk) in violation and disregard of relevant Council resolutions and decided that that country should not conduct any further launches that used ballistic missile technology, nuclear tests or any other provocation, and



olution 67/73 [YUN 2012, p. 503], the Secretary-General reported that, apart from the iaea resolution on the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East (see above), he had not received any additional infor-mation since his 2012 report [ibid.].



The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East

The General Assembly,Bearing in mind its relevant resolutions,Taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the

General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the latest of which is resolution GC(57)/RES/15, adopted on 20 September 2013,

Cognizant that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region of the Middle East would pose a serious threat to international peace and security,

Mindful of the immediate need for placing all nuclear facilities in the region of the Middle East under full-scope safeguards of the Agency,

Recalling the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995, in which the Conference urged universal adherence to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as an urgent priority and called upon all States not yet parties to the Treaty to accede to it at the earliest date, particularly those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities,

Recognizing with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Confer-ence undertook to make determined efforts towards the achievement of the goal of universality of the Treaty, called upon those remaining States not parties to the Treaty to ac-cede to it, thereby accepting an international legally binding commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons or nuclear ex-plosive devices and to accept Agency safeguards on all their nuclear activities, and underlined the necessity of universal adherence to the Treaty and of strict compliance by all par-ties with their obligations under the Treaty,

Recalling the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference on 11 May 1995, in which the Conference noted with concern the continued existence in the Middle East of unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty and called upon all States in the Middle East that had not yet done so, without exception, to accede to the Treaty as soon as pos-sible and to place all their nuclear facilities under full-scope Agency safeguards,

Noting with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Confer-ence emphasized the importance of a process leading to full

ment for resolving outstanding issues. On 11 Novem-ber, the Director General and representatives of Iran signed a Joint Statement on a Framework for Coopera-tion, by which both sides agreed to cooperate further with respect to the Agency’s verification activities in a step-by-step manner. Iran agreed to take six initial practical measures within three months. On 24 No-vember, a Joint Plan of Action was agreed between Iran and China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, with the aim of reaching a “mutually-agreed long-term com-prehensive solution” to ensure that Iran’s nuclear pro-gramme was exclusively peaceful. Under the Action Plan, the Agency would be responsible for verification of nuclear-related measures.

(For more information on UN concern with Iran’s nuclear programme and related sanctions, see p. 346.)

Middle EastReport of Director General. In an August report

[GOV/2013/33-GC(57)/10] on the application of iaea safe-guards in the Middle East, the iaea Director General noted that all States in the region, except Israel, were parties to npt and had undertaken to accept compre-hensive Agency safeguards. A long-standing and fun-damental difference of views between Israel and the other States of the region remained with regard to the application of comprehensive Agency safeguards to all nuclear activities in the Middle East. States in the re-gion, except Israel, emphasized that there was no auto-matic sequence linking the application of comprehen-sive safeguards to all activities in the Middle East, or the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone, to the prior conclusion of a peace settlement. Israel, however, took the view that Agency safeguards, as well as all other regional security issues, could not be addressed in isolation from the creation of stable regional security conditions, and that those issues should be addressed in the framework of a regional security and arms con-trol dialogue that could be resumed in the context of a multilateral peace process. The Director General un-dertook to continue consultations regarding the early application of comprehensive Agency safeguards on all nuclear activities in the region.

IAEA General Conference. In a resolution of 20 September [GC(57)/RES/15], the iaea General Con-ference affirmed the need for all States in the region to accept the application of full-scope Agency safeguards to all nuclear activities as an important confidence-building measure towards enhancing peace and se-curity in the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone. It requested the Director General to continue consultations on the early application of full-scope Agency safeguards.

Report of Secretary-General. In October [A/68/124 (Part II)], responding to General Assembly res-



Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bo-tswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecua-dor, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guate-mala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao Peo-ple’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Monte-negro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Re-public of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yu-goslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Canada, Israel, Micronesia, Palau, United States.Abstaining: Australia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia,

India, Panama.

Syrian Arab RepublicIn a report submitted to the iaea Board of Gover-

nors on the implementation of npt safeguards agree-ment in the Syrian Arab Republic [GOV/2013/41], the Director General stated that the Agency had not re-ceived any new information from Syria or other mem-ber States that would have an impact on its assessment that it was likely that a building destroyed at the Dayr az-Zawr site was a nuclear reactor, which should have been declared to the Agency. In June, the Agency in-formed Syria that, after considering the UN Depart-ment of Safety and Security’s assessment of security conditions in the country, and the small amount of nuclear material as declared by Syria at the Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (mnsr), the 2013 physical in-ventory verification at mnsr would be postponed until the security conditions had sufficiently improved.

Radioactive wasteAs described in the iaea 2013 annual report

[GC(58)/2], the Agency began to develop new projects on the management of large amounts of waste, with the aim of creating a forum for member States to ex-change experience and assist and provide guidance on the application of the Agency’s safety standards. The Agency’s programme on Modelling and Data for Radi-

implementation of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East and decided, inter alia, that the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the co-sponsors of the 1995 resolution, in consultation with the States of the region, would convene a conference in 2012, to be attended by all States of the Mid-dle East, on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at by the States of the region and with the full support and engagement of the nuclear-weapon States,

Expressing regret that the conference was not convened in 2012 as mandated, and urging that it be convened without further delay,

Recalling that Israel remains the only State in the Middle East that has not yet become a party to the Treaty,

Concerned about the threats posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons to the security and stability of the Middle East region,

Stressing the importance of taking confidence-building measures, in particular the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in order to enhance peace and security in the region and to consolidate the global non-proliferation regime,

Emphasizing the need for all parties directly concerned to seriously consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and, as a means of promoting this objective, in-viting the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty and, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under Agency safeguards,

Noting that 183 States have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, including a number of States in the region,

1. Welcomes the conclusions on the Middle East of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and calls for the speedy and full implementation of the commitments con-tained therein;

2. Reaffirms the importance of Israel’s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive In-ternational Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, in realizing the goal of universal adherence to the Treaty in the Middle East;

3. Calls upon that State to accede to the Treaty with-out further delay, not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, to renounce possession of nuclear weapons and to place all its unsafeguarded nuclear facili-ties under full-scope Agency safeguards as an important confidence-building measure among all States of the region and as a step towards enhancing peace and security;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Gen-eral Assembly at its sixty-ninth session on the implementa-tion of the present resolution;

5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session the item entitled “The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East”.


gola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,



Recalling also resolution GC(45)/RES/10, adopted by consensus on 21 September 2001 by the General Confer-ence of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-fifth regular session, in which States shipping radioactive materials are invited to provide, as appropriate, assurances to concerned States, upon their request, that the national regulations of the shipping State take into account the Agency’s transport regulations and to provide them with relevant information relating to the shipment of such ma-terials; with the information provided being in no case con-tradictory to the measures of physical security and safety,

Welcoming the adoption, in Vienna on 5 September 1997, of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Man-agement, as recommended by the participants in the Sum-mit on Nuclear Safety and Security,

Welcoming also the convening by the International Atomic Energy Agency of the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety, in Vienna from 20 to 24 June 2011, and its outcome, the Declaration of the International Atomic Energy Agency Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety, as well as the Action Plan on Nuclear Safety, endorsed by the General Conference of the Agency at its fifty-fifth regular session,

Noting the convening by the Secretary-General of the high-level meeting on nuclear safety and security, in New York on 22 September 2011,

Noting with satisfaction that the Joint Convention en-tered into force on 18 June 2001,

Noting that the first Review Meeting of the Contract-ing Parties to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management was convened in Vienna from 3 to 14 No-vember 2003,

Desirous of promoting the implementation of para-graph 76 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, the first special session devoted to disarmament,

1. Takes note of the part of the report of the Confer-ence on Disarmament relating to radiological weapons;

2. Also takes note of the Declaration of the Interna-tional Atomic Energy Agency Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety, the Action Plan on Nuclear Safety and the high-level meeting on nuclear safety and security convened by the Secretary-General;

3. Expresses grave concern regarding any use of nuclear wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and have grave implications for the national security of all States;

4. Calls upon all States to take appropriate measures with a view to preventing any dumping of nuclear or ra-dioactive wastes that would infringe upon the sovereignty of States;

5. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to take into account, in the negotiations for a convention on the prohibition of radiological weapons, radioactive wastes as part of the scope of such a convention;

6. Also requests the Conference on Disarmament to intensify efforts towards an early conclusion of such a con-vention and to include in its report to the General Assembly at its seventieth session the progress recorded in the negotia-tions on this subject;

7. Takes note of resolution CM/Res.1356(LIV) of 1991, adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, on the Bamako Convention on the Ban

ological Impact Assessments organized a second tech-nical meeting (Vienna, 11–15 November) to continue work on assessment methodologies and their applica-tion for remediation of contaminated areas, modelling of radiation exposures and effects on biota, and the dispersion of radionuclides in the marine environment.

The Contracting Parties to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (The Joint Convention) [YUN 1997, p. 487], which entered into force in 2001 [YUN 2001, p. 487], held an Inter-sessional Meet-ing in April to facilitate consideration of proposals to improve the implementation of the Joint Convention and its review mechanism.

In September [GC(57)/RES/9], the iaea General Conference welcomed the increase to 67 of the num-ber of contracting parties to the Joint Convention, and urged all member States, in particular those explor-ing nuclear energy, to become parties. It requested the Agency to review the effectiveness of international in-struments for the safety of nuclear facilities, and urged member States to establish an independent regulatory body with the legal authority and the human and fi-nancial resources for fulfilling its responsibilities.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/53 without vote [agenda item 99 (i)].

Prohibition of the dumping of radioactive wastes

The General Assembly,Bearing in mind resolutions CM/Res.1153(XLVIII) of

1988 and CM/Res.1225(L) of 1989, adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, concern-ing the dumping of nuclear and industrial wastes in Africa,

Welcoming resolution GC(XXXIV)/RES/530 establish-ing the Code of Practice on the International Transbound-ary Movement of Radioactive Waste, adopted on 21 Sep-tember 1990 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its thirty-fourth regular session,

Taking note of the commitment made by the partici-pants in the Summit on Nuclear Safety and Security, held in Moscow on 19 and 20 April 1996, to ban the dumping at sea of radioactive wastes,

Considering its resolution 2602 C(XXIV) of 16 Decem-ber 1969, in which the General Assembly requested the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament, inter alia, to consider effective methods of control against the use of radiological methods of warfare,

Aware of the potential hazards underlying any use of ra-dioactive wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and its implications for regional and international security, in particular for the security of developing countries,

Recalling all its resolutions on the matter since its forty-third session in 1988, including its resolution 51/45 J of 10 December 1996,



3. Welcomes the convening of the first Conference of States Parties to the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba), in Addis Ababa on 4 Novem-ber 2010, and of the second Conference of States Parties, also in Addis Ababa, on 12 and 13 November 2012;

4. Expresses its appreciation to the nuclear-weapon States that have signed the Protocols to the Treaty that con-cern them, and calls upon those that have not yet ratified the Protocols that concern them to do so as soon as possible;

5. Calls upon the States contemplated in Protocol III to the Treaty that have not yet done so to take all measures necessary to ensure the speedy application of the Treaty to territories for which they are, de jure or de facto, interna-tionally responsible and which lie within the limits of the geographical zone established in the Treaty;

6. Calls upon the African States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons that have not yet done so to conclude comprehensive safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency pursuant to the Treaty, thereby satisfying the requirements of article 9 (b) of and annex II to the Treaty of Pelindaba, and to conclude additional protocols to their safeguards agreements on the basis of the model protocol approved by the Board of Governors of the Agency on 15 May 1997;

7. Expresses its gratitude to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the diligence with which they have rendered effective assistance to the signatories to the Treaty;

8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session the item entitled “African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty”.

Asia

South East AsiaThe 10 States parties to the Treaty on the South-East

Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (Bangkok Treaty), which was opened for signature in 1995 [YUN 1995, p. 207] and entered into force in 1977 [YUN 1997, p. 495], continued to promote and strengthen implementation of the Treaty.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/49 without vote [agenda item 99 (h)].

Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (Bangkok Treaty)

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolution 66/43 of 2 December 2011, enti-

tled “Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (Bangkok Treaty)”,

Welcoming the desire of the South-East Asian States to maintain peace and stability in the region in the spirit of peace-ful coexistence and mutual understanding and cooperation,

Noting the entry into force on 15 December 2008 of the Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in

on the Import of Hazardous Wastes into Africa and on the Control of Their Transboundary Movements within Africa;

8. Expresses the hope that the effective implementa-tion of the International Atomic Energy Agency Code of Practice on the International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste will enhance the protection of all States from the dumping of radioactive wastes on their territories;

9. Appeals to all Member States that have not yet taken the steps necessary to become party to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management to do so as soon as possible;

10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventieth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Prohibition of the dumping of radioactive wastes”.

Nuclear-weapon-free zonesAfrica

The African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba) [YUN 1995, p. 203], which entered into force in 2009 [YUN 2009, p. 533], had been ratified, as at 31 December, by 37 countries. The Congo rati-fied it during the year.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/403], adopted resolution 68/25 without vote [agenda item 91].

African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 51/53 of 10 December 1996

and 56/17 of 29 November 2001 and all its other relevant resolutions, as well as those of the Organization of African Unity and of the African Union,

Recalling also the signing of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba) in Cairo on 11 April 1996,

Recalling further the Cairo Declaration adopted on that occasion, in which it was emphasized that nuclear-weapon-free zones, especially in regions of tension, such as the Mid-dle East, enhance global and regional peace and security,

Recalling the statement made by the President of the Security Council on behalf of the members of the Council on 12 April 1996, in which the Council affirmed that the signature of the Treaty constituted an important contribu-tion by the African countries to the maintenance of inter-national peace and security,

Considering that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, especially in the Middle East, would enhance the security of Africa and the viability of the African nuclear-weapon-free zone,

1. Recalls with satisfaction the entry into force of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba) on 15 July 2009;

2. Calls upon African States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Treaty as soon as possible;



Free Zone (Bangkok Treaty) by implementing the plan of action for the period 2013–2017 adopted in Bandar Seri Begawan on 30 June 2013, with a renewed commitment and a stronger emphasis on concrete actions, and the decision of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Political-Security Community Council, established under the Charter of the Association, to give priority to the im-plementation of the plan of action;

2. Encourages States parties to the Treaty to continue to engage nuclear-weapon States to resolve comprehen-sively, in accordance with the objectives and principles of the Treaty, outstanding issues, with a view to signing the Protocol thereto and its related documents expeditiously;

3. Underlines the value of enhancing and implement-ing further ways and means of cooperation among the States parties to nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties and the protocols thereto, with a view to strengthening the non-proliferation regime and to contributing towards realizing the objective of nuclear disarmament;

4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventieth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (Bangkok Treaty)”.

Latin America and the Caribbean

The 33 States parties to the Treaty for the Prohibi-tion of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) [YUN 1967, p. 13] con-tinued to consolidate the Treaty regime. On 13 June, Antigua and Barbuda became party to Amendments to articles 7, 25, 14, and 15,16 and 20.



Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin

America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)

The General Assembly,Recalling that the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear

Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) was opened for signature in Mexico City on 14 February 1967,

Recalling also that, in its preamble, the Treaty of Tlatelolco states that military denuclearized zones are not an end in themselves but rather a means for achieving gen-eral and complete disarmament at a later stage,

Recalling further that, in its resolution 2286(XXII) of 5 December 1967, the General Assembly welcomed with special satisfaction the Treaty of Tlatelolco as an event of historic significance in the efforts to prevent the prolifera-tion of nuclear weapons and to promote international peace and security,

Recalling that, in 1990, 1991 and 1992, the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear

which it is stated, inter alia, that one of the purposes of the As-sociation is to preserve South-East Asia as a nuclear-weapon-free zone, free of all other weapons of mass destruction,

Noting also the convening of the second Conference of States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones and Mongolia,

Reaffirming its conviction of the important role of nuclear-weapon-free zones, established, where appropriate, on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among States of the region concerned and in accordance with the 1999 guidelines of the Disarmament Commission, in strength-ening the nuclear non-proliferation regime, in contribut-ing towards realizing the objectives of nuclear disarmament and in extending the areas of the world that are free of nuclear weapons, and, with particular reference to the re-sponsibilities of the nuclear-weapon States, calling upon all States to seek a safer world for all and to achieve peace and security in a world without nuclear weapons in a way that promotes international stability and based on the principle of undiminished security for all,

Convinced that the establishment of a South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, as an essential component of the Declaration on the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neu-trality, signed in Kuala Lumpur on 27 November 1971, will contribute towards strengthening the security of States within the Zone and towards enhancing international peace and security as a whole,

Noting the entry into force of the Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone on 27 March 1997 and the tenth anniversary of its entry into force in 2007,

Welcoming the reaffirmation of South-East Asian States that the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone shall continue to play a pivotal role in the area of confidence-building measures, preventive diplomacy and the ap-proaches to conflict resolution as enshrined in the Declara-tion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Concord II (Bali Concord II),

Reaffirming the inalienable right of all the parties to the Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,

Recognizing that, by signing and ratifying the relevant protocols to the treaties establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, nuclear-weapon States would undertake individual legally binding commitments to respect the status of such zones and not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against States parties to such treaties,

Recalling the statement of the Chairman of the twenty-second Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and the joint communiqué of the forty-sixth Ministerial Meeting of the Association,

Recalling also the applicable principles and rules of inter-national law relating to the freedom of the high seas and the rights of innocent passage, archipelagic sea lanes passage or transit passage of ships and aircraft, particularly those of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,

1. Welcomes the commitment and efforts of the Com-mission for the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone to further enhance and strengthen the implementa-tion of the Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-



the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean in its resolutions 267(E-V), 268(XII) and 290(VII);

3. Encourages States that have ratified the relevant Pro-tocols to the Treaty of Tlatelolco to review any reservations in this regard, in accordance with action 9 of the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;

4. Encourages States members of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean to continue the activities and efforts of the Agency with a view to implementing the agreements reached at the first and second conferences of States parties and signatories to treaties that establish nuclear-weapon-free zones;

5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-first session the item entitled “Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nu-clear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)”.

Middle East

Report of Secretary-General. In response to General Assembly resolution 67/28 [YUN 2012, p. 508], the Secretary-General in July reported [A/68/124 (Part I) & Add.1, 2] on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. He indicated that the facilitator (Finland) for the conference on the estab-lishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weap-ons and all other weapons of mass destruction con-sulted with States in the region on preparations for the convening of the conference in Helsinki in December 2012. Regrettably, the conference was not convened as all States were not prepared to attend. The Secretary-General subsequently issued a statement noting the statements issued by the co-sponsoring States and supported the continued efforts of the facilitator, in-cluding his proposal for multilateral consultations, so as to allow the conference to be convened at the earliest opportunity in 2013. On 29 April, the facilita-tor reported to the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference of Par-ties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (see p. 481) on the status of preparations for the conference. The Secretary-General was concerned that any further delay might undermine the Treaty and its review process, including the prospects for a successful 2105 Review Conference.

The report included the views on the matter of 13 Member States—Australia, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Libya, on behalf of the Arab Group, Ukraine, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, as well as the European Union.



Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean approved and opened for signature a set of amendments to the Treaty of Tlatelolco, with the aim of enabling the full entry into force of that instrument,

Highlighting the fact that the Treaty of Tlatelolco, which is in force for 33 sovereign States of the region, consolidated the first nuclear-weapon-free zone established in a densely populated region,

Recognizing the important contribution of the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba and the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia, as well as the Antarctic Treaty and the declaration by Mongo-lia of its nuclear-weapon-free status, to the achievement of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament,

Recalling all relevant United Nations resolutions in sup-port of nuclear-weapon-free zones,

Highlighting the value of enhancing cooperation among the nuclear-weapon-free zone treaty members, including through the holding of joint meetings of States parties, signatories and observers to those treaties,

Welcoming the holding of the second Conference of States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones and Mongolia, in New York on 30 April 2010, as an important contribution to achiev-ing a nuclear-weapon-free world,

Noting the two preparatory meetings for the third Con-ference of States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Es-tablish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones and Mongolia, held in Vienna on 27 April 2012 and in Geneva on 26 April 2013,

Welcoming the international seminar on the theme “The experience of the nuclear-weapon-free zone in Latin America and the Caribbean and the perspective towards 2015 and beyond”, held on the occasion of the forty-fifth anniversary of the Treaty of Tlatelolco, in Mexico City on 14 and 15 February 2012,

Welcoming also the granting, on 23 October 2013, of the Gold Future Policy Award for sustainable disarmament to the Treaty of Tlatelolco, in recognition of its invaluable contribution to advancing regional peace and security,

Noting that the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weap-ons, in its final document, encouraged the establishment of further nuclear-weapon-free zones and the fostering of cooperation and enhanced consultation mechanisms among the existing nuclear-weapon-free zones through the establishment of concrete measures, in order to fully imple-ment the principles and objectives of the relevant nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties, and commending the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean for its leadership in this endeavour,

Reaffirming the importance of the Agency as the appro-priate legal and political forum for ensuring full compli-ance with and implementation of the Treaty of Tlatelolco, as well as cooperation with the entities of other nuclear-weapon-free zones,

1. Welcomes the fact that the Treaty for the Prohibi-tion of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Car-ibbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) is in force for the sovereign States of the region;

2. Urges the countries of the region that have not yet done so to sign or deposit their instruments of ratification of the amendments to the Treaty of Tlatelolco approved by



Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an ap-propriate framework for the peaceful settlement of conten-tious issues in the region,

Recognizing the importance of credible regional secu-rity, including the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone,

Emphasizing the essential role of the United Nations in the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone,

Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 67/28,

1. Urges all parties directly concerned seriously to consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accor-dance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assem-bly, and, as a means of promoting this objective, invites the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;

2. Calls upon all countries of the region that have not yet done so, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards;

3. Takes note of resolution GC(57)/RES/15, adopted on 20 September 2013 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its fifty-seventh regular session, concerning the application of Agency safe-guards in the Middle East;

4. Notes the importance of the ongoing bilateral Mid-dle East peace negotiations and the activities of the mul-tilateral Working Group on Arms Control and Regional Security in promoting mutual confidence and security in the Middle East, including the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone;

5. Invites all countries of the region, pending the estab-lishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, to declare their support for establishing such a zone, consistent with paragraph 63 (d) of the Final Docu-ment of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, and to deposit those declarations with the Security Council;

6. Also invites those countries, pending the establish-ment of the zone, not to develop, produce, test or other-wise acquire nuclear weapons or permit the stationing on their territories, or territories under their control, of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices;

7. Invites the nuclear-weapon States and all other States to render their assistance in the establishment of the zone and at the same time to refrain from any action that runs counter to both the letter and the spirit of the present resolution;

8. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 67/28;

9. Invites all parties to consider the appropriate means that may contribute towards the goal of general and complete disarmament and the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the region of the Middle East;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to pur-sue consultations with the States of the region and other concerned States, in accordance with paragraph 7 of resolu-tion 46/30 and taking into account the evolving situation in the region, and to seek from those States their views on the measures outlined in chapters III and IV of the study

Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 3263(XXIX) of 9 Decem-

ber 1974, 3474(XXX) of 11 December 1975, 31/71 of 10 December 1976, 32/82 of 12 December 1977, 33/64 of 14 December 1978, 34/77 of 11 December 1979, 35/147 of 12 December 1980, 36/87 A and B of 9 December 1981, 37/75 of 9 December 1982, 38/64 of 15 December 1983, 39/54 of 12 December 1984, 40/82 of 12 December 1985, 41/48 of 3 December 1986, 42/28 of 30 November 1987, 43/65 of 7 December 1988, 44/108 of 15 December 1989, 45/52 of 4 December 1990, 46/30 of 6 December 1991, 47/48 of 9 December 1992, 48/71 of 16 December 1993, 49/71 of 15 December 1994, 50/66 of 12 December 1995, 51/41 of 10 December 1996, 52/34 of 9 December 1997, 53/74 of 4 December 1998, 54/51 of 1 December 1999, 55/30 of 20 November 2000, 56/21 of 29 November 2001, 57/55 of 22 November 2002, 58/34 of 8 December 2003, 59/63 of 3 December 2004, 60/52 of 8 December 2005, 61/56 of 6 December 2006, 62/18 of 5 December 2007, 63/38 of 2 December 2008, 64/26 of 2 December 2009, 65/42 of 8 December 2010, 66/25 of 2 December 2011 and 67/28 of 3 December 2012 on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East,

Recalling also the recommendations for the establish-ment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East consistent with paragraphs 60 to 63, and in particular paragraph 63 (d), of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,

Emphasizing the basic provisions of the above-mentioned resolutions, in which all parties directly concerned are called upon to consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East and, pending and during the establishment of such a zone, to declare solemnly that they will refrain, on a reciprocal basis, from producing, acquiring or in any other way possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive de-vices and from permitting the stationing of nuclear weap-ons on their territory by any third party, to agree to place their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and to declare their support for the es-tablishment of the zone and to deposit such declarations with the Security Council for consideration, as appropriate,

Reaffirming the inalienable right of all States to acquire and develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,

Emphasizing the need for appropriate measures on the question of the prohibition of military attacks on nuclear facilities,

Bearing in mind the consensus reached by the General Assembly since its thirty-fifth session that the establish-ment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East would greatly enhance international peace and security,

Desirous of building on that consensus so that substan-tial progress can be made towards establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East,

Welcoming all initiatives leading to general and complete disarmament, including in the region of the Middle East, and in particular on the establishment therein of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons,



[YUN 2011, p. 522], a meeting of those States was con-vened (Geneva, 9–13 December) [BWC/MSP/2013/5 & Corr.1]. It was attended by 102 States parties, two sig-natory States, one observer State, the United Nations, including the Office of Disarmament Affairs, seven international organizations and 15 non-governmental organizations and research institutes.

States parties were encouraged to continue sharing information on any actions, measures or other steps that they might have taken on issues under consid-eration to further promote common understanding and effective action. States parties reviewed progress towards obtaining universality for the Convention and considered the report from the Chairman on univer-salization activities [BWC/MSP/2013/3]. States parties took note of the report of the Implementation Sup-port Unit [BWC/MSP/2013/4], and expressed concern that more than half of the States parties had not parti-cipated in the confidence-building measures in 2013. The Meeting encouraged all States parties to make an annual confidence-building measure submission and to continue working closely with the Implementation Support Unit in fulfilling its mandate.

Meeting of experts

The Meeting of Experts (Geneva, 12–16 August) [BWC/MSP/2013/MX/3], attended by 83 States parties, three signatory States, two observer States, the United Nations and seven international organizations, as well as by scientific, professional and academic organiza-tions, and non-governmental organizations, discussed strengthening cooperation and assistance under Arti-cle X; a review of developments in science and technol-ogy related to the Convention; strengthening national implementation, and enabling fuller participation in confidence-building measures.



Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling

of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction

The General Assembly,Recalling its previous resolutions relating to the com-

plete and effective prohibition of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and to their destruction,

Noting with appreciation that, with four additional States having acceded to the Convention on the Prohibi-tion of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction in 2013, there are 170 States parties to the Convention, including all the permanent members of the Security Council,

annexed to the report of the Secretary-General of 10 Oc-tober 1990 or other relevant measures, in order to move towards the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East;

11. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution;

12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session the item entitled “Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East”.

South Pacific

As at 31 December, the number of States parties to the 1985 South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga) [YUN 1985, p. 58] remained at 13. China and the Russian Federation had ratified Pro-tocols 2 and 3, and France and the United Kingdom had ratified all three Protocols. Under Protocol 1, the States internationally responsible for territories situated within the zone would apply the relevant prohibitions of the Treaty to those territories; under Protocol 2, the five nuclear-weapon States would provide security as-surances to parties or territories within the zone; and under Protocol 3, the five nuclear-weapon States would not carry out any nuclear tests in the zone.

Bacteriological (biological) and chemical weapons

In 2013, Member States continued to focus on strengthening the 1972 Convention on the Prohibi-tion of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction (Biological Weapons Con-vention) (bwc) [YUN 1972, p. 5] and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (cwc) [YUN 1993, p. 111].

Bacteriological (biological) weapons

Bacteriological (biological) weapons convention

As at 31 December, 168 States had either ratified or acceded to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bac-teriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction (Biological Weapons Convention) (bwc). During the year, Cameroon, Guyana, Malawi and Nauru became parties.

Meeting of States partiesIn accordance with the decision of the Seventh

Review Conference of the States parties to bwc



tled “Cooperation and assistance, with a particular focus on strengthening cooperation and assistance under Arti-cle X”, “Review of developments in the field of science and technology related to the Convention” and “Strengthening national implementation” shall be addressed at both the meeting of experts and the meeting of States parties, every year from 2012 to 2015;

3. Also notes with appreciation that the Seventh Review Conference decided that the questions of (a) how to enable fuller participation in the confidence-building measures, and (b) how to strengthen implementation of article VII, includ-ing consideration of detailed procedures and mechanisms for the provision of assistance and cooperation by States parties, shall be discussed in 2012 and 2013 and 2014 and 2015, respectively, during the 2012–2015 intersessional process;

4. Notes with satisfaction that the meeting of States parties and the meeting of experts, held in Geneva from 10 to 14 December 2012 and from 12 to 16 August 2013, re-spectively, successfully addressed the three standing agenda items and the biennial item on the agenda;

5. Appreciates the information and data on confidence-building measures provided to date, notes with satisfaction the adoption of the revised reporting forms for confidence-building measures agreed upon at the Seventh Review Con-ference, and reiterates its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the exchange of information and data agreed upon at the Third Review Conference;

6. Notes with appreciation the decision of the Seventh Review Conference on the establishment of a database to facilitate requests for and offers of exchange of assistance and cooperation, and urges States parties to submit to the Implementation Support Unit, on a voluntary basis, requests for and offers of cooperation and assistance, in-cluding in terms of equipment, materials and scientific and technological information regarding the use of biological and toxin agents for peaceful purposes;

7. Encourages States parties to provide, at least bian-nually, appropriate information on their implementation of article X of the Convention and to collaborate to offer assistance or training, upon request, in support of the legis-lative and other implementation measures of States parties needed to ensure their compliance with the Convention;

8. Notes with satisfaction the decision of the Seventh Review Conference on the establishment of a sponsorship programme in order to support and increase the participation of developing States parties in the meetings of the interses-sional programme, and calls upon States parties in a position to do so to offer voluntary contributions for the programme;

9. Notes with appreciation the work of the Implementa-tion Support Unit during the 2007–2010 intersessional pro-cess and the Seventh Review Conference, and welcomes the decision of the Seventh Review Conference to renew its man-date and request the Unit to perform, in addition to the tasks mandated by the Sixth Review Conference, two tasks for the period from 2012 to 2016, in order to support, as appropriate, the implementation by the States parties of the decisions and recommendations of the Seventh Review Conference;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to render the necessary assistance to the depositary Govern-ments of the Convention, to provide such services as may be required for the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the review conferences and to render

Reaffirming its call upon all signatory States that have not yet ratified the Convention to do so without delay, and call-ing upon those States that have not signed the Convention to become parties thereto at the earliest possible date, thus contributing to the achievement of universal adherence to the Convention,

Bearing in mind its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the implementation of the recommendations of the review conferences of the parties to the Convention, including the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpil-ing of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction, later amended by the Final Declara-tion of the Seventh Review Conference, and to provide such information and data in conformity with the standardized procedure to the Implementation Support Unit within the Office for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat on an annual basis and no later than 15 April,

Welcoming the reaffirmation made in the Final Decla-rations of the Fourth, Sixth and Seventh Review Confer-ences that under all circumstances the use of bacteriologi-cal (biological) and toxin weapons and their development, production and stockpiling are effectively prohibited under article I of the Convention,

Recognizing the importance of ongoing efforts by States parties to enhance international cooperation, assistance and the fullest possible exchange in biological sciences and technology for peaceful purposes, recognizing also that there still remain challenges and obstacles to be overcome in order to enhance international cooperation, and recog-nizing further the value of building capacity through inter-national cooperation, in line with the Final Document of the Seventh Review Conference,

Reaffirming the importance of national measures, in accordance with constitutional processes, in strengthening the implementation of the Convention by States parties, in line with the Final Document of the Seventh Review Conference,

Reaffirming also the importance of the review of devel-opments in the field of science and technology related to the Convention,

Noting the decision of the Seventh Review Conference to retain the previous structures from the 2003–2010 interses-sional process, consisting of annual meetings of States parties preceded by annual meetings of experts, and to continue to al-locate five days to each meeting of States parties and each meet-ing of experts during the 2012–2015 intersessional process,

Recalling the decision of the Seventh Review Confer-ence that the Eighth Review Conference shall be held in Geneva not later than 2016,

1. Notes with satisfaction the successful outcome of and the decisions on all provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stock-piling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction reached at the Seventh Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, and calls upon States parties to the Convention to participate and actively engage in their implementation;

2. Notes with appreciation the decision of the Seventh Review Conference that the standing agenda items enti-



the efforts by States parties in the standardisation of declaration data, the increase in the number of inspec-tions of chemical industry facilities, the reduction of the size of inspection teams, and that the introduction of a new interim other chemical production facilities site-selection methodology had contributed to increas-ing the effectiveness and efficiency of the verification system. The Conference acknowledged the establish-ment of the International Support Network for Vic-tims of Chemical Weapons, as well as a voluntary trust fund for that purpose.

Eighteenth Session of the Conference of States Parties

The eighteenth session of the Conference of States Parties (The Hague, 2–5 December) [C-18/5] was at-tended by 130 States parties, one signatory States, two non-signatory States attending as observers, seven in-ternational organizations, specialized agencies, other international bodies and 39 non-governmental or-ganizations. The session had before it the opcw report [C-18/4] on the implementation of the Convention in 2012 [YUN 2012, p. 514].

The Conference noted that the three possessor States Parties (Libya, Russian Federation, United States) were unable to fully meet the final extended deadline of 29 April 2012 for the destruction of their chemical weapons stockpiles, but that measures were being implemented towards that end. It also noted the confirmation that necessary measures continued to be undertaken for destruction activities to meet the planned completion date of September 2023 by the United States, December 2015 by the Russian Fed-eration and December 2016 by Libya. The Confer-ence recognized the achievement of the destruction of 37,073 items of abandoned chemical weapons by Japan in China, and encouraged continued cooperation be-tween the two countries in that regard. It welcomed the review of the destruction of abandoned chemical weapons by the Third Review Conference (see above). The Conference noted the reports by the Director General on progress in the elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme and the cooperation ex-tended to the opcw team to conduct those activities. It welcomed the establishment of a special trust fund for the completion of the destruction of those weapons outside Syria.

The Conference considered and approved the opcw report on the implementation of the Convention in 2012 (see below).


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/45 without vote [agenda item 99 (v)].

the necessary assistance and to provide such services as may be required for the meetings of experts and the meetings of States parties during the 2012–2015 intersessional process;

11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session the item entitled “Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpil-ing of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction”.

Chemical weaponsChemical weapons convention

As at 31 December, the number of States that had either ratified or acceded to the Convention on the Pro-hibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and Their Destruction increased to 190, with the accession of Somalia and the Syrian Arab Republic. The number of signatories remained at 165. The Convention was adopted by the Conference on Disarmament in 1992 [YUN 1992, p. 65] and entered into force in 1997 [YUN 2007, p. 499].

Third Review ConferenceThe Third Review Conference of the States Parties

to the Convention (The Hague, 8–19 April), attended by 122 States, reviewed the operation of the Conven-tion since the Second Review Conference [YUN 2008, p. 606]. The Conference adopted a final report [RC-3/3] that reaffirmed States parties’ commitment to the global chemical weapons ban and provided policy guidance for the future. Among its decisions, States parties issued a political declaration on their commit-ment to achieve the universality of the Convention and called upon States not party to join the Convention without delay and precondition. They also declared their commitment to adopt measures to fully imple-ment their obligations under the Convention and to keep the effectiveness of those measures under review. States parties reiterated their concern that chemical weapons might have been used in Syria and underlined that the use of such weapons by anyone under any cir-cumstances would be reprehensible and contrary to international norms and standards. The Conference was concerned that the international community also faced the danger of the production, acquisition and use of chemical weapons by non-State actors, includ-ing terrorists, highlighting the necessity of achieving universal adherence to the Convention and a high level of readiness by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (opcw).

The Conference noted the impact of scientific and technological progress on the effective implementation of the Convention and the importance for opcw and its policy-making organs to take due account of such developments. It welcomed the progress in maintain-ing the Verification Information System and noted that the System had been strengthened. It also noted



cal activities among States parties for peaceful purposes in order to enhance the economic and technological develop-ment of all States parties,

1. Emphasizes that the universality of the Conven-tion on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction is essential to achieving its object and purpose and to enhancing the security of States parties, as well as to international peace and security, underlines that the objec-tives of the Convention will not be fully realized as long as there remains even a single State not party to the Conven-tion that could possess or acquire such weapons, and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention without delay;

2. Underlines that the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of all articles of the Con-vention makes a major contribution to international peace and security through the elimination of existing stockpiles of chemical weapons and the prohibition of their acquisi-tion and use, and provides for assistance and protection in the event of use or threat of use of chemical weapons and for international cooperation for peaceful purposes in the field of chemical activities;

3. Notes the impact of scientific and technological pro-gress on the effective implementation of the Convention and the importance for the Organization for the Prohibi-tion of Chemical Weapons and its policymaking organs of taking due account of such developments;

4. Reaffirms that the obligation of the States parties to complete the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles and the destruction or conversion of chemical weapons production facilities in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and the Annex on Implementation and Verification (Verification Annex) and under the verifica-tion of the Technical Secretariat of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is essential for the realization of the object and purpose of the Convention;

5. Stresses the importance to the Convention that all possessors of chemical weapons, chemical weapons produc-tion facilities or chemical weapons development facilities, including previously declared possessor States, should be among the States parties to the Convention, and welcomes progress to that end;

6. Recalls that the Third Special Session of the Con-ference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, held in The Hague from 8 to 19 April 2013 (the Third Review Conference) expressed concern regarding the statement made by the Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in his report to the Executive Coun-cil of the Organization at its sixty-eighth session, provided in accordance with paragraph 2 of decision C-16/DEC.11 of 1 December 2011 adopted by the Conference of the States Parties at its sixteenth session, that three possessor States parties, namely, Libya, the Russian Federation and the United States of America, had been unable to fully meet the final extended deadline of 29 April 2012 for the destruction of their chemical weapons stockpiles, and also expressed determination that the destruction of all catego-ries of chemical weapons should be completed in the short-est time possible in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and the Verification Annex, and with the full application of the relevant decisions that have been taken;

Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and

Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction

The General Assembly,Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject of chemi-

cal weapons, in particular resolution 67/54 of 3 December 2012, adopted without a vote, in which the General Assem-bly noted with appreciation the ongoing work to achieve the object and purpose of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,

Determined to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction,

Noting that, since the adoption of resolution 67/54, two additional States have acceded to the Convention, namely, Somalia and the Syrian Arab Republic, bringing the total number of States parties to the Convention to 190,

Taking note of the report of the United Nations Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic on the alleged use of chemi-cal weapons in the Ghouta area of Damascus on 21 August 2013, in which the Mission concludes that chemical weap-ons have been used in the ongoing conflict between the par-ties in the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as against civilians, including children, on a relatively large scale,

Condemning in the strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons,

Taking note of decision EC-M-33/DEC.1 of 27 Sep-tember 2013 of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and of Security Council resolution 2118(2013) of the same date,

Reaffirming the importance of the outcome of the Third Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Conven-tion, held in The Hague from 8 to 19 April 2013 (the Third Review Conference), including its consensus final report, in which the Conference addressed all aspects of the Conven-tion and made important recommendations on its contin-ued implementation,

Emphasizing that the Third Review Conference wel-comed the fact that the Convention is a unique multilat-eral agreement banning an entire category of weapons of mass destruction in a non-discriminatory and verifiable manner under strict and effective international control and noted with satisfaction that the Convention continues to be a remarkable success and an example of effective mul-tilateralism,

Convinced that the Convention, 16 years after its entry into force, has reinforced its role as the international norm against chemical weapons, and that it constitutes a major contribution to:

(a) International peace and security,(b) Eliminating chemical weapons and preventing

their re-emergence,(c) The ultimate objective of general and complete dis-

armament under strict and effective international control,(d) Excluding completely, for the sake of all mankind,

the possibility of the use of chemical weapons,(e) Promoting international cooperation and exchange

in scientific and technical information in the field of chemi-



the economic or technological development of States par-ties and international cooperation in the field of chemical activities for purposes not prohibited under the Conven-tion, including the international exchange of scientific and technical information, and chemicals and equipment for the production, processing or use of chemicals for purposes not prohibited under the Convention;

16. Underlines that the comprehensive implementation of article XI of the Convention reinforces capacity-building in each State party and, in doing so, reinforces the ability of States parties to fully implement the Convention, and in this context also underlines the importance of assistance and national capacity-building in the field of chemical activities for purposes not prohibited under the Convention;

17. Commends the adoption of decision C-16/DEC.10 of 1 December 2011 on the components of an agreed framework for the full implementation of article XI by the Conference of the States Parties at its sixteenth session, and recognizes that the decision provides guidance for the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of article XI and identifies avenues for further work that would ad-vance its objectives;

18. Notes with appreciation the ongoing work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to achieve the object and purpose of the Convention, to ensure the full implementation of its provisions, including those for international verification of compliance with it, and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States parties;

19. Commends the desire expressed at the Third Re-view Conference to improve interaction with the chemical industry, the scientific community, academia and civil soci-ety organizations engaged in issues relevant to the Conven-tion, and to cooperate as appropriate with other relevant international and regional organizations, in promoting the goals of the Convention;

20. Welcomes the cooperation between the United Na-tions and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons within the framework of the relationship agree-ment between the United Nations and the Organization, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention;

21. Also welcomes the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2013 to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons;

22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Implemen-tation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Develop-ment, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weap-ons and on Their Destruction”.

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical WeaponsThe Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical

Weapons (opcw), mandated to oversee implementa-tion of the Chemical Weapons Convention and pro-vide a forum for consultation [C-19/4], was awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize on 11 October for its “extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons”. In accepting the prize on behalf of the Organization on 10 December, the Director-General announced that

7. Notes with concern that, along with the threat of the possible production, acquisition and use of chemi-cal weapons by States, the international community also faces the danger of the production, acquisition and use of chemical weapons by non-State actors, including terrorists, concerns which have highlighted the necessity of achiev-ing universal adherence to the Convention, as well as the high level of readiness of the Organization for the Prohibi-tion of Chemical Weapons, and stresses that the full and effective implementation of all provisions of the Conven-tion, including those on national implementation (article VII) and assistance and protection (article X), constitutes an important contribution to the efforts of the United Na-tions in the global fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations;

8. Emphasizes that the full implementation of the pro-visions of the Convention at the national level, including the timely submission of accurate and complete declarations in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, and updates to those declarations, is essential to ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the Convention regime;

9. Notes that the effective application of the verification system builds confidence in compliance with the Conven-tion by States parties;

10. Stresses the importance of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in verifying compli-ance with the provisions of the Convention as well as in promoting the timely and efficient accomplishment of all its objectives;

11. Urges all States parties to the Convention to meet in full and on time their obligations under the Convention and to support the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in its implementation activities;

12. Welcomes progress made in the national implemen-tation of article VII obligations, commends the States parties and the Technical Secretariat for assisting other States par-ties, on request, with the implementation of the follow-up to the plan of action regarding article VII obligations, urges States parties that have not fulfilled their obligations under article VII to do so without further delay, in accordance with their constitutional processes, and notes that the Third Review Conference noted the commitment of States par-ties to adopt, in accordance with constitutional processes, the measures necessary to fully implement their obligations under the Convention as a matter of priority and to keep the effectiveness of these measures under review;

13. Emphasizes the continuing relevance and impor-tance of the provisions of article X of the Convention, wel-comes the activities of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in relation to assistance and protec-tion against chemical weapons, supports further efforts by both States parties and the Technical Secretariat to promote a high level of readiness to respond to chemical weapons threats as articulated in article X, and welcomes the effec-tiveness and efficiency of the increased focus on making full use of regional and subregional capacities and expertise, including taking advantage of established training centres;

14. Acknowledges with appreciation the establishment of the International Support Network for Victims of Chemi-cal Weapons and of a voluntary trust fund for that purpose;

15. Reaffirms that the provisions of the Convention shall be implemented in a manner that avoids hampering



duction and mixing/filling equipment not later than 1 November 2013.

The Security Council, in resolution 2118(2013) of 27 September, endorsed the opcw Executive Coun-cil’s decision of 27 September and decided that Syria should comply with that decision and cooperate fully with opcw and the United Nations. It requested the Director-General of opcw and the Secretary-General to cooperate on the implementation of the Executive Council’s decision and to report to the Security Coun-cil on its implementation.

In a follow-up decision adopted at its thirty-fourth session (5 and 15 November) [EC-M-34/DEC.1], the opcw Executive Council outlined detailed require-ments for the destruction of Syrian chemical weap-ons and production facilities, with staged target dates towards an overall completion date of no later than 30 June 2014. It was determined also that those weap-ons would be destroyed outside the country.

Conventional weapons

Arms Trade Treaty

Final United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty

The Final United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (New York, 18–28 March) [A/CONF.217/2013/2] was convened, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 67/234 A [YUN 2012, p. 516], to finalize the elaboration of the arms trade treaty. The Conference, which was attended by 193 States, was opened on 18 March by the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. The UN Secretary-General also addressed the Conference. The Conference had before it a draft of the arms trade treaty [A/CONF.217/CRP.1] and a draft report of the Conference [A/CONF.217/2013/L.2].

On 26 March, the Conference established a Drafting Committee to conduct a technical review of the President’s final draft text of the treaty. On 28 March, the President of the Conference proposed for adoption a draft decision [A/CONF.217/2013/L.3] to which a draft text of the arms trade treaty was an-nexed. The President concluded that, in accordance with the rules of procedure, there was no consensus, and the draft decision was not adopted. The Confer-ence adopted its report to the Assembly.

Subsequently, a group of States moved to submit the draft text of the treaty for adoption by the Assembly.

The Arms Trade Treaty was adopted by the As-sembly on 2 April and was opened for signature on 3 June (see p. 508).

the prize money would be used to fund annual opcw awards recognizing outstanding contributions to ad-vancing the goals of the Convention

Following the confirmed sarin attack in the Da-mascus suburb of Ghouta on 21 August 2013, opcw, at the request of the UN Secretary-General, provided support to the United Nations Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria. Two teams of opcw experts participated in the mission. Opcw also provided facilities for the analysis of the data and samples collected. Following the decision by Syria to accede to the Chemical Weapons Convention and the negotiation of an agreement between the Rus-sian Federation and the United States on 14 September entitled “Framework for Elimination of Syrian Chemi-cal Weapons [A/68/398-S/2013/565], the establishment of the opcw-UN Joint Mission in Syria was announced on 16 October, with Ms. Sigrid Kaag (Netherlands) as Special Coordinator. The Joint Mission successfully completed, between 27 October and 1 November, the initial tasks, in particular the functional destruction of chemical weapons production, mixing and filling fa-cilities. The Director General prepared a “Plan for the Destruction of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Outside the Territory of the Syrian Arab Republic”.

During the year, opcw verified the destruction of 2,977.244 metric tonnes of chemical weapons. By 31 December, the secretariat had verified the destruc-tion of 57,594 metric tonnes of Category 1 chemical weapons, or 82 per cent of the declared chemical weap-ons. The industry verification programme conducted 229 Article VI inspections. The expansion and devel-opment of the Electronic Declarations Tool for Na-tional Authorities (edna) was completed in December. During the reporting period, eight inspections regard-ing abandoned chemical weapons were conducted in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

The opcw Executive Council, in a decision [EC-M-33/DEC.1] adopted at its thirty-third session (27 Sep-tember and 1 October), noted the report [A/67/997-S/2013/553] on the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Ghouta area of Damascus on 21 August, prepared by the United Nations Missions to Investigate Al-legations of the Use of Chemical Weapons, and its conclusion that chemical weapons had been used be-tween the parties in the conflict in Syria, and against civilians on a relatively large scale. The Executive Council welcomed the Framework for Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons agreed by the United States and the Russian Federation, and agreed that Syria should provide within seven days of the adop-tion of the decision information on chemical weap-ons it owned or possessed, or had under its jurisdic-tion, and to complete the elimination of all chemical weapons material and equipment in the first half of 2014 and the destruction of chemical weapons pro-



Against: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran, Syrian Arab Republic.

Abstaining: Angola, Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Oman, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Yemen.

In reports of August [A/68/272] and October [A/68/272/Add.1], the Secretary-General reported that 114 Stated has signed the Treaty and two had depos-ited their instruments of ratification. As at 31 Decem-ber, 115 Stated had signed the Treaty and 9 Stated had become parties.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/31 by recorded vote (152-0-29) [agenda item 99 (dd)].

The Arms Trade TreatyThe General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 61/89 of 6 December 2006,

63/240 of 24 December 2008, 64/48 of 2 December 2009, 67/234 A of 24 December 2012 and 67/234 B of 2 April 2013, and its decision 66/518 of 2 December 2011,

1. Welcomes the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty on 2 April 2013;

2. Notes that the Treaty was opened for signature at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 3 June 2013, will remain open for signature thereafter until its entry into force and, following its entry into force, will be open for ac-cession for any State that has not signed the Treaty;

3. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to sign and, thereafter, according to their respective constitu-tional processes, ratify, accept or approve the Treaty at the earliest possible date;

4. Calls upon those States in a position to do so to provide assistance, including legal or legislative assistance, institutional capacity-building and technical, material or financial assistance, to requesting States that intend to be-come parties to the Treaty, in order to facilitate its early entry into force;

5. Requests the Secretary-General, as depositary of the Treaty, to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session on the status of signature and ratification, accept-ance or approval of the Treaty;

6. Decides to remain seized of the matter.


gola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Do-minican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hon-duras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Ja-


On 2 April [meeting 71], the General Assembly, adopted resolution 67/234 B [draft: A/67/L.58 & Add.1] by recorded vote (154-3-23) [agenda item 94].

The Arms Trade TreatyB

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 63/240 of 24 December 2008

and 64/48 of 2 December 2009, and its decision 66/518 of 2 December 2011,

Recalling also its resolution 67/234 A of 24 December 2012, in which the General Assembly decided to remain seized of the matter of the Arms Trade Treaty during its sixty-seventh session,

Having considered the report of the Final United Na-tions Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty as contained in document A/CONF.217/2013/2,

1. Adopts the Arms Trade Treaty as contained in the annex to document A/CONF.217/2013/L.3;

2. Requests the Secretary-General, as depositary of the Treaty, to reflect the date of adoption of the Treaty by the General Assembly in the final sentence of the Treaty;

3. Also requests the Secretary-General, as depositary of the Treaty, to open it for signature on 3 June 2013;

4. Calls upon all States to consider signing and, there-after, according to their respective constitutional processes, becoming parties to the Treaty at the earliest possible date;

5. Requests the Secretary-General, as depositary of the Treaty, to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session on the status of signature and ratification of the Treaty.

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTIION 67/234 B:In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Anti-

gua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croa-tia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Geor-gia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakh-stan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mon-golia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lu-cia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Re-public of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Zambia.



multiplier on the ground in combating illicit arms through disarmament, demobilization and reintegra-tion and security sector reform programmes, as well as in promoting the rule of law. Nevertheless, despite international efforts, concerns regarding the unregu-lated use of arms persisted. In some regions, arms were the basis for lucrative private maritime security enterprises. The Council had the capacity to play an even stronger role in addressing the issue of illicit small arms, in particular by putting in place measures to enhance the effectiveness of arms embargoes and arms embargo monitoring, by strengthening the mandates of peacekeeping missions to address illicit small arms and by encouraging greater information exchange be-tween expert groups under its purview and relevant UN small arms mechanisms. The Secretary-General proposed 15 recommendations, including some aimed at fostering synergies between relevant stakeholders.

SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION

On 26 September [meeting 7036], the Security Coun-cil adopted resolution 2117(2013) by vote (14-0-1). The draft [S/2013/570] was submitted by Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, France, Ger-many, Guatemala, Japan, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxem-bourg, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Sierra Le-one, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The Security Council,Recalling its primary responsibility under the Charter

of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security, and noting the significance of small arms and light weapons as the most frequently used weapons in the majority of recent armed conflicts,

Recalling also the statements by its President of 24 Sep-tember 1999, 31 August 2001, 31 October 2002, 19 January 2004, 17 February 2005, 29 June 2007, 14 January 2009 and 19 March 2010, as well as other relevant resolutions of the Security Council, including resolution 1196(1998) of 16 September 1998, and statements by its President related to small arms and light weapons,

Emphasizing that the right of individual and collective self-defence recognized in Article 51 of the Charter and the legitimate security demands of all countries should be fully taken into account, and recognizing that small arms and light weapons are traded, manufactured and retained by States for legitimate security, sporting and commercial considerations,

Gravely concerned that the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons in many regions of the world continue to pose threats to international peace and security, cause significant loss of life, contribute to instability and insecurity and continue to un-dermine the effectiveness of the Council in discharging its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security,

Recognizing that threats arising from the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and

pan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Mo-naco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lu-cia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Soma-lia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Swit-zerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Zambia.

Against: None.Abstaining: Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Democratic

People’s Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Oman, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Re-public, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe.

Small armsHigh-level Security Council meeting on small arms

In September, the Security Council held a high-level meeting on small arms: the impact of the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons on international peace and security. It had before it a 6 September note [S/2013/536] by Australia entitled “Security Council high-level meeting on small arms: the impact of the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons on international peace and security”, and an August report of the Secretary-General [S/2013/503], submitted in accordance with a 2007 Council request [YUN 2007, p. 570]. The Secretary-General’s report updated the Council on current and emerging concerns on the issue of illicit small arms that had an impact on peace and security around the world, in particular in Africa, the protection of civil-ians in armed conflicts and sexual violence. It also pro-vided information on measures taken to address the challenge of illicit small arms.

The Secretary-General welcomed recent global de-velopments on the regulation of small arms, includ-ing the outcome documents at the second United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Pre-vent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects in 2012 [YUN 2012, p. 517], and the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty by the General Assembly (see p. 507). He said that it was crucial for the issue of illicit small arms to be increasingly highlighted in peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions, since they provided a force



Control Standards in arms and ammunition stockpile man-agement practices,

Emphasizing the importance of addressing the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons in conflict prevention and post-conflict peacebuilding, and in this context stressing the importance of comprehensive international, regional and national approaches to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration that integrate political, social, economic, de-velopment and security aspects, and provide for the special needs of children and women and full and effective par-ticipation of women in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, in line with its resolution 1325(2000) of 31 October 2000,

Underlining the responsibility of States to prevent threats posed by the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons to international peace and security, and the devastating impact on civilians in armed conflict,

Recognizing that the misuse of small arms and light weapons has resulted in grave crimes, and reaffirming therefore the relevant provisions of the 2005 World Sum-mit Outcome regarding the protection of civilians in armed conflict, including paragraphs 138 and 139 thereof regard-ing the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity,

Noting with appreciation the efforts made by Member States and intergovernmental, regional and subregional or-ganizations in addressing threats to international peace and security posed by the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumula-tion and misuse of small arms and light weapons, and noting the significant role of civil society in supporting such efforts,

Underlining, in this regard, the importance of coopera-tion, coordination and information-sharing among actors in addressing threats to international peace and security posed by the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons,

Recognizing the significance and central role of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organ-ized Crime and the Protocols thereto, including the Proto-col against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and the Inter-national Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, as crucial instruments in countering the il-licit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons,

Acknowledging the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty, taking note of the signature and ratification of the Treaty by some States, and looking forward to the important con-tribution it can make to international and regional peace, security and stability, reducing human suffering and pro-moting cooperation,

Welcoming the increased cooperation between the United Nations and the International Criminal Police Organization (interpol), including the 2009 supplemen-tary agreement between interpol and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations Secretariat, as well as individual agreements between interpol and

light weapons may vary according to national, regional and subregional circumstances, and encouraging responses that address prevailing needs and challenges,

Recognizing also the importance of capacity-building to address threats arising from the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, especially in Africa, welcoming efforts that have been made by States and international, regional and subregional organi-zations to tackle this scourge, and strongly encouraging sup-port for such efforts,

Emphasizing the importance of assisting Member States as well as intergovernmental, regional and subregional or-ganizations in capacity-building to prevent and address the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons,

Recalling with concern the close connection between in-ternational terrorism, transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, money-laundering, other illicit financial transac-tions, illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons and arms trafficking, and the link between the illegal exploita-tion of natural resources, illicit trade in such resources and the proliferation of and trafficking in arms as a major factor fuelling and exacerbating many conflicts,

Expressing concern at the continuing threats posed by the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons to the safety and security of United Nations peacekeepers and their effectiveness in implementing peacekeeping mandates, and to the safety and security of humanitarian workers and their effective provi-sion of humanitarian assistance,

Recalling with grave concern that the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons fuel armed conflicts and have a wide range of negative human rights, humanitarian, development and socioeconomic consequences, in particular on the security of civilians in armed conflict, including the disproportion-ate impact on violence perpetrated against women and girls, and exacerbating sexual and gender-based violence and the recruitment and use of children by parties to armed conflict in violation of applicable international law,

Noting that the present resolution focuses on the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, including in respect of Council-mandated arms embargoes,

Acknowledging the important contribution of Council-mandated arms embargoes in countering the illicit transfer of small arms and light weapons, mitigating the intensity of conflict and creating conditions conducive to the peaceful resolution of situations that threaten or breach international peace and security, and acknowledging also the contribu-tion that Council-mandated arms embargoes make in sup-porting conflict prevention, post-conflict peacebuilding, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and security sector reform,

Recognizing the value of effective physical security and management of stockpiles of small arms, light weapons and ammunition as an important means to prevent the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, in accordance with global and re-gional standards, including through the application of vol-untary guidelines, such as the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines developed under the United Nations SaferGuard programme and the International Small Arms



under existing global and regional instruments and to ad-dress the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons, including through weapons collection and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, enhanc-ing physical security and stockpile management practices, record-keeping and tracing capacities, development of na-tional export and import control systems, enhancement of border security and strengthening judicial institutions and law enforcement capacity;

6. Reaffirms its responsibility to monitor the implemen-tation of Council-mandated arms embargoes, and reaffirms its intention to take appropriate measures, when needed, to strengthen arms embargo monitoring mechanisms, includ-ing through assigning dedicated staff or monitoring units to relevant United Nations missions to effectively monitor arms embargoes;

7. Encourages information-sharing between groups of experts, peacekeeping missions within their mandates and other relevant United Nations entities on possible arms em-bargo violations, including on illicit arms transfers, illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons, illicit financial activities, suspected traffickers and trafficking routes;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to direct that any rel-evant United Nations agencies operating in a State or region in relation to which the Council maintains an arms embargo provide the utmost assistance to the work of relevant sanc-tions committees, expert groups, peacekeeping operations and other relevant United Nations entities in the implemen-tation and compliance monitoring of that arms embargo;

9. Reaffirms its decision that States shall eliminate the supply of weapons, including small arms and light weapons, to terrorists, as well as its calls for States to find ways of intensifying and accelerating the exchange of operational information regarding traffic in arms, and to enhance coor-dination of efforts at the national, subregional, regional and international levels;

10. Urges Member States, relevant United Nations entities and intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations in a position to do so, and where appropri-ate, to cooperate and share information on suspected traf-fickers and trafficking routes, suspect financial transactions and brokering activities for, or diversions of, small arms or light weapons, and other information relevant to the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation or misuse of small arms and light weapons, with potentially affected States and with relevant United Nations entities, including expert groups as-sisting sanctions committees and peacekeeping operations;

11. Calls for Member States to support weapons col-lection, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants, as well as physical security and stockpile management programmes by United Nations peacekeeping operations where so mandated;

12. Urges Member States, United Nations entities and intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations to take further measures to facilitate full and meaningful participation of women in all policymaking, planning and implementation processes to combat and eradicate the il-licit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, and calls in this regard upon all those involved in the planning for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and justice and security sector reform efforts to take into account the particular needs of women and children associated with

Council sanctions committees, which provide better op-tional tools, including those for weapons identification and information-sharing, for the United Nations and Member States to implement Council-mandated arms embargoes more effectively,

Welcoming also the report of the Secretary-General to the Council of 22 August 2013 entitled “Small arms”,

Being determined to continue to take practical steps to prevent the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, including in sup-port of other ongoing efforts and processes,

1. Welcomes efforts made by Member States and regional and subregional organizations in addressing the illicit trans-fer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, and encourages the establishment or strength-ening, where appropriate, of subregional and regional cooper-ation, coordination and information-sharing mechanisms, in particular transborder customs cooperation and networks for information-sharing, with a view to preventing, combating and eradicating the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons;

2. Reminds Member States of their obligation to fully and effectively comply with Security Council-mandated arms embargoes and to take appropriate measures, including all legal and administrative means, against any activity that violates such arms embargoes, and including, in accordance with relevant Council resolutions, through cooperating with all relevant United Nations entities; by making available to relevant sanctions committees all pertinent information on any alleged violations of arms embargoes; by acting on credible information to prevent the supply, sale, transfer or export of small arms and light weapons in contravention of Council-mandated arms embargoes; by facilitating un-hindered access by relevant Council-mandated personnel in accordance with Council mandates; and by applying rel-evant international standards such as the International In-strument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons;

3. Calls upon Member States subject to Council-mandated arms embargoes to implement and enforce the embargo, including by, as mandated, avoiding diversion of State-owned or State-controlled weapons by enhancing small arms and light weapons stockpile security, accounta-bility and management; improving the monitoring of small arms and light weapons that are supplied in accordance with exemptions to arms embargoes; and ensuring that seized, confiscated or surrendered small arms, light weapons and ammunition are recorded and disposed of in an appropriate manner, and by implementing national weapons marking programmes in accordance with the International Instru-ment to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons;

4. Reiterates that United Nations peacekeeping opera-tions and other relevant Council-mandated entities located in a Member State or region with a Council-mandated arms embargo, may, if deemed necessary by the Council, assist with appropriate expertise the host Government, relevant sanctions committee and relevant expert group with the implementa-tion and compliance monitoring of that arms embargo;

5. Also reiterates that such peacekeeping operations and relevant Council-mandated entities may, if deemed neces-sary by the Council, assist in capacity-building for host Governments, as requested, to implement commitments



in capacity-building to enable States parties to fulfil and im-plement the Treaty’s obligations;

20. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to sub-mit to the Council on a biennial basis a report on small arms and light weapons, including on the implementation of the present resolution, and affirms its intention to consider the report in a timely manner;

21. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

VOTE ON RESOLUTION 2117(2013):In favour: Argentina, Azerbaijan Australia, China, France,

Guatemala, Luxembourg, Morocco, Pakistan, Republic of Ko-rea, Rwanda, Togo, United Kingdom, United States.

