Over the past two weeks, the OEWG engaged in lively discussions that covered numerous proposals for nuclear disarmament. The discussions provided a useful knowledge base necessary for further evaluation of particular proposals. The catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, that have been highlighted throughout the sessions, reminded us of the reason why we sit here in this room trying to find a way to disarmament.
However we dare to say that the most valuable thing, that has been expressed by a majority of delegations attending this meeting, was the recognition of a simple fact – that if we ever want to make progress in disarmament, we have to bridge the gap between various proposals and define a new way, an approach, or a roadmap, that will be feasible for all.
We highly appreciate the openness of delegations in this regard and we would like to present a couple of concrete recommendations that could facilitate a systematic work of this group on proposals to take forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations.
RECOMMENDATION 1
is to define ELEMENTS OF A NUCLEAR-WEAPONS-FREE WORLD – a comprehensive list of technical, legal, institutional and political components of a framework or regime to achieve and maintain a world without nuclear weapons.
- A preliminary list of such elements – or building blocks – could be produced as a working paper, submitted by a country or a group of countries during the June meetings. The Model Nuclear Weapons Convention, circulated at the UN in 2007, could be used as a starting point for defining the elements. One of the June sessions could then be reserved for a discussion on this list of elements, aiming to make it as complete as possible.
- The list of elements would serve as a material for further discussions on a roadmap to disarmament that has been mentioned several times during last two weeks. Development of such a roadmap could be one of the recommendations of the OEWG to the General Assembly.
- Apart from that, the list of elements would be reviewed again in August, this time with an aim to determine which of the elements (building blocks) can be worked on now, prior to a start of any multilateral negotiations, and regardless of what approach to disarmament will eventually be taken. These elements could include for example technical and legal aspects, such as verification mechanisms or institutional aspects of a nuclear weapons free world. To have some elements developed when disarmament negotiations start, would contribute to the negotiation and implementation process. The list of these elements, and an encouragement for countries to invest human and financial resources into work on them, could be a part of the recommendations of the OEWG to the General Assembly.
RECOMMENDATION 2
is to identify OBSTACLES THAT STAND IN WAY OF ACTION ON DISARMAMENT, to determine whether they are valid, and if so, to look for solutions.
- There is a global general consensus on a vision of a world without nuclear weapons, but often we hear countries arguing that from one or another reason, a nuclear-weapons-free world is not possible at the moment. A list of such reasons, or obstacles, could be produced as a working paper and reviewed by the OEWG in August in order to determine which of the obstacles are valid, and which are rather excuses that can be easily disproved. A call on countries to look for solutions of the real obstacles could be a part of the recommendations of the OEWG to the General Assembly.
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Security concerns of states, in particular, are often mentioned as an obstacle to disarmament. In order to persuade nuclear weapons states to abandon nuclear doctrines, we need to define what role nuclear weapons play in security of these states, and look for solutions to replace these security concerns by other means. Role of nuclear weapons in security doctrines of nuclear armed states and states under extended deterrence could be examined in a working paper and discussed in an OEWG panel in June. ICNND report “Eliminating Nuclear Threats: A Practical Agenda for Global Policy Makers”, Pax Christi paper on “Exit Strategies; The case for redefining NATO consensus on U.S. Tactical Nuclear Weapons”, or the recent issue of Nuclear Abolition Forum on “Moving beyond Nuclear Deterrence Towards a Nuclear Weapons Free World” could be helpful resources. One of the recommendations of the OEWG to the General Assembly could call on countries to work on development of new security mechanisms, based on cooperative, non-military means, to replace nuclear weapons in those cases where nuclear weapons still play a role in security arrangements of countries.
RECOMMENDATION 3
is to engage more states in the OEWG.
- We encourage delegates to report back to their capitals in order to increase attention to the OEWG, and also to encourage their governments to attend the related process, the UN High Level Meeting in September, at the highest possible level. The OEWG and the High Level Meeting are mutually reinforcing processes. The OEWG can provide proposals for disarmament, while the High Level Meeting can provide the political will necessary to achieve them.
- The civil society will use the upcoming month to increase political attention for the OEWG, aiming to increase participation in OEWG meetings in June and August. For this purpose we developed two manuals, and we circulated the drafts at our lunchtime event on Tuesday. The first manual is called “TAKE ACTION: Engage your country in a new process for a nuclear weapons free world”. It is a guide for campaigners from around the world, it provides basic information about the OEWG, it gives them practical tips on how to call on their country to participate in the working group and how to contribute to its successful outcome. The other manual is aimed at governments, it explains in more details the background of the OEWG, and highlights the contribution that any country can make to this new process. Both manuals will be available on our website on Monday and we encourage you to use them in conversations with your colleagues from states that haven’t joined us here in the past two weeks.
Basel Peace Office and other civil society organisations are available to assist with preparation of the aforementioned working papers, to provide links to useful materials and to recommend experts who could contribute with their knowledge and analyses.
This paper was presented to the OEWG on May 24, 2013, on behalf of Basel Peace Office, after consultation with members of the Abolition 2000 Task Force on the OEWG