Security Council Topic #1:  Reaching Complete Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament

Opened for signature in 1968 and entered into force two years after, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) calls for the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons technology, nuclear disarmament, and for international cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Extended for an indefinite amount of time during the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference, the treaty’s 190 parties have reconvened every five years to assess past progress and to further ensure the Treaty’s success. Strengthening measures of the Safeguards system through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been implemented in order to help ensure states’ compliance with the terms of the Treaty and to prevent the further spread of nuclear materials for weapons use. During the 2010 Review Conference, the states present reached a consensual set of conclusions and recommendations for future action to pursue the goals of the NPT and to ensure the implementation of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East.

In spite of the Treaty’s success amongst the international community, issues of sovereignty have brought progress to a halt in certain regions. While measures have been taken to address courses of action in regards to withdrawal from the Treaty, general non-compliance, and states not party to the NPT, much concern remains. The non-compulsory nature of international law and the inherent contradictions within the Treaty itself have allowed states such as Iran to pursue a suspected nuclear weapons program in direct conflict with the terms of the NPT. Despite Security Council Resolutions passed in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010, the Iranian government has dismissed international accusations as baseless and has continued to pursue its nuclear program. What complicates all of this is that the NPT allows member states to pursue peaceful nuclear programs. Iran claims it is doing just this and not carrying out any type of nuclear weapons program.

In addition to nuclear development, obstacles to nuclear disarmament have kept certain states from actively disabling their nuclear stockpiles. Non-party states such as India have made clear their intentions to retain their arsenal until states party to the Treaty have fully disarmed, though many nuclear weapon states view ownership of nuclear weapons as the only assured deterrent. Pakistan for its part has said it needs nuclear weapons as a counterbalance to India, and Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the existence of its own nuclear arsenal. While gradual disarmament is still evident, many nuclear weapon states may eventually reach a stalemate. While international discussion and action on nuclear non-proliferation is far from a new topic, it is clear that more aggressive action must be taken in order to assure a completely nuclear-free world before the technology falls into the wrong hands.

Questions to be considered from your state’s point of view:

• What actions might be taken to ensure states’ compliance with previous resolutions and frameworks on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament?
• How can their Treaty compliance be ensured without infringing on state sovereignty?
• What actions might the Security Council take towards successfully reaching the goals of the NPT where other General Assembly measures have failed?
• How can the international community effectively approach those states not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?
• What safeguards might be taken to prevent further nuclear proliferation?
• Some analysts claim that the world is safer with more states having nuclear weapons because the costs are higher for going to war and no nuclear weapon state would want to risk nuclear extinction of its own people. Other analysts argue that more nuclear weapons increase the possibility of accidental nuclear war, more nuclear accidents, or theft. Which does your country believe?

Resources:

"2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)." www.un.org. United Nations. Web. 1 Aug. 2011. http://www.un.org/en/conf/npt/2010/

"Disarmament Issues." www.un.org. United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Web. 1 Aug. 2011. http://www.un.org/disarmament/issues.shtml

International Atomic Energy Agency - http://www.iaea.org

Ki-Moon, Ban. "The United Nations and Security in a Nuclear Weapons-Free World." WagingPeace.org. Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, 24 Oct. 2008. Web. 01 Aug. 2011.

http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2008/10/24_ban_un_nuclear.php

Nuclear Threat Initiative. http://www.nti.org/index.php

Sagan, Scott D. and Kenneth N. Waltz. The Spread of Nuclear Weapons:A Debate Renewed. W. W. Norton & Company, 2003.

The Nuclear Information Project - http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/npt/

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