Against: None.Abstaining: Russian Federation.

UN Programme of Action on illicit trade in small armsGENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION

On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/48 without vote [agenda item 99 (y)].

The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolution 67/58 of 3 December 2012, as

well as all previous resolutions entitled “The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects”, including resolution 56/24 V of 24 December 2001,

Emphasizing the importance of the continued and full implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, and recognizing its important contribution to international efforts on this matter,

Emphasizing also the importance of the continued and full implementation of the International Instrument to En-able States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (the Inter-national Tracing Instrument),

Mindful of the implementation of the outcomes adopted by the follow-up meetings on the Programme of Action,

Recalling the commitment of States to the Programme of Action as the main framework for measures within the activities of the international community to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weap-ons in all its aspects,

Underlining the need for States to enhance their efforts to build national capacity for the effective implementation of the Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument,

Welcoming the successful conclusion of the second United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Pre-vent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 27 August to 7 September 2012 (the Second Review

armed forces and armed groups, with the participation of women, and to provide for their full access to these pro-grammes, inter alia, through consultation with civil society, including women’s organizations, as appropriate;

13. Bearing in mind that the illicit transfer, destabi-lizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons fuel conflict and impact on the protection of ci-vilians, reiterates its demand that all parties to armed con-flict comply strictly with the obligations applicable to them under international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law, and stresses the need for parties to take all required measures to avoid civilian casualties and to respect and protect the civilian population;

14. Calls upon parties to armed conflict, in this regard, to comply with obligations under international humanita-rian law to respect and protect humanitarian personnel, facilities and relief consignments, and to take measures to eradicate the negative impact of the illicit transfer, desta-bilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons on humanitarian actors, and take all required steps to facilitate the safe, rapid and unimpeded passage of relief consignments, equipment and personnel;

15. Encourages Member States and intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations in a position to do so to render assistance, upon request, in securing government stockpiles of small arms and light weapons, particularly through training in physical security and stockpile manage-ment and disposition of illicit or poorly secured small arms and light weapons in an appropriate manner, in the light of the important role that international assistance can play in supporting and facilitating efforts at the local, national, regional and global levels to prevent and address the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation or misuse of small arms and light weapons;

16. Encourages the Secretary-General and heads of intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations to continue their efforts to strengthen their cooperation in addressing threats to international peace and security related to small arms and light weapons;

17. Encourages all Member States that have not yet done so to accede to and implement the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto, including the Protocol against the Il-licit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Or-ganized Crime;

18. Stresses the need for full and effective implemen-tation by States at the national, regional and international levels of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weap-ons in All Its Aspects and the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, in particu-lar, paying special attention to applying measures contained therein on the prevention of the diversion of small arms and light weapons, in order to make real progress in preventing, combating and eradicating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons;

19. Urges States to consider signing and ratifying the Arms Trade Treaty as soon as possible, and encourages States and intergovernmental, regional and subregional or-ganizations that are in a position to do so to render assistance



Experts established pursuant to resolution 60/81 to consider further steps to enhance international cooperation in pre-venting, combating and eradicating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons;

4. Recalls its endorsement of the outcome of the second United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Com-bat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 27 Au-gust to 7 September 2012 (the Second Review Conference);

5. Also recalls its decision, pursuant to the schedule of meetings for the period from 2012 to 2018 agreed at the Sec-ond Review Conference, to convene, in accordance with the relevant provision of the Programme of Action, a one-week biennial meeting of States, in New York in 2014 and 2016, and a one-week open-ended meeting of governmental experts in 2015, to consider the full and effective implementation of the Programme of Action, and decides to hold the next bien-nial meeting of States from 16 to 20 June 2014;

6. Further recalls its decision, in accordance with the decision of the Second Review Conference, to hold the third United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects in 2018 for a period of two weeks, preceded by a one-week preparatory committee meet-ing early in 2018;

7. Emphasizes the fact that initiatives by the interna-tional community with respect to international coopera-tion and assistance remain essential and complementary to national implementation efforts, as well as to those at the regional and global levels;

8. Encourages States to consider ways to enhance coop-eration and assistance and to assess their effectiveness in order to ensure the implementation of the Programme of Action;

9. Recognizes the necessity for interested States to de-velop effective coordination mechanisms, where they do not exist, in order to match the needs of States with existing re-sources to enhance the implementation of the Programme of Action and to make international cooperation and assistance more effective, and in this regard encourages States to make use, as appropriate, of the Programme of Action Implementa-tion Support System;

10. Encourages States to consider, among other mecha-nisms, the coherent identification of needs, priorities, na-tional plans and programmes that may require international cooperation and assistance from States and regional and in-ternational organizations in a position to do so;

11. Also encourages States to take full advantage of the benefits of cooperation with the United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament, the World Customs Or-ganization, the International Criminal Police Organization (interpol) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in accordance with their mandates and consistent with national priorities;

12. Encourages all efforts to build national capacity for the effective implementation of the Programme of Action, including those highlighted in the outcome documents of the Second Review Conference;

13. Encourages States to submit, on a voluntary basis, na-tional reports on their implementation of the Programme of Action, notes that States will submit national reports on their

Conference), and recalling the endorsement by the General Assembly of the outcome of the Conference,

Welcoming also the designation of Mr. Zahir Tanin, Per-manent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Na-tions, as the Chair of the biennial meeting of States to be held in 2014,

Stressing the importance of voluntary national report-ing to follow up on the Programme of Action as a means of assessing overall implementation efforts, including imple-mentation challenges and opportunities, and which could greatly facilitate the rendering of international cooperation and assistance to affected States,

Noting that tools developed by the Office for Disarm-ament Affairs of the Secretariat, including the Programme of Action Implementation Support System, and those de-veloped by Member States could be used to assess progress made in the implementation of the Programme of Action,

Welcoming the coordinated efforts within the United Na-tions to implement the Programme of Action, including by developing the Programme of Action Implementation Sup-port System, which forms an integrated clearing house for in-ternational cooperation and assistance for capacity-building in the area of small arms and light weapons,

Taking into account the importance of regional ap-proaches to the implementation of the Programme of Action,

Noting with satisfaction regional and subregional efforts being undertaken in support of the implementation of the Programme of Action, and commending the progress that has already been made in this regard, including tackling both supply and demand factors that are relevant to addressing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons,

Reiterating that illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons is a serious problem that the international com-munity should address urgently,

Recognizing the efforts undertaken by non-governmental organizations in the provision of assistance to States for the implementation of the Programme of Action,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General, which in-cludes an overview of the implementation of resolution 67/58,

Welcoming the inclusion of small arms and light weapons in the scope of the Arms Trade Treaty,

1. Underlines the fact that the issue of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects requires con-certed efforts at the national, regional and international lev-els to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit manufacture, transfer and circulation of small arms and light weapons, and that their uncontrolled spread in many regions of the world has a wide range of humanitarian and socioeconomic con-sequences and poses a serious threat to peace, reconciliation, safety, security, stability and sustainable development at the individual, local, national, regional and international levels;

2. Encourages all relevant initiatives, including those of the United Nations, other international organizations, regional and subregional organizations, non-governmental organizations and civil society, for the successful implemen-tation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, and calls upon all Member States to con-tribute towards the continued implementation of the Pro-gramme of Action at the national, regional and global levels;

3. Encourages States to implement the recommenda-tions contained in the report of the Group of Governmental



organizations to implement General Assembly resolu-tions 67/41[YUN 2012, p. 519] and 67/58 [ibid., p. 517] for the period from August 2012 to July 2013.

During the reporting period, there were mixed results in the implementation of the arms embargo regimes in Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Libya. Expert groups monitor-ing compliance with arms embargoes called for en-hanced cooperation and information-sharing between peacekeeping missions in different countries regarding possible violations. They also formulated recommen-dations regarding capacity-building on national border security and the marking of all arms under govern-ment control in accordance with relevant international and regional instruments.

The number of States parties to the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Fire-arms, Their Parts and Components and Ammuni-tion (Firearms Protocol) [YUN 2001, p. 1036] increased to 97. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime initiated a pilot study on the transnational nature of and routes used in the trafficking of firearms, taking into consideration the links to other cross-border traf-ficking flows and possible connections to organized crime and terrorism. The United Nations launched the United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Coop-eration on Arms Regulation, a flexible, results-focused facility supporting all aspects of the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (see p. 507), including small arms and ammunition controls. The Facility would also support projects focused on the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, as determined by the yearly priorities set by the Facility.

On 29 August 2012, the United Nations launched the International Small Arms Control Standards, designed to streamline policymaking, programming and practice on small arms and light weapons con-trol, and help ensure that the Organization consist-ently delivered the highest-quality advice and sup-port to the efforts of Member States to develop and maintain effective controls throughout the life cycle of small arms and light weapons. The development of further international standards, including legis-lative and regulatory controls, programme design and management and cross-cutting issues (related to women, gender, children, adolescents and youth), began during the reporting period. An Inter-Agency Support Unit, moreover, was created to promote and support the development and use of the Small Arms Control Standards by the United Nations and its part-ners. During the reporting period, several tools were developed under the UN SaferGuard programme to assist States in ammunition stockpile management, including a quick-response mechanism allowing for the rapid deployment of ammunition experts in re-

implementation of the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Man-ner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (the International Tracing Instrument), encourages those States in a position to do so to use the reporting template made available by the Of-fice for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat, and reaffirms the utility of synchronizing such reports with biennial meet-ings of States and review conferences as a means of increas-ing the submission rate and improving the utility of reports, as well as contributing substantively to meeting discussions;

14. Also encourages States, on a voluntary basis, to make increasing use of their national reports as another tool for communicating assistance needs and information on the resources and mechanisms available to address such needs, and encourages States in a position to render such assistance to make use of these national reports;

15. Encourages States, relevant international and re-gional organizations and civil society with the capacity to do so to cooperate with and assist other States, upon request, in the preparation of comprehensive reports on their imple-mentation of the Programme of Action;

16. Calls upon all States to implement the International Tracing Instrument by, inter alia, including in their national reports the name and contact information of the national points of contact and information on national marking practices used to indicate country of manufacture and/or country of import, as applicable;

17. Recognizes the urgent need to maintain and en-hance national controls, in accordance with the Programme of Action, to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, including their diversion to unauthorized recipients, taking into account, inter alia, their adverse humanitarian and socioeconomic consequences for the affected States;

18. Encourages States in a position to do so to provide financial assistance, through a voluntary sponsorship fund, that could be distributed, upon request, to States otherwise unable to participate in meetings on the Programme of Action;

19. Encourages interested States and relevant inter-national and regional organizations in a position to do so to convene regional meetings to consider and advance the implementation of the Programme of Action, as well as the International Tracing Instrument, including in preparation for the meetings on the Programme of Action;

20. Encourages civil society and relevant organizations to strengthen their cooperation and work with States at the respective national and regional levels to achieve the imple-mentation of the Programme of Action;

21. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session on the imple-mentation of the present resolution;

22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects”.

Assistance to States for curbing illicit small arms traffic

In July [A/68/171], the Secretary-General provided an overview of the activities undertaken by Member States, the UN system and other intergovernmental



Taking note of the latest report of the Secretary-General on assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them and the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects,

Recalling, in that regard, the decision of the European Union to significantly support the Economic Community in its efforts to combat the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons,

Recognizing the important role that civil society organi-zations play, by raising public awareness, in efforts to curb the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons,

Recalling the reports of the United Nations Conferences to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Pro-gramme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 26 June to 7 July 2006 and from 27 August to 7 September 2012,

Welcoming the inclusion of small arms and light weapons in the scope of the Arms Trade Treaty, as well as the inclu-sion of international assistance in its provisions,

1. Commends the United Nations and international, re-gional and other organizations for their assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them;

2. Encourages the Secretary-General to pursue his ef-forts in the context of the implementation of General As-sembly resolution 49/75 G of 15 December 1994 and the recommendations of the United Nations advisory missions aimed at curbing the illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons and collecting them in the affected States that so request, with the support of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and in close cooperation with the African Union;

3. Encourages the international community to support the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States Convention on Small Arms and Light Weap-ons, Their Ammunition and Other Related Materials;

4. Encourages the countries of the Sahelo-Saharan sub-region to facilitate the effective functioning of national com-missions to combat the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and in that regard invites the international community to lend its support wherever possible;

5. Encourages the collaboration of civil society organi-zations and associations in the efforts of the national com-missions to combat the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and in the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;

6. Encourages cooperation among State organs, inter-national organizations and civil society in support of pro-grammes and projects aimed at combating the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them;

7. Calls upon the international community to provide technical and financial support to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations to take action to help to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons;

8. Invites the Secretary-General and those States and organizations that are in a position to do so to continue to provide assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to con-sider the matter and to report to the General Assembly at

sponse to requests from Member States for assistance. The United Nations Mine Action Service initiated the implementation of the international ammunition technical guidelines in several countries.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/34 without vote [agenda item 99 (p)].

Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolution 67/41 of 3 December 2012 on

assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them,

Deeply concerned by the magnitude of human casualty and suffering, especially among children, caused by the illicit proliferation and use of small arms and light weapons,

Concerned by the negative impact that the illicit prolif-eration and use of those weapons continue to have on the efforts of States in the Sahelo-Saharan subregion in the ar-eas of poverty eradication, sustainable development and the maintenance of peace, security and stability,

Bearing in mind the Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons, adopted in Bamako on 1 December 2000,

Recalling the report of the Secretary-General entitled “In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all”, in which he emphasized that States must strive just as hard to eliminate the threat of small arms and light weapons as they do to eliminate the threat of weapons of mass destruction,

Recalling also the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Man-ner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, adopted on 8 De-cember 2005,

Recalling further the expression of support in the 2005 World Summit Outcome for the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,

Recalling the adoption, on 14 June 2006 in Abuja at the thirtieth ordinary summit of the Economic Community of West African States, of the Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and Other Related Ma-terials, in replacement of the moratorium on the importa-tion, exportation and manufacture of small arms and light weapons in West Africa,

Recalling also the entry into force of the Convention on 29 September 2009,

Recalling further the decision taken by the Economic Community to establish the Small Arms Unit, responsible for advocating appropriate policies and developing and im-plementing programmes, as well as the establishment of the Economic Community’s Small Arms Control Programme, launched on 6 June 2006 in Bamako, in replacement of the Programme for Coordination and Assistance for Security and Development,



1. Encourages all interested States to assess, on a vol-untary basis, whether, in conformity with their legitimate security needs, parts of their stockpiles of conventional am-munition should be considered to be in surplus, and rec-ognizes that the security of such stockpiles must be taken into consideration and that appropriate controls with regard to the security and safety of stockpiles of conventional am-munition are indispensable at the national level in order to eliminate the risk of explosion, pollution or diversion;

2. Appeals to all interested States to determine the size and nature of their surplus stockpiles of conventional ammunition, whether they represent a security risk, their means of destruction, if appropriate, and whether external assistance is needed to eliminate this risk;

3. Encourages States in a position to do so to assist interested States within a bilateral framework or through international or regional organizations, on a voluntary and transparent basis, in elaborating and implementing pro-grammes to eliminate surplus stockpiles or to improve their management;

4. Encourages all Member States to examine the pos-sibility of developing and implementing, within a national, regional or subregional framework, measures to address ac-cordingly the illicit trafficking related to the accumulation of such stockpiles;

5. Takes note of the replies submitted by Member States in response to the request of the Secretary-General for views regarding the risks arising from the accumulation of con-ventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus and regarding national ways of strengthening controls on conventional ammunition;

6. Continues to encourage States to implement the recommendations contained in the report of the Group of Governmental Experts established pursuant to resolution 61/72 to consider further steps to enhance cooperation with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus;

7. Recalls the completion of the International Ammu-nition Technical Guidelines and the establishment of the SaferGuard knowledge resource management programme for the stockpile management of conventional ammunition, developed by the Office for Disarmament Affairs of the Sec-retariat, with the full involvement of the Mine Action Serv-ice of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat, in accordance with the recommendations con-tained in the report of the Group of Governmental Experts;

8. Welcomes the completion of implementation soft-ware and training materials that facilitate the application of the Technical Guidelines in the field;

9. Encourages, in this regard, the safe and secure man-agement of ammunition stockpiles in the planning and conduct of peacekeeping operations, including through the training of peacekeepers, utilizing the Technical Guidelines;

10. Welcomes the establishment of the SaferGuard quick-response mechanism, which allows ammunitions ex-perts to be deployed rapidly to assist States, upon request, in the urgent management of ammunition stockpiles, includ-ing in the aftermath of unintended explosions of ammuni-tion, and encourages States in a position to do so to provide technical expertise or financial support to the mechanism;

11. Encourages States wishing to improve their na-tional stockpile management capacity, prevent the growth of conventional ammunition surpluses and address wider

its sixty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution;

10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them”.

Stockpile managementGENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION

On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/52 without vote [agenda item 99 (g)].

Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplusThe General Assembly,Mindful of contributing to the process initiated within

the framework of the United Nations reform to make the Organization more effective in maintaining peace and secu-rity by giving it the resources and tools it needs for conflict prevention, peaceful resolution of disputes, peacekeeping, post-conflict peacebuilding and reconstruction,

Underlining the importance of a comprehensive and in-tegrated approach to disarmament through the development of practical measures,

Welcoming the requirement of the Arms Trade Treaty that States parties establish and maintain a national control system to regulate the export of relevant ammunition and munitions,

Taking note of the report of the Group of Experts on the problem of ammunition and explosives,

Recalling the recommendation contained in para-graph 27 of the report of the Open-ended Working Group to Negotiate an International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Il-licit Small Arms and Light Weapons, namely, to address the issue of small arms and light weapons ammunition in a com-prehensive manner as part of a separate process conducted within the framework of the United Nations,

Noting with satisfaction the work and measures pursued at the regional and subregional levels with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition,

Recalling its decision 59/515 of 3 December 2004 and its resolutions 60/74 of 8 December 2005 and 61/72 of 6 De-cember 2006, its resolution 63/61 of 2 December 2008, by which it welcomed the report of the Group of Governmental Experts established pursuant to resolution 61/72 to consider further steps to enhance cooperation with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus, and its resolution 64/51 of 2 December 2009,

Taking note of the recommendations of the Group of Governmental Experts and encouraging the use, as appro-priate, of the International Ammunition Technical Guide-lines, which are available to States on a voluntary basis, as well as the recommendations of the Group on improving knowledge resource management on technical ammuni-tion issues within the United Nations system, and noting the subsequent establishment, within the Secretariat, of the SaferGuard knowledge resource management programme,



Fourth Review Conference [YUN 2011, p. 529] to enhance the implementation of the Compliance Mechanism.

Protocol V on explosive remnants of war

Seventh Conference of High Contracting Parties to Protocol V

States parties met for the Seventh Conference of High Contracting Parties to Protocol V (Geneva, 11–12 November) [CCW/P.V/CONF/2013/11]. The Con-ference was prepared for by the seventh meeting of Ex-perts for Protocol V (Geneva, 10–12 April). The Con-ference had before it documents on clearance, removal or destruction of explosive remnants of war [CCW/P.V/CONF/2013/3]; victim assistance [CCW/P.V/CONF/2013/7 & Corr.1]; cooperation and assistance and requests for assistance [CCW/P.V/CONF/2013/4]; national reporting [CCW/P.V/CONF/2013/6]; and generic preventive meas-ures [CCW/P.V/CONF/2013/5]).

The Conference decided to continue considera-tion of clearance, removal or destruction of explosive remnants of war in the context of meetings of experts and the conferences of the High Contracting Parties to Protocol V, and to encourage donor and affected High Contracting Parties to further support capacity building for the surveillance, clearance and destruc-tion of explosive remnants of war at the community and national levels. The Conference encouraged High Contracting Parties, relevant international organiza-tions and institutions in a position to do so to provide cooperation and assistance for addressing the impact of explosive remnants of war. High Contracting Par-ties and observer States were encouraged to use the Guide to National Reporting, which was adopted by the Fourth (2010) Conference [YUN 2010, p. 560].

