2017 Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

The Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) holds its first session from 2 to 12 May 2017 at the Vienna International Centre. This will be the first of three sessions that will be held prior to the 2020 Review Conference.

The Preparatory Committee is responsible for addressing substantive and procedural issues related to the NPT and the forthcoming Review Conference. The Chair-designate of the first session is Ambassador Henk Cor Van der Kwast of the Netherlands.

As decided by States Parties in 2000, the purpose of the first two Preparatory Committee sessions is to consider principles, objectives, and ways in order to promote the full implementation of the NPT, as well as its universality, and to make recommendations thereon to the Review Conference. To that end, each session should consider specific matters of substance relating to the implementation of the Treaty and Decisions 1 and 2 as well as the Resolution on the Middle East adopted in 1995, and the outcomes of subsequent Review Conferences, including developments affecting the operation and purpose of the Treaty.

The third session is specifically mandated to make every effort to produce a consensus report containing recommendations to the Review Conference, taking into account the deliberations and results of its previous sessions.

The NPT entered into force in 1970 and was extended indefinitely in 1995. The Treaty is considered as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and an essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. It was designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, to further the goals of nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament, and to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Participation of OPANAL Member States and the Secretary-General of the Agency

All the 33 Latin American and Caribbean States are Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and participate in the Review Cycle process active way.

OPANAL is also invited to participate in the NPT Review Cycle as an Observer International Organization. In that sense, the Secretariat of OPANAL submitted to the Preparatory Committee the "Declaration of the Member States of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) on the fiftieth anniversary of the conclusion of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)", which was circulated as document NPT/CONF.2020/PC.I/2.

Read the statements by OPANAL Member States and the Secretary-General of the Agency: