Submission on United Nations General Assembly resolution 79/241
“Comprehensive study of the question of nuclear-weapon-free zones
in all its aspects”
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)
Executive Summary
Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZs) play a crucial role in reinforcing non-proliferation and
disarmament by ensuring the absence of nuclear weapons in designated regions. Beyond
prohibiting nuclear arms, NWFZs foster trust among regional states, enhance security, and
promote cooperation on peaceful nuclear technology, contributing to broader international
stability. Their integration with global non-proliferation frameworks strengthens compliance
with bans on nuclear weapons and testing. Additionally, NWFZs serve as instruments for
nuclear risk reduction, limiting the potential for regional arms races and encouraging
confidence-building measures.
Given the escalating geopolitical tensions and rising nuclear rhetoric, strengthening
established NWFZs, as well as pursuing the creation of new ones, has become increasingly
vital for preventing conflict spillovers, mitigating global security risks, and advancing
disarmament. Reinforcing existing NWFZs requires addressing several issues. One issue is
the incomplete ratification of protocols to NWFZs. While all five recognized NWS—China,
France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—have ratified certain NSA
protocols, others remain unratified or unsigned. Moreover, some include reservations or
interpretive statements that weaken their eectiveness. A second issue is that cooperation
between existing zones has been limited. Although the Conference of NWFZs and Mongolia
provides a potential platform for coordination, it has convened inconsistently, limiting
opportunities for structured engagement. A third issue is resource constraints, which aect
the ability of NWFZ secretariats to fully implement treaty obligations and opportunities.
Fourth, at this current juncture, global geopolitical tensions could further erode the
credibility and eectiveness of these zones, particularly in regions experiencing active
conflict or shifts in nuclear policies among major powers.
In terms of the creation of new zones, the Middle East continues to be a region of concern
regarding the possession and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
Research by UNIDIR and others illustrates that eorts to establish a WMD-Free Zone face
significant challenges, including: a lack of adherence to WMD-related treaties, violations of
existing non-proliferation commitments, diering views on objectives and sequencing of the
establishment of a Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone (ME WMDFZ), and