Amended Protocol II on Mines, Booby-traps and Other Devices

Meeting of ExpertsThe Amended Protocol II Meeting of Experts (Ge-

neva, 8–9 April) focused on the review of the operation and status of the protocol and matters arising from an-nual reports, as well as the development of technologies to protect civilians against the indiscriminate effects of mines; strengthening the universalization of the Protocol based on the Accelerated Plan of Action on Universalization of the Convention and its annexed Protocols, encouraging High Contracting Parties to the original Protocol II that had not yet become parties to the Amended Protocol II to accede to it; and analysis of the implementation by High Contracting Parties of their obligation to submit national annual reports and study their content. The Group of Experts made a number of recommendations to the Fifteenth Annual Conference of High Contracting Parties to Amended Protocol II (see p. 518).

risk mitigation to contact the SaferGuard programme, as well as potential national donors and regional organiza-tions, as appropriate, with a view to developing coopera-tion, including, where relevant, technical expertise;

12. Reiterates its decision to address the issue of con-ventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus in a compre-hensive manner;

13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventieth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammuni-tion stockpiles in surplus”.

Convention on excessively injurious conventional weapons and Protocols

Status

As at 31 December, the accession of Kuwait and Zambia brought to 117 the number of States parties to the 1980 Convention on Prohibitions or Restric-tions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (ccw) and its annexed Protocols on Non-Detectable Fragments (Protocol I) [YUN 1980, p. 76]; on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices, as amended on 3 May 1996 (Protocol II) [ibid., p. 77]; and on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendi-ary Weapons (Protocol III) [ibid., p. 78].

Amended Protocol II, which entered into force in 1998 [YUN 1998, p. 844], had 100 parties. The 1995 Pro-tocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV) [YUN 1995, p. 221], which took effect in 1998 [YUN 1998, p. 530], stood at 102 parties, as Kuwait became a party during the year. The Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V), which was adopted in 2003 [YUN 2003, p. 566] and entered into force in 2006 [YUN 2006, p. 663], had 84 parties, as Bangladesh, Kuwait and Zambia became parties during the year. The number of parties to the amendment to article I of the Convention, which entered into force in 2004 [YUN 2004, p. 563], increased to 79, as Kuwait and Zam-bia became parties in 2013.

Meeting of High Contracting Parties

The Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention (Geneva, 14–15 November) [CCW/MSP/2013/10] welcomed the report on promoting uni-versality of the Convention and its Protocols [CCW/MSP/2013/4], and reaffirmed the commitment to the Ac-celerated Plan of Action on Universalization. The Par-ties also considered the report of the ccw Sponsorship Programme [CCW/MSP/2013/3 & Add.1/Rev.1] and high-lighted the importance of the Programme in promoting universalization of the Convention and its Protocols. They reiterated the call for the submission of national reports in accordance with the decision taken at the



Noting the results of the 2012 Meeting of the High Con-tracting Parties to the Convention, held in Geneva on 15 and 16 November 2012,

Welcoming the results of the Fourteenth Annual Confer-ence of the High Contracting Parties to Amended Protocol II, held in Geneva on 14 November 2012,

Welcoming also the results of the Sixth Conference of the High Contracting Parties to Protocol V, held in Geneva on 12 and 13 November 2012,

Recalling the role played by the International Commit-tee of the Red Cross in the elaboration of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, and welcoming the particular ef-forts of various international, non-governmental and other organizations in raising awareness of the humanitarian con-sequences of explosive remnants of war,

1. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to take all measures to become parties, as soon as possible, to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects and the Protocols thereto, as amended, with a view to achiev-ing the widest possible adherence to these instruments at an early date and so as to ultimately achieve their universality;

2. Calls upon all States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to express their consent to be bound by the Protocols to the Convention and the amendment extend-ing the scope of the Convention and the Protocols thereto to include armed conflicts of a non-international character;

3. Emphasizes the importance of the universalization of the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V);

4. Welcomes the additional ratifications and accept-ances of or accessions to the Convention, as well as the con-sents to be bound by the Protocols thereto;

5. Acknowledges the continued efforts of the Secretary-General, as depositary of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, the Chair of the Meeting of the High Contract-ing Parties to the Convention, the President of the Sixth Conference of the High Contracting Parties to Protocol V and the President of the Fourteenth Annual Conference of the High Contracting Parties to Amended Protocol II, on behalf of the High Contracting Parties, to achieve the goal of universality;

6. Recalls the following decisions by the Fourth Re-view Conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention:

(a) The adoption of an accelerated plan of action to promote universality of the Convention and the Protocols thereto;

(b) The adoption of actions to enhance the implemen-tation of the compliance mechanism for the Convention and the Protocols thereto;

(c) The continuation of the Sponsorship Programme within the framework of the Convention; and, with recog-nition of the value and importance of the Sponsorship Pro-gramme, encourages States to contribute to it;

7. Notes that, in its final report, the Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention held in Geneva on 15 and 16 November 2012 did not make any recommen-dation or decision regarding the continuation of discussions on mines other than anti-personnel mines;

8. Welcomes the commitment by States parties to con-tinue to contribute to the further development of interna-

Annual Conference of States PartiesThe Fifteenth Annual Conference of the High

Contracting parties to Amended Protocol II (Geneva, 13 November) [CCW/AP.II/CONF.15/8] issued an appeal to States that had not yet done so to accede to Amended Protocol II. The Conference took note of the report on the operation and status of the Protocol, on matters aris-ing from reports by High Contracting Parties accord-ing to Article 13 (4) of Amended Protocol II, as well as on the development of technologies to protect civil-ians against indiscriminate effects of mines [CCW/AP.II/CONF.15/2]. The Conference decided that the Group of Experts should continue to review the operation and status of the Protocol and consider matters arising from national annual reports, as well as the development of technologies to protect civilians against the indiscrimi-nate effects of mines. It encouraged States parties and the Implementation Support Unit to intensify efforts to implement the Plan of Action to promote the Conven-tion’s universality [YUN 2006, p. 664].

The Conference took note of the report by the Coordinator on Improvised Explosive Devices (ieds) [CCW/AP.II/CONF.15/3] and decided that the High Contracting Parties should note the compilation of guidelines, best practices and other recommendations aimed at addressing the diversion or illicit use of ma-terials which could be used for ieds. They should also develop best practices to help address the threat of ieds and explore the possibility of an information exchange database, portal or platform, as a tool for improving information sharing on the diversion and illicit use of material that could be used for ieds and other means of reducing their threat.



Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have

Indiscriminate Effects

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolution 67/74 of 3 December 2012,Recalling with satisfaction the adoption and entry into

force of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indis-criminate Effects and its amended article 1, the Protocol on Non-Detectable Fragments (Protocol I), the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II) and its amended version, the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons (Protocol III), the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV) and the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V),



consultations on a funding model, with the purpose of agreeing by 2015, on a financial model for securing the sustainable functioning of the Unit.

Anti-personnel mines1997 Convention

As at 31 December, the number of States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpil-ing, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Mine-Ban Convention), which was adopted in 1997 [YUN 1997, p. 503] and entered into force in 1999 [YUN 1999, p. 498], remained at 161.

Meeting of States parties

The Thirteenth Meeting of the States Parties to the Mine Ban Convention (Geneva, 2–5 December) [APLC/MSP.12/2013/6 & Add.1], attended by 100 States parties and 15 observer States, focused on the viola-tion of the Convention’s main provisions on non-use of anti-personal mines in Yemen, and the alleged use of anti-personnel mines in three other States parties. The Meeting expressed concern over those allegations and reaffirmed its determination of States parties to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by those weapons. It welcomed Yemen’s commitment to investigate the case and report, including on the iden-tification of those responsible and action to prevent and suppress any future action. The Meeting focused on the evaluation of the final stage of implementa-tion of the Cartagena Action Plan 2010–2014 for sup-porting enhanced implementation and promotion of the Convention [YUN 2009, p. 554] and welcomed the Geneva progress report [APLC/MSP.12/2013/6/Add.1] as an important tool supporting the application of the Action Plan by measuring progress and highlighting priority areas of work. A special session of the Meet-ing was devoted to cooperation and assistance in the context of the Convention. The Meeting decided that the Third Review Conference would be held in Maputo, Mozambique, from 23 to 27 June, 2014. In preparation for that meeting the First Preparatory Meeting of the Third Review Conference was held on 6 December 2013.GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION

On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/30 by recorded vote (165-0-19) [agenda item 99 ( j)].

Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer

of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 54/54 B of 1 December 1999,

55/33 V of 20 November 2000, 56/24 M of 29 November

tional humanitarian law and in this context to keep under review both the development of new weapons and uses of weapons, which may have indiscriminate effects or cause unnecessary suffering;

9. Also welcomes the commitment of States parties to Protocol V to the effective and efficient implementation of the Protocol and the implementation of the decisions of the First and Second Conferences of the High Contracting Par-ties to the Protocol establishing a comprehensive framework for the exchange of information and cooperation;

10. Notes that, in conformity with article 8 of the Con-vention, conferences may be convened to examine amend-ments to the Convention or to any of the Protocols thereto, to examine additional protocols concerning other categories of conventional weapons not covered by existing Protocols or to review the scope and application of the Convention and the Protocols thereto and to examine any proposed amendments or additional protocols;

11. Acknowledges the work of the Implementation Support Unit within the Geneva Branch of the Office for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat, which was estab-lished following a decision by the 2009 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention;

12. Requests the Secretary-General to render the as-sistance necessary and to provide such services as may be required for annual conferences and expert meetings of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention and of the High Contracting Parties to Amended Protocol II and Protocol V, as well as for any continuation of the work after the meetings;

13. Also requests the Secretary-General, in his capacity as depositary of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, to continue to inform the General Assembly periodically, by elec-tronic means, of ratifications and acceptances of and accessions to the Convention, its amended article 1 and the Protocols;

14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session the item entitled “Convention on Prohi-bitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injuri-ous or to Have Indiscriminate Effects”.

Cluster munitionsAs at 31 December, 84 States were parties to

the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which was adopted in 2008 [YUN 2008, p. 623] and entered into force in 2010 [YUN 2010, p. 562]. During the year, An-dorra, Bolivia, Chad, Iraq, Liechtenstein, Nauru and Saint Kitts and Nevis became parties.

The Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Con-vention (Lusaka, Zambia, 10–13 September) focused on the universalization of the Convention, in partic-ular in Africa, and on the stigmatization of cluster munitions, especially in the light of the alleged use of such munitions in Syria in 2012 and 2013. States affected by and those with stockpiles of cluster muni-tions reported on their efforts to implement the Con-vention. The Meeting decided to establish an Imple-mentation Support Unit, to be hosted by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining and funded by voluntary contributions until the first review conference in 2015. It also agreed to continue



5. Invites all States that have not ratified the Conven-tion or acceded to it to provide, on a voluntary basis, infor-mation to make global mine action efforts more effective;

6. Renews its call upon all States and other relevant par-ties to work together to promote, support and advance the care, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of mine victims, mine risk education programmes and the removal and destruction of anti-personnel mines placed or stockpiled throughout the world;

7. Urges all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level and, where in a position to do so, to promote adherence to the Convention through bilateral, subregional, regional and multilateral contacts, outreach, seminars and other means;

8. Reiterates its invitation and encouragement to all in-terested States, the United Nations, other relevant interna-tional organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the Thirteenth Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention, to be held in Geneva from 2 to 5 December 2013, and to participate in the future meeting programme of the Convention;

9. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with article 12, paragraph 1, of the Convention, to undertake the preparations necessary to convene the Third Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention and, on behalf of the States parties and in accordance with article 12, paragraph 3, of the Convention, to invite States not parties to the Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations, to attend the Third Review Conference as observers;

10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Implementa-tion of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stock-piling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction”.RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 68/30:

In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, An-gola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Repub-lic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hun-gary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mon-golia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Nor-way, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Mol-dova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao

2001, 57/74 of 22 November 2002, 58/53 of 8 December 2003, 59/84 of 3 December 2004, 60/80 of 8 December 2005, 61/84 of 6 December 2006, 62/41 of 5 December 2007, 63/42 of 2 December 2008, 64/56 of 2 December 2009, 65/48 of 8 December 2010, 66/29 of 2 December 2011 and 67/32 of 3 December 2012,

Reaffirming its determination to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, which kill or injure thousands of people—women, girls, boys and men—every year, and which place people living in affected areas at risk and hinder the development of their communities,

Believing it necessary to do the utmost to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner to facing the challenge of removing anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world and to assure their destruction,

Wishing to do the utmost in ensuring assistance for the care and rehabilitation, including the social and economic reintegration, of mine victims,

Noting with satisfaction the work undertaken to imple-ment the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpil-ing, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction and the substantial progress made towards addressing the global anti-personnel landmine problem,

Recalling the first to twelfth meetings of the States parties to the Convention, held in Maputo (1999), Geneva (2000), Managua (2001), Geneva (2002), Bangkok (2003), Za-greb (2005), Geneva (2006), the Dead Sea (2007), Geneva (2008), Geneva (2010), Phnom Penh (2011) and Geneva (2012), and the First Review Conference of the States Par-ties to the Convention, held in Nairobi (2004),

Recalling also the Second Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, held in Cartagena, Colombia, from 30 November to 4 December 2009, at which the interna-tional community reviewed the implementation of the Con-vention and the States parties adopted the Cartagena Decla-ration and the Cartagena Action Plan 2010–2014 to support enhanced implementation and promotion of the Convention,

Noting with satisfaction that an additional State has rati-fied the Convention, bringing the total number of States that have formally accepted the obligations of the Conven-tion to 161,

Emphasizing the desirability of attracting the adherence of all States to the Convention, and determined to work strenuously towards the promotion of its universalization and norms,

Noting with regret that anti-personnel mines continue to be used in some conflicts around the world, causing human suffering and impeding post-conflict development,

1. Invites all States that have not signed the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction to accede to it without delay;

2. Urges the one remaining State that has signed but has not ratified the Convention to ratify it without delay;

3. Stresses the importance of the full and effective implementation of and compliance with the Convention, including through the continued implementation of the Cartagena Action Plan 2010–2014;

4. Urges all States parties to provide the Secretary-General with complete and timely information as required under article 7 of the Convention in order to promote trans-parency and compliance with the Convention;



than in the previous year. Of the 70 reports received, 3 came from Africa, 13 from Asia and the Pacific, 9 from Latin America and the Caribbean, 19 from Eastern Europe and 26 from Western Europe and other States.

Conference on Disarmament. The Conference on Disarmament [A/68/27] held one formal meeting (24 May) on “Transparency in armaments”. During the general debate, delegations reaffirmed or further elaborated their respective positions on the issue.

UN Register of Conventional Arms

In response to General Assembly resolution 66/39 [YUN 2011, p. 534], the Secretary-General submitted in July the twenty-first annual report on the United Na-tions Register of Conventional Arms [A/68/138 & Add.1], established in 1992 [YUN 1992, p. 75] to enhance transpar-ency on arms transfers. The report presented informa-tion provided by 58 countries on the export and import of conventional arms, military holdings, procure-ment through national production and international transfers of small arms and light weapons for 2012.

Group of Governmental Experts. By a July note [A/68/140], the Secretary-General submitted to the As-sembly the report of the Group of Governmental Ex-perts on the continuing operation of the UN Register of Conventional Armaments and its further development, as requested in Assembly resolution 66/39. The Group examined proposals to expand the scope of existing cat-egories of the Register, to add a new category on small arms and light weapons and to include procurement through national production as an integral part of the Register. The Group concluded that the Register con-tinued to play a significant role in promoting transpar-ency in armaments and was an important confidence-building measure, but was concerned at the decline in reporting in recent years, noting that efforts to encour-age Member States to report to the Register should be enhanced. The Group also recommended that Member States continue to provide the Secretary-General with their views on the continuing operation of the Regis-ter and its further development, including on whether the absence of small arms and light weapons as a main category in the Register had limited its relevance and directly affected decisions on participation.GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION

On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/43 by recorded vote (154-0-28) [agenda item 99 (e)].

Transparency in armaments

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 46/36 L of 9 December 1991,

47/52 L of 15 December 1992, 48/75 E of 16 December 1993, 49/75 C of 15 December 1994, 50/70 D of 12 De-cember 1995, 51/45 H of 10 December 1996, 52/38 R of

Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Re-public of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia.

Against: None.Abstaining: Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,

Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nepal, Paki-stan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, United States, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.

Practical disarmamentDisarmament Commission. The Disarmament

Commission [A/68/42] included in its agenda the item “Practical confidence-building measures in the field of conventional weapons.

Report of Secretary-General. In his report on assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them [A/68/171], the Secretary-General indicated that the New York-based Group of States Interested in Practi-cal Disarmament Measures was an informal forum of Member States, with an open invitation to UN enti-ties and civil society organizations. Pursuant to Gen-eral Assembly resolution 67/50 [YUN 2012, p. 526], the Group supported the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects [YUN 2001, p. 499], and fa-cilitated the exchange of views on issues related to the UN small arms process and the effective matching of needs and resources, in accordance with the outcome document of the second United Nations Conference to Review the Programme of Action to Prevent, Com-bat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects Small Arms Review Conference [YUN 2012, p. 517].

The Group organized a gathering of Member States, relevant UN entities and regional and civil society or-ganizations to share lessons learned from implemented practical disarmament initiatives, including collection and destruction of weapons and ammunition in East Africa. In the context of its additional function to fa-cilitate the matching of assistance needs with available resources in the implementation the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms, the Group sup-ported the establishment of the United Nations Trust Fund Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regu-lation and served as a platform to promote the Facility to donors, beneficiary States and ngos.

TransparencyIn 2013, reporting to the United Nations Register

of Conventional Arms by Member States was higher



General and the recommendations contained in paragraphs 69 to 76 of the 2013 report of the Secretary-General;

4. Invites Member States in a position to do so, pending further development of the Register, to provide additional information on procurement through national production and military holdings and to make use of the “Remarks” column in the standardized reporting form to provide ad-ditional information such as types or models;

5. Also invites Member States in a position to do so to provide additional information on transfers of small arms and light weapons on the basis of the optional standardized reporting form, as adopted by the 2006 group of governmen-tal experts, or by any other methods they deem appropriate;

6. Reaffirms its decision, with a view to further devel-opment of the Register, to keep the scope of and participa-tion in the Register under review, and to that end:

(a) Recalls its request to Member States to provide the Secretary-General with their views on the continuing opera-tion of the Register and its further development, including on whether the absence of small arms and light weapons as a main category in the Register has limited its relevance and directly affected decisions on participation, and on transpar-ency measures related to weapons of mass destruction;

(b) Requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts to be convened in 2016, within existing resources, with the broadest possible partici-pation, in line with the recommendation contained in para-graph 76 of the 2013 report of the Secretary-General, and on the basis of equitable geographical representation, to prepare a report on the continuing operation and relevance of the Regis-ter and its further development, taking into account the work of the Conference on Disarmament, relevant deliberations within the United Nations, the views expressed by Member States and the reports of the Secretary-General on the contin-uing operation of the Register and its further development, with a view to taking a decision at its seventy-first session;

(c) Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to assist Member States to build capacity to submit meaning-ful reports, and encourages States in a position to do so to provide assistance for this purpose upon request, including capacity to report on small arms and light weapons;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to implement the rec-ommendations contained in his 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2013 reports on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development and to ensure that sufficient resources are made available for the Secretariat to operate and maintain the Register;

8. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to consider continuing its work undertaken in the field of transparency in armaments;

9. Reiterates its call upon all Member States to cooper-ate at the regional and subregional levels, taking fully into account the specific conditions prevailing in the region or subregion, with a view to enhancing and coordinating in-ternational and regional efforts aimed at increased openness and transparency in armaments;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-first session on progress made in implementing the present resolution;

11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-first session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Transpar-ency in armaments”.

