A Path to the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

A/RES/55/33[R]View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 73q Nuclear disarmament, published in 2001.

What other versions does this mandate have?

4 versions · 2001–2004

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/59/76

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2004	A/RES/59/76	A path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons	1,905	71%Compare
2003	A/RES/57/78	A path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons	1,669	—
2002	A/RES/56/24[N]	A path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons	—	—
2001	A/RES/55/33[R]	A path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons	—	–

What’s in this document?

26 operative paragraphs

A/RES/55/33 [R]

R

Reaffirms the importance of achieving the universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,3 and calls upon States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it as non-nuclear-weapon States without delay and without conditions;

Also reaffirms the importance for all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to fulfil their obligations under the Treaty;

Stresses the central importance of taking the following practical steps for the systematic and progressive efforts to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and paragraphs 3 and 4 (c) of the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty:9

The early signature and ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty10 by all States, especially by those States whose ratification is required for its entry into force, with a view to its early entry into force before 2003, as well as a moratorium on nuclear-weapon-test explosions or any other nuclear explosions pending its entry into force;

The immediate commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament and the conclusion as early as possible before 2005 of a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, in accordance with the report of the Special Coordinator of 199511 and the mandate contained therein, taking into consideration both nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation objectives and, pending its entry into force, a moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons;

The establishment of an appropriate subsidiary body of the Conference on Disarmament in the context of establishing a programme of work, with a mandate to deal with nuclear disarmament;

The inclusion of the principle of irreversibility to apply to nuclear disarmament, nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures;

The early entry into force and full implementation of the Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START II)5 and the conclusion of START III as soon as possible, while preserving and strengthening the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems of 26 May 1972 between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics2 as a cornerstone of strategic stability and as a basis for further reductions of strategic offensive weapons, in accordance with its provisions;

Steps by all nuclear-weapon States leading to nuclear disarmament in a way that promotes international stability, and based on the principle of undiminished security for all:

Further efforts by all nuclear-weapon States to continue to reduce their nuclear arsenals, unilaterally or through negotiation;

Increased transparency by the nuclear-weapon States with regard to their nuclear weapons capabilities and the implementation of agreements pursuant to article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and as voluntary confidence-building measures to support further progress in nuclear disarmament;

iii

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;

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

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

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

Recognizes that the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons will require further steps by the nuclear-weapon States, including:

The continuation of the nuclear disarmament process beyond START III;

Deeper reductions by all nuclear-weapon States, unilaterally or through negotiation, in nuclear weapons in the process of working towards their elimination;

Invites the nuclear-weapon States to keep the States Members of the United Nations duly informed of the progress or efforts made towards nuclear disarmament;

Welcomes the ongoing efforts in the dismantlement of nuclear weapons, notes the importance of the safe and effective management of the resultant fissile materials and calls for arrangements by all nuclear-weapon States to place, as soon as practicable, the fissile material designated by each of them as no longer required for military purposes under the International Atomic Energy Agency or other relevant international verification and arrangements for the disposition of such material for peaceful purposes in order to ensure that such material remains permanently outside military programmes;

Stresses the importance of further development of the verification capabilities, including International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, that will be required to provide assurance of compliance with nuclear disarmament agreements for the achievement and maintenance of a nuclear-weapon-free world;

Calls upon all States to redouble their efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, including their means of delivery, confirming and strengthening, if necessary, their policies not to transfer equipment, materials or technology that could contribute to the proliferation of those weapons;

Also calls upon all States to maintain the highest possible standards of security, safe custody, effective control and physical protection of all materials that could contribute to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;

Stresses the importance of the Model Protocol Additional to the Agreement(s) between State(s) and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards12 with a view to enhancing nuclear non-proliferation, and encourages all States which have not done so to conclude an additional protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency as soon as possible;

Welcomes the adoption by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency on 22 September 2000 of resolution GC(44)/RES/19, which contains elements of a plan of action to promote and facilitate the conclusion and entry into force of safeguards agreements and additional protocols, and calls for the early and full implementation of that resolution;

Encourages the constructive role played by civil society in promoting nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament.

A Path to the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What other versions does this mandate have?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

R

Table of contents