Introduction

he establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZs) contributes to controlling the spread of weapons of mass destruction and is an important step towards a nuclear-weapon-free world. To date, five treaties establishing NWFZs exist: the Treaty of Tlatelolco (Latin America and the Caribbean NWFZ), the Treaty of Rarotonga (South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone), the Treaty of Bangkok (Southeast Asia NWFZ), the Treaty of Pelindaba (African NWFZ), the Central Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (CANWFZ) Treaty. As the most recent development, the African NWFZ entered into force on July 15, 2009 thirteen years after it opened for signature. The newest treaty establishing the CANWFZ, was signed on September 8, 2006 by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan at Semipalatinsk, a former nuclear test site in Kazakhstan. The NWFZ formally entered into force on March 21, 2009. With the approval of the CANWFZ treaty by Kazakhstan’s upper house of parliament on December 11, 2008, and subsequent signature by the president on January 5, 2009, ratification of the treaty was completed. In addition to these NWFZ treaties, other agreements, including the Antarctic Treaty, the Outer Space Treaty, the Moon Agreement, and the Seabed Treaty denuclearize and demilitarize specific areas of the globe, as well as outer space. (Mongolia also declares itself, and is internationally recognized, as a single-state nuclear weapon-free zone.)

NWFZ protocol chart.

In this tutorial, you will learn: The definition and characteristics of a NWFZ The relationship between NWFZs and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) The process for establishing a NWFZ The history and current status of existing NWFZs The prospects and challenges for establishing future NWFZs The benefits of NWFZs and their role in nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament

This tutorial aims to help you understand the role of NWFZs in enhancing regional as well as international security, while strengthening nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament regimes. You will learn the roles of international organizations, regional organizations, national governments, and civil society in establishing and implementing NWFZs.

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents.
Copyright © 2009 by MIIS.