9 December 1997, 53/77 V of 4 December 1998, 54/54 O of 1 December 1999, 55/33 U of 20 November 2000, 56/24 Q of 29 November 2001, 57/75 of 22 November 2002, 58/54 of 8 December 2003, 60/226 of 23 December 2005, 61/77 of 6 December 2006, 63/69 of 2 December 2008, 64/54 of 2 December 2009 and 66/39 of 2 December 2011, entitled “Transparency in armaments”,

Continuing to take the view that an enhanced level of transparency in armaments contributes greatly to confidence-building and security among States and that the establishment of the United Nations Register of Con-ventional Arms constitutes an important step forward in the promotion of transparency in military matters,

Welcoming the consolidated reports of the Secretary-General on the Register, which include the returns of Mem-ber States for 2009, 2010 and 2011,

Welcoming also the response of Member States to the request contained in paragraphs 9 and 10 of resolution 46/36 L to provide data on their imports and exports of arms, as well as available background information regard-ing their military holdings, procurement through national production and relevant policies,

Welcoming further the inclusion by Member States in a position to do so of their transfers of small arms and light weapons in their annual report to the Register as part of their additional background information,

Welcoming the adoption on 2 April 2013 of the Arms Trade Treaty, as well as its signatures and ratifications up to the present date, and the increase in transparency in arma-ments that will be provided by the Treaty,

Expressing its hope that the Treaty will soon enter into force,Noting the focused discussions on transparency in ar-

maments that took place in the Conference on Disarma-ment in 2010, 2011 and 2012,

Expressing its concern with respect to the reduction in reporting to the Register, in particular the low level of re-porting to the Register in 2012,

Stressing that the continuing operation of the Register and its further development should be reviewed in order to secure a Register that is capable of attracting the widest possible participation,

1. Reaffirms its determination to ensure the effective op-eration of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, as provided for in paragraphs 7 to 10 of resolution 46/36 L;

2. Endorses the report of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further devel-opment and the recommendations contained in the con-sensus report of the 2013 group of governmental experts;

3. Calls upon Member States, with a view to achieving universal participation, to provide the Secretary-General, by 31 May annually, with the requested data and information for the Register, including nil reports if appropriate, on the basis of resolutions 46/36 L and 47/52 L, the recommen-dations contained in paragraph 64 of the 1997 report of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development, the recommenda-tions contained in paragraph 94 of the 2000 report of the Secretary-General and the appendices and annexes thereto, the recommendations contained in paragraphs 112 to 114 of the 2003 report of the Secretary-General, the recommenda-tions contained in paragraphs 123 to 127 of the 2006 report of the Secretary-General, the recommendations contained in paragraphs 71 to 75 of the 2009 report of the Secretary-



Convinced that such an exchange would be beneficial to Member States that are in the process of developing such legislation,

Welcoming the electronic database established by the Of-fice for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat, in which all information exchanged pursuant to General Assembly reso-lutions 57/66 of 22 November 2002, 58/42 of 8 December 2003, 59/66 of 3 December 2004, 60/69 of 8 December 2005, 62/26 of 5 December 2007, 64/40 of 2 December 2009 and 66/41 of 2 December 2011, entitled “National legislation on transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology”, can be consulted,

Welcoming also the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty, which establishes the highest possible common international standards for regulating the international trade in conven-tional arms and obliges States parties to provide an initial report on national laws and other regulations and measures taken in order to implement the Treaty,

Considering that, as long as the Treaty has not yet entered into force, the electronic database established by the Office for Disarmament Affairs will retain its added value,

Reaffirming the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations,

1. Invites Member States that are in a position to do so, without prejudice to the provisions contained in Security Council resolution 1540(2004) of 28 April 2004 and sub-sequent relevant Council resolutions, to enact or improve national legislation, regulations and procedures to exercise effective control over the transfer of arms, military equip-ment and dual-use goods and technology, while ensuring that such legislation, regulations and procedures are consist-ent with the obligations of States parties under international treaties, such as the Arms Trade Treaty;

2. Encourages Member States to provide, on a volun-tary basis, information to the Secretary-General on their national legislation, regulations and procedures on the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology, as well as the changes therein, and requests the Secretary-General to make that information accessible to Member States;

3. Decides to remain attentive to the matter.


gola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barba-dos, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bos-nia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Re-public, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethio-pia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechten-stein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malay-sia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Mon-tenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 68/43:In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua

and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbai-jan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Re-public, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Domini-can Republic, Ecuador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hun-gary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Microne-sia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ko-rea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uru-guay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia.

Against: None.Abstaining: Algeria, Bahrain, Cuba, Democratic People’s

Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Iran, Iraq, Jor-dan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe.

Also on 5 December [meeting 60], the General As-sembly, on the recommendation of the First Commit-tee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/44 by recorded vote (177-0-4) [agenda item 99 ( f )].

National legislation on transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology

The General Assembly,Recognizing that disarmament, arms control and non-

proliferation are essential for the maintenance of interna-tional peace and security,

Recalling that effective national control of the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and tech-nology, including those transfers that could contribute to proliferation activities, is an important tool for achieving those objectives,

Recalling also that the States parties to the international disarmament and non-proliferation treaties have undertaken to facilitate the fullest possible exchange of materials, equip-ment and technological information for peaceful purposes, in accordance with the provisions of those treaties,

Considering that the exchange of national legislation, regulations and procedures on the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology contributes to mutual understanding and confidence among Member States,



Convinced that the improvement of international rela-tions forms a sound basis for promoting further openness and transparency in all military matters,

Convinced also that transparency in military matters is an essential element for building a climate of trust and con-fidence between States worldwide and that a better flow of objective information on military matters can help to relieve international tension and is therefore an important contri-bution to conflict prevention,

Noting the role of the standardized reporting system, as instituted through its resolution 35/142 B, as an important instrument to enhance transparency in military matters,

Conscious that the value of the standardized reporting system would be enhanced by a broader participation of Member States,

Noting that a periodic review of the United Nations Re-port on Military Expenditures could facilitate its further de-velopment and maintain its continued relevance and opera-tion, and recalling that, in its resolution 66/20, the General Assembly recommended the establishment of a process for pe-riodic reviews and that another review of the continuing rele-vance and operation of the Report be conducted in five years,

Recalling, in that regard, the report of the Secretary-General on ways and means to implement the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters, including, in particular, on how to strengthen and broaden participation in the standardized reporting system,

Recalling also the report of the Group of Governmen-tal Experts on the Operation and Further Development of the United Nations Standardized Instrument for Reporting Military Expenditures on further ways and means to im-plement the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters, including, in particular, on how to strengthen and broaden participation in the stand-ardized reporting system,

Welcoming the work of the Secretariat on migrating data submitted on military expenditures to its new, interactive web platform, which includes an online reporting feature, thus increasing user-friendliness and facilitating the submis-sion of reports, in accordance with resolution 66/20,

Noting the efforts of several regional organizations to promote transparency of military expenditures, including standardized annual exchanges of relevant information among their member States,

Noting with concern the downward trend in reporting to the Report on Military Expenditures over the past decade,

Emphasizing the continuing importance of the Report on Military Expenditures under the current political and economic circumstances,

Recalling that, in its resolution 66/20, the General As-sembly recommended that, for the purpose of reporting by Member States of their national military expenditures in the framework of the Report on Military Expenditures, “military expenditures” be commonly understood to refer to all financial resources that a State spends on the uses and functions of its military forces and information on military expenditures represent an actual outlay in current prices and domestic currency,

Mindful of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, including its Article 26,

1. Calls upon Member States, with a view to achiev-ing the broadest possible participation, to provide the Secretary-General, by 30 April annually, with a report

Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Nor-way, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sin-gapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Swe-den, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and To-bago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emir-ates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: None.Abstaining: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran,

Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda.

Transparency in military expenditures

In response to General Assembly resolution 66/20 [YUN 2011, p. 536], the Secretary-General, in July [A/68/131 & Add.1], presented reports from 53 States on their national military expenditures for the latest fis-cal year for which data were available. The Office for Disarmament Affairs developed an online tool to en-able Member States to report on military expenditures in an efficient and secure manner.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/401], adopted resolution 68/23 without vote [agenda item 89 (b)].

Objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 53/72 of 4 December 1998, 54/43

of 1 December 1999, 56/14 of 29 November 2001, 58/28 of 8 December 2003, 60/44 of 8 December 2005, 62/13 of 5 December 2007, 64/22 of 2 December 2009 and 66/20 of 2 December 2011 on objective information on military mat-ters, including transparency of military expenditures,

Recalling also its resolution 35/142 B of 12 December 1980, which introduced the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures, its resolu-tions 48/62 of 16 December 1993, 49/66 of 15 December 1994, 51/38 of 10 December 1996 and 52/32 of 9 Decem-ber 1997, in which the General Assembly called upon all Member States to participate in the system, and its resolu-tion 47/54 B of 9 December 1992, in which the Assembly endorsed the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters and invited Member States to provide the Secretary-General with relevant information regarding their implementation,

Noting that, since then, national reports on military ex-penditures and on the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters have been sub-mitted by a number of Member States belonging to different geographical regions,



ditures and to consult with those bodies and organizations with emphasis on examining possibilities for enhancing complementarities among international and regional re-porting systems and for exchanging related information between those bodies and the United Nations;

( f ) To continue to foster further cooperation with rel-evant regional organizations with a view to raising aware-ness of the Report on Military Expenditures and its role as a confidence-building measure;

(g) To encourage the United Nations regional cen-tres for peace and disarmament in Africa, in Asia and the Pacific, and in Latin America and the Caribbean to assist Member States in their regions in enhancing their knowl-edge of the standardized reporting system;

(h) To promote international and regional or subre-gional symposiums and training seminars and to support the development of an online training course by the Of-fice for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat, with the financial and technical support of interested States, with a view to explaining the purpose of the standardized report-ing system, facilitating the electronic filing of reports and providing relevant technical instructions;

(i) To report on experiences gained during such sym-posiums and training seminars;

( j) To provide, upon request, technical assistance to Member States lacking the capacity to report data and to encourage Member States to voluntarily provide bilateral assistance to other Member States;

8. Encourages Member States:(a) To inform the Secretary-General about possible

problems with the standardized reporting system and their reasons for not submitting the requested data;

(b) To continue to provide the Secretary-General with their views and suggestions on ways and means to im-prove the future functioning of and broaden participation in the standardized reporting system, including necessary changes to its content and structure, as well as recommen-dations to facilitate its further development;

9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventieth session, under the item entitled “Reduction of military budgets”, the sub-item entitled “Objective infor-mation on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures”.

Other disarmament issues

Prevention of an arms race in outer spaceConference on Disarmament. The Conference

on Disarmament discussed the prevention of an arms race in outer space in one plenary meeting (19 March) [A/68/27]. The Conference had before it a 29 July letter from Indonesia and the Russian Federation transmit-ting the text of the joint statement by their Ministers of Foreign Affairs declaring that they would not be the first to place weapons of any kind in outer space [CD/1954], and a working paper submitted by Bangla-desh, on behalf of the member States of G-21, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space [CD/1961].

on their military expenditures for the latest fiscal year for which data are available, using, preferably and to the ex-tent possible, one of the online reporting forms, including a nil report if appropriate, or, as appropriate, any other format developed in the context of similar reporting on military expenditures to other international or regional organizations;

2. Recommends the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters to all Mem-ber States for implementation, fully taking into account specific political, military and other conditions prevailing in a region, on the basis of initiatives and with the agree-ment of the States of the region concerned;

3. Invites Member States in a position to do so to supplement their reports, on a voluntary basis, with ex-planatory remarks regarding submitted data to explain or clarify the figures provided in the reporting forms, such as the total military expenditures as a share of gross do-mestic product, major changes from previous reports and any additional information reflecting their defence policy, military strategies and doctrines;

4. Invites Member States to provide, preferably with their annual report, their national points of contact;

5. Encourages relevant international bodies and re-gional organizations to promote transparency of military expenditures and to enhance complementarities among re-porting systems, taking into account the particular char-acteristics of each region, and to consider the possibility of an exchange of information with the United Nations;

6. Takes note of the annual reports of the Secretary-General;

7. Requests the Secretary-General, within available resources:

(a) To continue the practice of sending an annual note verbale to Member States requesting the submission of their report on military expenditures;

(b) To circulate annually a note verbale to Member States detailing which reports on military expenditures were submitted and are available online;

(c) To establish a group of governmental experts, on the basis of equitable geographical representation, to re-view the operation and further development of the United Nations Report on Military Expenditures, including the establishment of a process for periodic reviews in order to ensure the continued relevance and operation of the Report, commencing in 2016, taking into account the views expressed by Member States on the subject and the reports of the Secretary-General on objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures, and to transmit the report of the group of experts to the General Assembly for consideration at its seventy-second session;

(d) To continue consultations with relevant interna-tional bodies, with a view to ascertaining requirements for adjusting the present instrument in order to encour-age wider participation, and to make recommendations, based on the outcome of those consultations and taking into account the views of Member States, on necessary changes to the content and structure of the standardized reporting system;

(e) To encourage relevant international bodies and organizations to promote transparency of military expen-



race in outer space, and hoping that concrete results will emerge from those efforts as soon as possible,

Convinced that further measures should be examined in the search for effective and verifiable bilateral and multilat-eral agreements in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, including the weaponization of outer space,

Stressing that the growing use of outer space increases the need for greater transparency and better information on the part of the international community,

Recalling, in this context, its previous resolutions, in particular resolutions 45/55 B of 4 December 1990, 47/51 of 9 December 1992 and 48/74 A of 16 December 1993, in which, inter alia, it reaffirmed the importance of confidence-building measures as a means conducive to en-suring the attainment of the objective of the prevention of an arms race in outer space,

Conscious of the benefits of confidence- and security-building measures in the military field,

Recognizing that negotiations for the conclusion of an international agreement or agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space remain a priority task of the Confer-ence on Disarmament and that the concrete proposals on confidence-building measures could form an integral part of such agreements,

Noting with satisfaction the constructive, structured and focused debate on the prevention of an arms race in outer space at the Conference on Disarmament in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013,

Noting the introduction by China and the Russian Fed-eration at the Conference on Disarmament of the draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and of the threat or use of force against outer space objects,

Taking note of the decision of the Conference on Dis-armament to establish for its 2009 session a working group to discuss, substantially, without limitation, all issues re-lated to the prevention of an arms race in outer space,

1. Reaffirms the importance and urgency of preventing an arms race in outer space and the readiness of all States to contribute to that common objective, in conformity with the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies;

2. Reaffirms its recognition, as stated in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, that the legal regime applicable to outer space by itself does not guarantee the prevention of an arms race in outer space, that the regime plays a significant role in the prevention of an arms race in that environment, that there is a need to consolidate and reinforce that regime and enhance its effectiveness and that it is important to comply strictly with existing agreements, both bilateral and multilateral;

3. Emphasizes the necessity of further measures with appropriate and effective provisions for verification to pre-vent an arms race in outer space;

4. Calls upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions con-trary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation;



Prevention of an arms race in outer spaceThe General Assembly,Recognizing the common interest of all mankind in the

exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes,Reaffirming the will of all States that the exploration and

use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be for peaceful purposes and shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries, irrespec-tive of their degree of economic or scientific development,

Reaffirming also the provisions of articles III and IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,

Recalling the obligation of all States to observe the provi-sions of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the use or threat of use of force in their international relations, including in their space activities,

Reaffirming paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, in which it is stated that, in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, fur-ther measures should be taken and appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of the Treaty,

Recalling its previous resolutions on this issue, and tak-ing note of the proposals submitted to the General Assembly at its tenth special session and at its regular sessions and of the recommendations made to the competent organs of the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament,

Recognizing that the prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security,

Emphasizing the paramount importance of strict com-pliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space,

Considering that wide participation in the legal regime applicable to outer space could contribute to enhancing its effectiveness,

Noting that the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, taking into account its previous efforts since its establishment in 1985 and seeking to enhance its functioning in qualitative terms, continued the examination and identification of various issues, exist-ing agreements and existing proposals, as well as future ini-tiatives relevant to the prevention of an arms race in outer space, and that this contributed to a better understanding of a number of problems and to a clearer perception of the various positions,

Noting also that there were no objections in principle in the Conference on Disarmament to the re-establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee, subject to re-examination of the mandate contained in the decision of the Conference on Disarmament of 13 February 1992,

Emphasizing the mutually complementary nature of bi-lateral and multilateral efforts for the prevention of an arms



Building Measures in Outer Space Activities, estab-lished by Assembly resolution 65/68 [YUN 2010, p. 568]. The report contained the study on outer space trans-parency and confidence-building measures conducted by the Group of Governmental Experts. The Group concluded that the world’s growing dependence on space-based systems and technologies and the infor-mation they provided required collaborative efforts to address threats to the sustainability and security of outer space activities.

The Group drafted a series of measures for outer space activities, including exchange of information relating to national space policy such as major mili-tary expenditure on outer space, notifications on outer space activities aimed at risk reduction, and visits to space launch sites and facilities, as well as coordina-tion and consultative mechanisms aimed at improving interaction between participants in outer space activi-ties and clarifying information and ambiguous situa-tions. To promote implementation of the transparency and confidence-building measures, the Group recom-mended that coordination be established between the Office for Disarmament Affairs, the Office for Outer Space Affairs and other appropriate UN entities. The Group also recommended that States and international organizations consider and implement the transpar-ency and confidence-building measures on a voluntary basis and without prejudice to the implementation of obligations deriving from existing legal commitments.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/50 without vote [agenda item 99 (c)].

Transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 60/66 of 8 December 2005,

61/75 of 6 December 2006, 62/43 of 5 December 2007, 63/68 of 2 December 2008, 64/49 of 2 December 2009 and 65/68 of 8 December 2010, as well as its decision 66/517 of 2 December 2011,

Recalling also the report of the Secretary-General of 15 October 1993 to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session, the annex to which contains the study by govern-mental experts on the application of confidence-building measures in outer space,

Reaffirming the right of all countries to explore and use outer space in accordance with international law,

Reaffirming also that preventing an arms race in outer space is in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and is an essential condition for the promo-tion and strengthening of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes,

Recalling, in this context, its resolutions 45/55 B of 4 De-cember 1990 and 48/74 B of 16 December 1993, in which,

5. Reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, has the primary role in the negotiation of a multilateral agree-ment or agreements, as appropriate, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects;

6. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to estab-lish a working group under its agenda item entitled “Pre-vention of an arms race in outer space” as early as possible during its 2014 session;

7. Recognizes, in this respect, the growing conver-gence of views on the elaboration of measures designed to strengthen transparency, confidence and security in the peaceful uses of outer space;

8. Urges States conducting activities in outer space, as well as States interested in conducting such activities, to keep the Conference on Disarmament informed of the progress of bilateral and multilateral negotiations on the matter, if any, so as to facilitate its work;

9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session the item entitled “Prevention of an arms race in outer space”.


gola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Er-itrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Geor-gia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao Peo-ple’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mon-golia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singa-pore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Af-rica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: None.Abstaining: Israel, United States.

Group of Governmental Experts. In July [A/68/189], the Secretary-General transmitted to the General Assembly the report of the Group of Gov-ernmental Experts on Transparency and Confidence-



Prevention of an arms race on the seabed and ocean floor

Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 44/116 [YUN 1989, p. 81], the Secretary-General, in June [A/68/96], submitted a report containing information provided by Oman and Qatar on measures taken to prevent an arms race on the seabed and the ocean floor and in the subsoil thereof.

Observance of environmental normsIn June [A/68/118 & Add.1], responding to General

Assembly resolution 67/37 [YUN 2012, p. 531], the Secretary-General provided information from Co-lombia, Cuba, Lebanon and Qatar on measures they had adopted to promote the observance of environ-mental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/36 without vote [agenda item 99 (m)].

Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament

and arms control

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 50/70 M of 12 December 1995,

51/45 E of 10 December 1996, 52/38 E of 9 December 1997, 53/77 J of 4 December 1998, 54/54 S of 1 December 1999, 55/33 K of 20 November 2000, 56/24 F of 29 November 2001, 57/64 of 22 November 2002, 58/45 of 8 December 2003, 59/68 of 3 December 2004, 60/60 of 8 December 2005, 61/63 of 6 December 2006, 62/28 of 5 December 2007, 63/51 of 2 December 2008, 64/33 of 2 December 2009, 65/53 of 8 December 2010, 66/31 of 2 December 2011 and 67/37 of 3 December 2012,

Emphasizing the importance of the observance of envi-ronmental norms in the preparation and implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements,

Recognizing that it is necessary to take duly into account the agreements adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, as well as prior relevant agreements, in the drafting and implementation of agree-ments on disarmament and arms limitation,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General sub-mitted pursuant to resolution 67/37,

Noting that the Sixteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Tehran from 26 to 31 August 2012, welcomed the adoption by the General Assembly, without a vote, of resolution 66/31 on the obser-vance of environmental norms in the drafting and implemen-tation of agreements on disarmament and arms control,

Mindful of the detrimental environmental effects of the use of nuclear weapons,

1. Reaffirms that international disarmament forums should take fully into account the relevant environmental

inter alia, the General Assembly recognized the need for increased transparency and confirmed the importance of confidence-building measures as a means of reinforcing the objective of preventing an arms race in outer space,

Noting the constructive debates that the Conference on Disarmament has held on this subject and the views ex-pressed by Member States,

Noting also the introduction by China and the Russian Federation at the Conference on Disarmament of the draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and of the threat or use of force against outer space objects,

Noting further that, since 2004, several States have intro-duced a policy of not being the first State to place weapons in outer space,

Noting the presentation by the European Union of a draft of a non-legally binding international code of conduct for outer space activities,

Recognizing the work that takes place within the Com-mittee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and its Legal Subcommittee, whichmakes a significant contribution to the promotion of the long-term sustainability of outer space activities,

Noting the contribution of Member States that have sub-mitted to the Secretary-General concrete proposals on inter-national outer space transparency and confidence-building measures pursuant to paragraph 1 of resolution 61/75, para-graph 2 of resolution 62/43, paragraph 2 of resolution 63/68 and paragraph 2 of resolution 64/49,

Welcoming the work done in 2012 and 2013 by the group of governmental experts convened by the Secretary-General, on the basis of equitable geographical distribution, to con-duct a study on outer space transparency and confidence-building measures,

1. Welcomes the note by the Secretary-General trans-mitting the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on Transparency and Confidence-building Measures in Outer Space Activities;

2. Encourages Member States to review and implement, to the greatest extent practicable, the proposed transparency and confidence-building measures contained in the report, through relevant national mechanisms, on a voluntary basis and in a manner consistent with the national interests of Member States;

3. Decides, in order to further advance transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space, to refer the recommendations contained in the report to the Com-mittee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, the Disarma-ment Commission and the Conference on Disarmament for consideration, as appropriate;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the re-port to all other relevant entities and organizations of the United Nations system in order that they may assist in effec-tively implementing the conclusions and recommendations contained therein, as appropriate;

5. Encourages relevant entities and organizations of the United Nations system to coordinate, as appropriate, on mat-ters related to the recommendations contained in the report;

6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities”.



tween project funding and institutional funding was unsustainable. The report highlighted the continuing importance of the subvention from the UN regular budget. Member States, the Board of Trustees and the General Assembly had repeatedly recommended that the subvention should, in addition, help to defray the costs of the institution’s core staff.

Disarmament fellowships, training and advisory services

Twenty-five fellows participated in the 2013 UN disarmament fellowship, training and advisory serv-ices programme, which was offered by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (unoda). The programme featured a study session in Geneva, study visits to international organizations and Mem-ber States, and a study session at UN Headquarters. Participants also engaged in several simulated ne-gotiation exercises on topical issues in the fields of disarmament and non-proliferation. To promote gen-der mainstreaming, the United Nations selected 22 women to participate in the fellowship programme in 2013–2014 biennium which represented 44 per cent of the total awarded fellowships.

Disarmament information programme

In 2013, the United Nations Disarmament In-formation Programme carried out by unoda con-tinued to build its information and outreach activi-ties. Unoda published its flagship publication the two-part United Nations Disarmament Yearbook. It also produced three Occasional Papers: The Impact of Poorly Regulated Arms Transfers on The Work of The United Nations; Contrastng Perspectives on Tac-tical Nuclear Weapons in Europe: Understanding the Current Debates; and The Gun-Free Zone—A Tool to Prevent and Reduce Armed Violence. In June, a new publication, entitled Programmes Financed from Vol-untary Contributions was widely disseminated, and in December, the publication NGO presentations to the Open-ended Working Group on Taking Forward Mul-tilateral Nuclear Disarmament Negotiations, under the Civil Society and Disarmament series, was released.

Regional disarmament

A landmark development in 2013 was the adop-tion of the Arms Trade Treaty by the General As-sembly in April (see p. 507). Considerable efforts were made by regional and subregional organizations, with technical and funding assistance from international agencies, to mobilize governmental and ngo support of the Treaty during the preparatory process and for its signature and ratification. The challenges posed

norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarma-ment and arms limitation and that all States, through their actions, should contribute fully to ensuring compliance with the aforementioned norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they are parties;

2. Calls upon States to adopt unilateral, bilateral, re-gional and multilateral measures so as to contribute to ensuring the application of scientific and technological progress within the framework of international security, disarmament and other related spheres, without detriment to the environment or to its effective contribution to attain-ing sustainable development;

3. Welcomes the information provided by Member States on the implementation of the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution;

4. Invites all Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report containing that information to the General Assem-bly at its sixty-ninth session;

5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementa-tion of agreements on disarmament and arms control”.

Science and technology and disarmamentOn 5 December (decision 68/516), the General

Assembly decided to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth (2014) session the item entitled “Role of science and technology in the context of interna-tional security and disarmament.”

Studies, research and training

UN Institute for Disarmament Research

The Secretary-General in July transmitted the report of the Director of the United Nations Insti-tute for Disarmament Research (unidir) [A/68/182] covering the Institute’s activities from August 2012 to July 2013, as well as its proposed 2013–2014 pro-gramme of work and budget, as approved by the unidir Board of Trustees, the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters. The Institute’s programme of work was structured in five categories: weapons of mass destruction; weapons of societal disruption; security and society; emerging threats; and improv-ing processes and practices. Contributions earmarked for projects had increased steadily over the past sev-eral years, although there was increasing competition for a smaller pool of funding available. The Institute continued to see erosion in the volume of core con-tributions, despite success in attracting new donors and increasing project funding; the growing gap be-



Affirming the abiding commitment of all States to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations in the conduct of their international relations,

Noting that essential guidelines for progress towards general and complete disarmament were adopted at the tenth special session of the General Assembly,

Taking note of the guidelines and recommendations for regional approaches to disarmament within the context of global security adopted by the Disarmament Commission at its 1993 substantive session,

Welcoming the prospects of genuine progress in the field of disarmament engendered in recent years as a result of negotiations between the two super-Powers,

Taking note of the recent proposals for disarmament at the regional and subregional levels,

Recognizing the importance of confidence-building measures for regional and international peace and security,

Convinced that endeavours by countries to promote regional disarmament, taking into account the specific characteristics of each region and in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, would enhance the security of all States and would thus contribute to international peace and security by reducing the risk of regional conflicts,

1. Stresses that sustained efforts are needed, within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament and under the umbrella of the United Nations, to make progress on the entire range of disarmament issues;

2. Affirms that global and regional approaches to disarmament complement each other and should therefore be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and inter-national peace and security;

3. Calls upon States to conclude agreements, wherever possible, for nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and confidence-building measures at the regional and subre-gional levels;

4. Welcomes the initiatives towards disarmament, nu-clear non-proliferation and security undertaken by some countries at the regional and subregional levels;

5. Supports and encourages efforts aimed at promot-ing confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels to ease regional tensions and to further disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation measures at the regional and subregional levels;

6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Regional disarmament”.

Conventional arms control at regional and subregional levels

In response to General Assembly resolution 67/62 [YUN 2012, p. 537] on conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels, the Secretary-General submitted in July a report [A/68/133 & Add.1] contain-ing the views of 11 Member States (Argentina, Ar-menia, Azerbaijan, Burkina Faso, China, Czech Re-public, Germany, Jordan, Madagascar, Montenegro, Spain) on the issue.

by the continued proliferation and illicit use of small arms and light weapons continued to be a focus of attention. The Second Preparatory Meeting for the Third Conference of States Parties and Signatories of Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones and Mongolia, to be held in 2015, was an important milestone as it further strengthened the foundation laid by the previous two conferences, held in Mexico in 2005 and in New York in 2010. Consultations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the nuclear-weapon States on the Protocol to the Bangkok Treaty made concrete progress, raising the prospects of a positive outcome. Consultations on the Protocol to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone in Central Asia also moved forward. The hold-ing of a regional conference on a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, however, failed to materialize despite the agreement at the 2010 Review Conference of the Par-ties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to convene it originally in 2012. Intensive consultations took place in 2013, but consensus on procedural and substantive issues among the regional States and the nuclear-weapon States continued to prove difficult.

The United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament assisted States on a wide range of disarmament and arms control issues, as well as on issues related to human security and the reduction of armed violence.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/54 without vote [agenda item 99 (x)].

Regional disarmament

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 45/58 P of 4 December 1990,

46/36 I of 6 December 1991, 47/52 J of 9 December 1992, 48/75 I of 16 December 1993, 49/75 N of 15 December 1994, 50/70 K of 12 December 1995, 51/45 K of 10 De-cember 1996, 52/38 P of 9 December 1997, 53/77 O of 4 December 1998, 54/54 N of 1 December 1999, 55/33 O of 20 November 2000, 56/24 H of 29 November 2001, 57/76 of 22 November 2002, 58/38 of 8 December 2003, 59/89 of 3 December 2004, 60/63 of 8 December 2005, 61/80 of 6 December 2006, 62/38 of 5 December 2007, 63/43 of 2 December 2008, 64/41 of 2 December 2009, 65/45 of 8 December 2010, 66/36 of 2 December 2011 and 67/57 of 3 December 2012 on regional disarmament,

Believing that the efforts of the international com-munity to move towards the ideal of general and complete disarmament are guided by the inherent human desire for genuine peace and security, the elimination of the danger of war and the release of economic, intellectual and other resources for peaceful pursuits,



complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Conven-tional arms control at the regional and subregional levels”.


gola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bar-bados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Demo-cratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hon-duras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lat-via, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithu-ania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mex-ico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Neth-erlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Para-guay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugo-slav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trini-dad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Uz-bekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: India.Abstaining: Bhutan, Russian Federation.

Regional confidence-building measures

In June, the Secretary-General, in response to General Assembly resolution 67/61 [YUN 2012, p. 537] on confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context, submitted a report [A/68/99 & Add.1] containing the views of seven Member States (Azerbaijan, China, Cuba, Germany, Jordan, Mexico, Ukraine) on the issue.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/55 without vote [agenda item 99 (bb)].

Confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context

The General Assembly,Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the

Charter of the United Nations,


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/411], adopted resolution 68/56 by recorded vote (182-1-2) [agenda item 99 (cc)].

Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 48/75 J of 16 December 1993,

49/75 O of 15 December 1994, 50/70 L of 12 December 1995, 51/45 Q of 10 December 1996, 52/38 Q of 9 De-cember 1997, 53/77 P of 4 December 1998, 54/54 M of 1 December 1999, 55/33 P of 20 November 2000, 56/24 I of 29 November 2001, 57/77 of 22 November 2002, 58/39 of 8 December 2003, 59/88 of 3 December 2004, 60/75 of 8 December 2005, 61/82 of 6 December 2006, 62/44 of 5 December 2007, 63/44 of 2 December 2008, 64/42 of 2 December 2009, 65/46 of 8 December 2010, 66/37 of 2 December 2011 and 67/62 of 3 December 2012,

Recognizing the crucial role of conventional arms control in promoting regional and international peace and security,

Convinced that conventional arms control needs to be pursued primarily in the regional and subregional contexts since most threats to peace and security in the post-cold-war era arise mainly among States located in the same re-gion or subregion,

Aware that the preservation of a balance in the defence capabilities of States at the lowest level of armaments would contribute to peace and stability and should be a prime objective of conventional arms control,

Desirous of promoting agreements to strengthen re-gional peace and security at the lowest possible level of armaments and military forces,

Noting with particular interest the initiatives taken in this regard in different regions of the world, in particular the commencement of consultations among a number of Latin American countries and the proposals for conven-tional arms control made in the context of South Asia, and recognizing, in the context of this subject, the relevance and value of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, which is a cornerstone of European security,

Believing that militarily significant States and States with larger military capabilities have a special responsibility in promoting such agreements for regional security,

Believing also that an important objective of conven-tional arms control in regions of tension should be to pre-vent the possibility of military attack launched by surprise and to avoid aggression,

1. Decides to give urgent consideration to the issues involved in conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels;

2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to consider the formulation of principles that can serve as a framework for regional agreements on conventional arms control, and looks forward to a report of the Conference on this subject;

3. Requests the Secretary-General, in the meantime, to seek the views of Member States on the subject and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session;

4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and



5. Urges States to comply strictly with all bilateral, re-gional and international agreements, including arms con-trol and disarmament agreements, to which they are party;

6. Emphasizes that the objective of confidence-building measures should be to help to strengthen inter-national peace and security and to be consistent with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments;

7. Encourages the promotion of bilateral and regional confidence-building measures, with the consent and partici-pation of the parties concerned, to avoid conflict and prevent the unintended and accidental outbreak of hostilities;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session contain-ing the views of Member States on confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context;

9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context”.

Standing Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa

The United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa held its thirty-fourth (Bujumbura, Burundi, 14–18 May 2012) and thirty-fifth (Brazzaville, Congo, 3–5 December 2012) ministerial meetings; the commemoration ceremony of the twentieth anniversary of the Committee (Braz-zaville, 7 December 2012); and the thirty-sixth minis-terial meeting (Kigali, Rwanda, 20–23 August 2013) [A/68/384]. The Committee strengthened further its partnership with the Economic Community of Cen-tral African States (eccas), which gave a briefing on the geopolitical situation in the region, and presented pro-posals on specific actions to be taken in response. The Committee also tackled some thematic issues, including the socioeconomic impact of elephant poaching, and its alleged role in the illicit financing of some rebel groups. In addition, the meeting adopted the theme of media-tion in Central Africa and discussed ways to strengthen the capacities of eccas. Concerned by the impact of instability and terrorist activities in the Sahel region on Central Africa, the Committee recommended the speedy implementation of the Declaration on a Road Map for Counter-Terrorism and Non-Proliferation of Arms in Central Africa, adopted by the Committee at its thirty-third ministerial meeting [YUN 2012, p. 538]. In that regard, the Committee initiated the transfor-mation of the road map into an operational strategy, with technical and financial support from the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (unoca), the Counter-Terrorism Executive Secretariat and the United Nations Centre for Counter-Terrorism.

The Committee also discussed piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, and held a follow-up session on the implementation of the rec-ommendations of the Summit of Heads of State and

Recalling its resolutions 58/43 of 8 December 2003, 59/87 of 3 December 2004, 60/64 of 8 December 2005, 61/81 of 6 December 2006, 62/45 of 5 December 2007, 63/45 of 2 December 2008, 64/43 of 2 December 2009, 65/47 of 8 December 2010, 66/38 of 2 December 2011 and 67/61 of 3 December 2012 on confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context,

Recalling also its resolution 57/337 of 3 July 2003 on the prevention of armed conflict, in which the General As-sembly calls upon Member States to settle their disputes by peaceful means, as set out in Chapter VI of the Charter, inter alia, by any procedures adopted by the parties,

Recalling further the resolutions and guidelines adopted by consensus by the General Assembly and the Disarma-ment Commission relating to confidence-building meas-ures and their implementation at the global, regional and subregional levels,

Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building measures taken at the initiative and with the agreement of all States concerned, and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, since such measures can contribute to regional stability,

Convinced that resources released by disarmament, in-cluding regional disarmament, can be devoted to economic and social development and to the protection of the envi-ronment for the benefit of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries,

Recognizing the need for meaningful dialogue among States concerned to avert conflict,

Welcoming the peace processes already initiated by States concerned to resolve their disputes through peaceful means bilaterally or through mediation, inter alia, by third parties, regional organizations or the United Nations,

Recognizing that States in some regions have already taken steps towards confidence-building measures at the bilateral, subregional and regional levels in the political and military fields, including arms control and disarmament, and noting that such confidence-building measures have im-proved peace and security in those regions and contributed to progress in the socioeconomic conditions of their people,

Concerned that the continuation of disputes among States, particularly in the absence of an effective mechanism to resolve them through peaceful means, may contribute to the arms race and endanger the maintenance of interna-tional peace and security and the efforts of the international community to promote arms control and disarmament,

1. Calls upon Member States to refrain from the use or threat of use of force in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations;

2. Reaffirms its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes under Chapter VI of the Charter, in particular Article 33, which provides for a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settle-ment, resort to regional agencies or arrangements or other peaceful means chosen by the parties;

3. Reaffirms the ways and means regarding confidence- and security-building measures set out in the report of the Disarmament Commission on its 1993 session;

4. Calls upon Member States to pursue these ways and means through sustained consultations and dialogue, while at the same time avoiding actions that may hinder or impair such a dialogue;



Convinced that the resources released by disarmament, including regional disarmament, can be devoted to eco-nomic and social development and to the protection of the environment for the benefit of all peoples, in particular those of developing countries,

Welcoming the declaration on a road map for counter-terrorism and non-proliferation of arms in Central Africa, adopted by the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee on 8 December 2011 at their thirty-third min-isterial meeting, held in Bangui from 5 to 9 December 2011, and the progress made towards its implementation,

Bearing in mind that the implementation of the road map should be compliant with relevant legal and admin-istrative obligations, as set out in Security Council reso-lutions 1373(2001) of 28 September 2001, 1624(2005) of 14 September 2005 and 1963(2010) of 20 December 2010, as well as with the four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy,

Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building measures taken on the initiative and with the participation of all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, since such measures can contribute to regional stability and to international peace and security,

Convinced that development can be achieved only in a climate of peace, security and mutual confidence both within and among States,

Recalling the Brazzaville Declaration on Cooperation for Peace and Security in Central Africa, the Bata Declaration for the Promotion of Lasting Democracy, Peace and Devel-opment in Central Africa and the Yaoundé Declaration on Peace, Security and Stability in Central Africa,

Bearing in mind resolutions 1196(1998) and 1197(1998), adopted by the Security Council on 16 and 18 September 1998, respectively, following its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,

Welcoming the successful conclusion of the Summit of Heads of State and Government on Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea, held in Yaoundé on 24 and 25 June 2013,

Welcoming also the outcome of the high-level meeting on poaching and illicit wildlife trafficking, held on 26 Sep-tember 2013 on the margins of the high-level segment of the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly and hosted by Gabon and Germany,

Emphasizing the need to strengthen the capacity for conflict prevention and peacekeeping in Africa, and not-ing in this regard the concrete conflict prevention initia-tives facilitated by the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat,

Welcoming the close cooperation established between the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa and the Economic Community of Central African States, as well as the signing of a framework of cooperation agreement be-tween the two entities on 3 May 2012,

Bearing in mind the increased focus of the Standing Advisory Committee on human security questions, such as trafficking in persons, especially women and children, as an important consideration for subregional peace, stability and conflict prevention,

Government on Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea (Yaoundé, Cameroon, 24–25 June), following the Security Council’s adoption of presiden-tial statement S/PRST/2013/13 (see p. 155) on piracy. The Committee discussed the political, security, hu-man rights and humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic and reviewed the regional repercus-sions of the crisis and the potential for the country to become a safe haven for armed groups. The Commit-tee adopted the Kigali Declaration, which called on national stakeholders to work together for a successful transition process. It also called on eccas, the African Union, and bilateral, regional and international part-ners to support the establishment of the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (see p. 128).


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/412], adopted resolution 68/62 without vote [agenda item 100 ( f )].

Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee

on Security Questions in Central Africa

The General Assembly,Recalling its previous relevant resolutions, in particular

resolution 67/70 of 3 December 2012,Recalling also the guidelines for general and complete

disarmament adopted at its tenth special session, the first special session devoted to disarmament,

Bearing in mind the establishment by the Secretary-General on 28 May 1992 of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Af-rica, the purpose of which is to encourage arms limitation, disarmament, non-proliferation and development in the Central Africa subregion,

Reaffirming that the purpose of the Standing Advisory Committee is to conduct reconstruction and confidence-building activities in Central Africa among its member States, including through confidence-building and arms limitation measures, and welcoming the twentieth anni-versary celebrations of the Committee, which took place on 7 December 2012 in Brazzaville under the chairman-ship of the President of the Congo,

Recalling the Sao Tome Declaration on a Central Afri-can Common Position on the Arms Trade Treaty, adopted by the States members of the Standing Advisory Commit-tee on 16 March 2011 at their thirty-second ministerial meeting, held in Sao Tome from 12 to 16 March 2011,

Noting the outcome of the United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty, held in New York from 2 to 27 July 2012, and noting also the second United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementa-tion of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weap-ons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 27 August to 7 September 2012,



support the implementation of the outcomes of the Summit, including through the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa;

8. Expresses concern over the negative impact that poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking have on the ecosys-tem, human development and regional security, and decides to take steps to develop a regional approach to counter this phenomenon;

9. Expresses its full support for the efforts of the Eco-nomic Community of Central African States, the African Union and the United Nations in the Central African Re-public, and calls upon the international community to sup-port these efforts;

10. Encourages the States members of the Standing Ad-visory Committee to pursue their discussions on concrete conflict prevention initiatives, and requests the assistance of the Secretary-General in this regard;

11. Requests the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa, in collaboration with the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, to facilitate the efforts undertaken by the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee, in particular for their execu-tion of the Implementation Plan for the Kinshasa Conven-tion, as adopted on 19 November 2010 at their thirty-first ministerial meeting, held in Brazzaville from 15 to 19 No-vember 2010;

12. Requests the Secretary-General and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue to assist the countries of Central Africa in tack-ling the problems of refugees and displaced persons in their territories;

13. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to con-tinue to provide their full assistance for the proper func-tioning of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa;

14. Reminds the States members of the Standing Ad-visory Committee of the commitments they undertook on the adoption of the Declaration on the Trust Fund of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Secu-rity Questions in Central Africa (Libreville Declaration) on 8 May 2009, and invites those States members of the Committee that have not already done so to contribute to the Trust Fund;

15. Urges other Member States and intergovernmen-tal and non-governmental organizations to support the activities of the Standing Advisory Committee effectively through voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund;

16. Urges the States members of the Standing Ad-visory Committee, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1325(2000) of 31 October 2000, to strengthen the gender component of the various meetings of the Com-mittee relating to disarmament and international security;

17. Expresses its satisfaction to the Secretary-General for his support to the Standing Advisory Committee, welcomes the role played by the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa since its opening, and strongly encourages the States members of the Committee and in-ternational partners to support the work of the Office;

18. Welcomes the efforts of the Standing Advisory Committee towards addressing cross-border security threats in Central Africa, including activities of the Lord’s Resist-

Expressing concern about the situation in the Central African Republic, and welcoming the efforts of the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States, the adoption of the Kigali Declaration by the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee on 23 August 2013 at their thirty-sixth ministerial meeting, held in Kigali from 20 to 23 August 2013, and the adoption of resolution 2121(2013) of 10 October 2013 by the Security Council,

Expressing concern also about the increasing impact of cross-border criminality, in particular the activities of armed groups, such as the Lord’s Resistance Army, and incidents of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, on peace, security and devel-opment in Central Africa,

Considering the urgent need to prevent the possible movement of illicit weapons, mercenaries and combatants involved in conflicts in the Sahel and in neighbouring coun-tries in the Central African subregion,

1. Reaffirms its support for efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at the regional and subre-gional levels in order to ease tensions and conflicts in Cen-tral Africa and to further sustainable peace, stability and development in the subregion;

2. Reaffirms the importance of disarmament and arms limitation programmes in Central Africa carried out by the States of the subregion with the support of the United Na-tions, the African Union and other international partners;

3. Welcomes the steps taken by States members of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa to facilitate the early entry into force of the Central African Convention for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and All Parts and Components That Can Be Used for Their Man-ufacture, Repair and Assembly (Kinshasa Convention), and encourages States members of the Standing Advisory Com-mittee and other interested States to provide financial sup-port for the implementation of the Convention;

4. Encourages the States members of the Standing Ad-visory Committee to implement the declaration on a road map for counter-terrorism and non-proliferation of arms in Central Africa, and requests the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373(2001) concerning counter-terrorism and the interna-tional community to support those measures;

5. Also encourages the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee to carry out the programmes of activi-ties adopted at their ministerial meetings;

6. Appeals to the international community to support the efforts undertaken by the States concerned to imple-ment disarmament, demobilization and reintegration pro-grammes;

7. Welcomes the adoption, during the Summit of Heads of State and Government on Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea, held in Yaoundé on 24 and 25 June 2013, of the Code of Conduct concerning the Prevention and Repression of Piracy, Armed Robbery against Ships, and Illegal Maritime Activity in West and Central Africa, which defines the regional maritime security strategy and paves the way for a legally binding instrument, and the decision to establish, in Cameroon, an interregional coordination centre responsible for coordinating the implementation of the regional strategy, and requests the Secretary-General to



mind in this regard that the regional centres for peace and disarmament can contribute substantially to understanding and cooperation among States in each particular region in the areas of peace, disarmament and development,

Noting that, in paragraph 178 of the Final Document of the Sixteenth Conference of Heads of State or Govern-ment of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Tehran on 30 and 31 August 2012, the Heads of State or Government emphasized the importance of United Nations activities at the regional level to increase the stability and security of its Member States, which could be promoted in a substantive manner by the maintenance and revitalization of the three regional centres for peace and disarmament,

1. Reiterates the importance of United Nations ac-tivities at the regional level to advance disarmament and to increase the stability and security of its Member States, which could be promoted in a substantive manner by the maintenance and revitalization of the three regional centres for peace and disarmament;

2. Reaffirms that, in order to achieve positive results, it is useful for the three regional centres to carry out dissemi-nation and educational programmes that promote regional peace and security and that are aimed at changing basic at-titudes with respect to peace and security and disarmament so as to support the achievement of the purposes and prin-ciples of the United Nations;

3. Appeals to Member States in each region that are able to do so, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make volun-tary contributions to the regional centres in their respective regions in order to strengthen their activities and initiatives;

4. Emphasizes the importance of the activities of the Regional Disarmament Branch of the Office for Disarma-ment Affairs of the Secretariat;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all sup-port necessary, within existing resources, to the regional centres in carrying out their programmes of activities;

6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “Review and im-plementation of the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly”, the sub-item entitled “United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament”.

Africa

In June [A/68/114], the Secretary-General reported on the activities of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (Lomé, Togo) for the period from July 2012 to June 2013. The Cen-tre continued its assistance to Member States, and intergovernmental and civil society organizations in Africa to promote peace, security and disarmament. It focused its work on providing assistance to States to combat the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons and to reform their security sector. The Cen-tre supported Member States in their implementation of regional and subregional instruments for combat-ing the proliferation of such weapons in Central, East and West Africa, and provided training to defence and security forces, including on small arms. The Centre also partnered with the African Union and the Interna-

ance Army, and acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, as well as the fallout from the situation in Libya and the crisis in Mali, and also welcomes the role of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa in coordinating those efforts, working closely with the Eco-nomic Community of Central African States, the African Union and all relevant regional and international partners;

19. Expresses its satisfaction to the Secretary-General for his support for the revitalization of the activities of the Standing Advisory Committee, and requests him to con-tinue to provide the assistance needed to ensure the success of its regular biannual meetings;

20. Calls upon the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution;

21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “Review and implementation of the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly”, the sub-item entitled “Regional confidence-building measures: ac-tivities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Commit-tee on Security Questions in Central Africa”.

Regional centres for peace and disarmament


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/412], adopted resolution 68/57 without vote [agenda item 100 (a)].

United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 60/83 of 8 December 2005,

61/90 of 6 December 2006, 62/50 of 5 December 2007, 63/76 of 2 December 2008, 64/58 of 2 December 2009, 65/78 of 8 December 2010, 66/53 of 2 December 2011 and 67/63 of 3 December 2012 regarding the maintenance and revitalization of the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament,

Recalling also the reports of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Dis-armament in Africa, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean,

Reaffirming its decision, taken in 1982 at its twelfth spe-cial session, to establish the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme, the purpose of which is to in-form, educate and generate public understanding and sup-port for the objectives of the United Nations in the field of arms control and disarmament,

Bearing in mind its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 D of 30 Novem-ber 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989 on the regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo,

Recognizing that the changes that have taken place in the world have created new opportunities and posed new challenges for the pursuit of disarmament, and bearing in



Recalling also the call by the Secretary-General for con-tinued financial and in-kind support from Member States, which would enable the Regional Centre to discharge its mandate in full and to respond more effectively to requests for assistance from African States,

1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;2. Welcomes the continental dimension of the activi-

ties of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa in response to the evolving needs of African Member States and the region’s new and emerging challenges in the areas of disarmament, peace and security, including maritime security;

3. Also welcomes the undertaking by the Regional Centre to provide capacity-building, technical assistance programmes and advisory services to the African Union Commission, subregional organizations and African Mem-ber States on the control of small arms and light weapons, including on stockpile management and destruction, the negotiations on the Arms Trade Treaty and issues related to weapons of mass destruction, as detailed in the report of the Secretary-General;

4. Further welcomes the contribution of the Regional Centre to continental disarmament, peace and security, in particular its assistance to the African Union Commission in the elaboration of the African Union Strategy on the Control of Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Strategy and in the elaboration of the African Union Common Position on an Arms Trade Treaty, as well as its assistance to the African Commission on Nuclear Energy in its implementation of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba);

5. Welcomes efforts by the Regional Centre to promote the role and representation of women in disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control activities;

6. Notes with appreciation the tangible achievements of the Regional Centre and the impact of the assistance that it provided to Central African States in the elaboration and implementation of the Central African Convention for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammuni-tion and All Parts and Components That Can Be Used for Their Manufacture, Repair and Assembly (Kinshasa Con-vention), to Central and West African States in the elabo-ration of their respective common positions on the Arms Trade Treaty, to West Africa on the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and Other Related Materials and on security sector reform initiatives and to East Africa on programmes to control brokering of small arms and light weapons, as well as the substantive support provided by the Centre to the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Ques-tions in Central Africa;

7. Commends the Regional Centre for the support and assistance that it provided to African States in the prep-aration for the United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty, including through the organization of sub-regional and regional seminars and conferences, and calls upon the Centre to provide, upon request, substantive sup-port to Member States of the region in implementing the Arms Trade Treaty;

8. Urges all States, as well as international governmen-tal and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to

tional Action Network on Small Arms to assist African States in their preparation for the negotiations on the Arms Trade Treaty (see p. 507). The Centre assisted de-fence and security forces in Africa in developing effec-tive, inclusive and accountable security institutions by providing training on the principles of the use of force and firearms, in particular during elections. The Centre continued to enhance its capacity in the fields of disarmament, peace and security. Despite its recog-nized expertise in those areas and the increasing re-quests from African countries for assistance, the mobil-ization of financial resources to implement its projects in response to those requests remained a major chal-lenge. As at 31 December 2012, the reserves and fund balance of the Centre’s trust fund stood at $206,832.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/412], adopted resolution 68/61 without vote [agenda item 100 (e)].

United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa

The General Assembly,Mindful of the provisions of Article 11, paragraph 1, of

the Charter of the United Nations, in which it is stipulated that a function of the General Assembly is to consider the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of in-ternational peace and security, including the principles gov-erning disarmament and arms limitation,

Recalling its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 D of 3 December 1986, 42/39 J of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 D of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and its resolutions 46/36 F of 6 December 1991 and 47/52 G of 9 December 1992 on regional disarmament, including confidence-building measures,

Recalling also its subsequent resolutions on the Regional Centre, the most recent of which is resolution 67/69 of 3 De-cember 2012,

Recalling further its resolution 67/48 of 3 December 2012, in which the General Assembly recognized the role of women in disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control,

Reaffirming the role of the Regional Centre in promoting disarmament, peace and security at the regional level,

Welcoming the continuing and deepening cooperation between the Regional Centre, the African Union and Af-rican subregional organizations, in particular their institu-tions in the fields of disarmament, peace and security, as well as between the Centre and relevant United Nations bodies and programmes in Africa, and considering the communi-qué adopted by the Peace and Security Council of the Af-rican Union at its 200th meeting, held in Addis Ababa on 21 August 2009,

Recalling the decision taken by the Executive Council of the African Union at its eighth ordinary session, held in Khartoum from 16 to 21 January 2006, in which the Coun-cil called upon member States to make voluntary contribu-tions to the Regional Centre to maintain its operations,



capacities to address challenges in the field of disarm-ament and non-proliferation, including combating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, prevent-ing non-State actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, and assisting regional States to enhance their capacity to sign and ratify the Arms Trade Treaty. As at 31 December 2012, the reserves and fund bal-ance of the Centre’s trust fund stood at $706,667.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/412], adopted resolution 68/59 without vote [agenda item 100 (c)].

United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 42/39 D of 30 November 1987

and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989, by which it established the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarm-ament in Asia and renamed it the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, with headquarters in Kathmandu and with the mandate of providing, on request, substantive support for the initiatives and other activities mutually agreed upon by the Member States of the Asia-Pacific region for the implementation of measures for peace and disarmament, through appropriate utilization of available resources,

Welcoming the physical operation of the Regional Cen-tre from Kathmandu in accordance with General Assembly resolution 62/52 of 5 December 2007,

Recalling the mandate of the Regional Centre to pro-vide, on request, substantive support for the initiatives and other activities mutually agreed upon by the Member States of the Asia-Pacific region for the implementation of measures for peace and disarmament,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General, and expressing its appreciation to the Regional Centre for its im-portant work in promoting confidence-building measures through the organization of meetings, conferences and workshops in the region, including the eleventh United Nations-Republic of Korea Joint Conference on Disarma-ment and Non-proliferation Issues, held on Jeju Island, Re-public of Korea, on 3 and 4 December 2012; the national capacity-building workshop on the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in Bangkok from 11 to 13 December 2012; the Asia Regional Meeting to Facilitate Dialogue on the Arms Trade Treaty, held in Kuala Lumpur on 26 and 27 February 2013; and the twenty-fourth United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues, on the theme “Creating a peaceful and safe future: pressing issues and potential solutions”, held in Shizuoka, Japan, from 30 January to 1 February 2013,

Appreciating the timely execution by Nepal of its fi-nancial commitments for the physical operation of the Regional Centre,

1. Expresses its satisfaction at the activities carried out in the past year by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, and invites

make voluntary contributions to enable the Regional Cen-tre to carry out its programmes and activities and meet the needs of the African States;

9. Urges, in particular, States members of the African Union to make voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Dis-armament in Africa in conformity with the decision taken by the Executive Council of the African Union in Khartoum in January 2006;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to facil-itate close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the African Union, in particular in the areas of disarmament, peace and security;

11. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Regional Centre with the support necessary for greater achievements and results;

12. Further requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session on the imple-mentation of the present resolution;

13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “Review and implementation of the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly”, the sub-item entitled “United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa”.

Asia and the Pacific

As requested in General Assembly resolution 67/65 [YUN 2012, p. 542], the Secretary-General in June [A/68/112] reported on the work of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (Kathmandu, Nepal) from July 2012 to June 2013. The Centre continued to promote dialogue and confidence-building in the region and beyond by organizing its two annual international conferences on disarmament and non-proliferation issues: the eleventh Joint Conference on Disarmament and Non-proliferation Issues (Jeju, Republic of Korea, 3–4 De-cember 2012); and the twenty-fourth United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues, with the theme, “Creating a peaceful and safe future: pressing issues and potential solutions” (Shizuoka, Japan, 30 Janu-ary–1 February 2013). It also organized the Asia Re-gional Meeting to Facilitate Dialogue on the Arms Trade Treaty (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 26–27 Feb-ruary 2013). The Centre undertook projects to build national capacity to better combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, as well as to facilitate dialogue among Member States in the region on the Arms Trade Treaty in advance of its final negotiations. Additionally, to strengthen its outreach and advocacy activities through peace and disarmament education, the Centre organized events attended by university and high school students, as well as an art for peace competition for hundreds of schoolchildren in a post-conflict country. With support from Member States and other partners, the Regional Centre planned to further expand its programmes, aimed at providing practical assistance to Member States to enhance their



velopment, Production and Stockpiling of Bacterio-logical (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction, and on the establishment of national agencies and bodies responsible for its oversight. The Centre made concerted efforts to promote the partici-pation of women and to highlight their contribution to disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation in the Latin American and Caribbean region. As at 31 December 2012, the reserves and fund balance of the Centre’s trust fund stood at $2,287,848.


On 5 December [meeting 60], the General Assem-bly, on the recommendation of the First Committee [A/68/412], adopted resolution 68/60 without vote [agenda item 100 (d)].

United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America

and the Caribbean

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 41/60 J of 3 December 1986,

42/39 K of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 H of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, with headquarters in Lima,

Recalling also its resolution 67/66 of 3 December 2012, as well as all previous resolutions entitled “United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean”,

Recognizing that the Regional Centre has continued to provide substantive support for the implementation of regional and subregional initiatives and has intensified its contribution to the coordination of United Nations efforts towards peace and disarmament and for the promotion of economic and social development,

Reaffirming the mandate of the Regional Centre to pro-vide, on request, substantive support for the initiatives and other activities of the Member States of the region for the implementation of measures for peace and disarmament and for the promotion of economic and social development,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General, and expressing its appreciation for the important assistance provided, upon request, by the Regional Centre to sev-eral countries in the region, including through capacity-building and technical assistance programmes, as well as outreach activities, to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, ammunition and explosives, for the development of plans to reduce and prevent armed violence from an arms control perspective, for promoting and supporting the implementation of rel-evant agreements and treaties and for capacity-building initiatives aimed at bolstering the efforts of the law enforce-ment community to combat the illicit trade in firearms,

Welcoming the support provided by the Regional Centre to Member States in the implementation of disarmament and non-proliferation instruments,

Emphasizing the need for the Regional Centre to de-velop and strengthen its activities and programmes in a comprehensive and balanced manner, in accordance with

all States of the region to continue to support the activities of the Regional Centre, including by continuing to take part in them, where possible, and by proposing items for inclusion in the programme of activities of the Centre, in order to contribute to the implementation of measures for peace and disarmament;

2. Expresses its gratitude to the Government of Nepal for its cooperation and financial support, which has enabled the Regional Centre to operate from Kathmandu;

3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General and the Office for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat for providing necessary support with a view to ensuring the smooth operation of the Regional Centre from Kathmandu and to enabling the Centre to function effectively;

4. Appeals to Member States, in particular those within the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions, the only resources of the Regional Centre, to strengthen its pro-gramme of activities and the implementation thereof;

5. Reaffirms its strong support for the role of the Re-gional Centre in the promotion of activities of the United Nations at the regional level to strengthen peace, stability and security among its Member States;

6. Underlines the importance of the Kathmandu pro-cess for the development of the practice of region-wide security and disarmament dialogues;


8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “Review and implementation of the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly”, the sub-item entitled “United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific”.

Latin America and the Caribbean

As requested by the General Assembly in resolu-tion 67/66 [YUN 2012, p. 543], the Secretary-General reported in July [A/68/134] on the activities of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarm-ament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (Lima, Peru) from July 2012 to June 2013. The Regional Centre supported Member States in im-plementing international and regional disarmament instruments through over 70 assistance initiatives to assist them in combating the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons, and to address the negative impact of such weapons on public safety and human security. The Centre trained more than 430 national security sector officials, including customs and judi-cial officers, on a wide range of small arms control matters. The Centre also supported public policy dia-logue on small arms control and legislative reforms in 13 States, resulting in the development of national policies, regulations and national action plans. The Centre provided legal expertise on the implementa-tion of the Convention on the Prohibition of the De-



Centre to continue to take into account the proposals to be submitted by the countries of the region for the implemen-tation of the mandate of the Centre in the areas of peace, disarmament and development and for the promotion of, inter alia, nuclear disarmament, the prevention, combating and eradication of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, ammunition and explosives, confidence-building measures, arms control and limitation, transparency, and the reduction and prevention of armed violence at the re-gional and subregional levels;

3. Expresses its appreciation for the political support pro-vided by Member States, as well as for the financial contribu-tions made by Member States, international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to strengthen the Regional Centre, its programme of activities and the implementation thereof, and encourages them to continue to make and to increase voluntary contributions;

4. Invites all States of the region to continue to take part in the activities of the Regional Centre, proposing items for inclusion in its programme of activities and making greater and better use of the potential of the Centre to meet the current challenges facing the international community with a view to fulfilling the aims of the Charter of the United Na-tions in the areas of peace, disarmament and development;

5. Recognizes that the Regional Centre has an impor-tant role in the promotion and development of regional and subregional initiatives agreed upon by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in the field of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and conven-tional arms, including small arms and light weapons, in the relationship between disarmament and development, in the promotion of the participation of women in this field and in strengthening voluntary confidence-building measures among the countries of the region;

6. Encourages the Regional Centre to further develop activities in all countries of the region in the important ar-eas of peace, disarmament and development and to provide, upon request and in accordance with its mandate, support to Member States of the region in the national implementation of relevant instruments, inter alia, the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and the Arms Trade Treaty;


8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-ninth session, under the item entitled “Review and im-plementation of the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly”, the sub-item enti-tled “United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarma-ment and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean”.

its mandate and in line with the requests for assistance by Member States,

Welcoming the ongoing support provided by the Regional Centre to Member States in the implementation of the Pro-gramme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,

Welcoming also the assistance provided by the Regional Centre to some States, upon request, in the management and securing of national weapons stockpiles and in the identifica-tion and destruction of surplus, obsolete or seized weapons and ammunition, as declared by competent national authori-ties,

Welcoming further the initiative of the Regional Centre to continue to conduct activities in line with efforts to promote the equitable representation of women in all decision-making processes with regard to matters related to disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control, as encouraged in resolutions 65/69 of 8 December 2010 and 67/48 of 3 December 2012,

Recalling the report of the Group of Governmental Ex-perts on the relationship between disarmament and develop-ment, referred to in General Assembly resolution 59/78 of 3 December 2004, which is of utmost interest with regard to the role that the Regional Centre plays in promoting the issue in the region in pursuit of its mandate to promote economic and social development related to peace and disarmament,

Noting that security, disarmament and development is-sues have always been recognized as significant topics in Latin America and the Caribbean, the first inhabited region in the world to be declared a nuclear-weapon-free zone,

Emphasizing the importance of maintaining the sup-port provided by the Regional Centre for strengthening the nuclear-weapon-free zone established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco), as well as its efforts in pro-moting peace and disarmament education,

Bearing in mind the important role of the Regional Cen-tre in promoting confidence-building measures, arms con-trol and limitation, disarmament and development at the regional level,

Bearing in mind also the importance of information, re-search, education and training for peace, disarmament and development in order to achieve understanding and coopera-tion among States,

1. Reiterates its strong support for the role of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and De-velopment in Latin America and the Caribbean in the pro-motion of activities of the United Nations at the regional and subregional levels to strengthen peace, disarmament, stability, security and development among its Member States;

2. Expresses its satisfaction at the activities carried out in the past year by the Regional Centre, and requests the