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nuclear-weapon-free zone (NWFZ) means a zone completely without nuclear weapons.
The role of NWFZs in strengthening the security of the states that
belong to such zones was recognized when the
Treaty
on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was drafted.
Article VII of the NPT
guarantees the right of states to establish specified zones free of nuclear
weapons.
Countries
participating in a NWFZ promise not to develop, manufacture, stockpile, acquire,
possess, or control any nuclear explosive device within the zone. In addition,
countries also promise not to offer assistance with the research, development,
manufacture, stockpiling, acquisition, or possession of such weapons within the
zone.
NWFZs contribute to strengthening nuclear disarmament and
nonproliferation regimes with the aim of total elimination of nuclear weapons.
The principles and guidelines for establishing NWFZs were articulated in
the
UN Disarmament Commission report of April 30, 1999, This report
built on many previous documents, including
UN General Assembly Resolution 3472
B
(December 11, 1975), which contains a definition of a NWFZ:
A
"nuclear-weapon-free zone" shall, as a general rule, be deemed to be
any zone, recognized as such by the
General Assembly of the United Nations,
which any group of States, in the free exercise of their sovereignty, has
established by virtue of a treaty or convention whereby:
- The statute of total absence of nuclear weapons to which the zone shall be
subject, including the procedure for the delimitation of the zone, is
defined;
- An international system of verification and control is established to
guarantee compliance with the obligations deriving from that
statute.
Within NWFZs, countries are allowed to use nuclear
energy exclusively for peaceful purposes under
International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) supervision.
Contracting parties to NWFZs provide reports to committees or commissions
defined by each NWFZ treaty, exchange information and apply IAEA safeguards for
verification purposes.
The Treaty of Rarotonga,
the Treaty of Bangkok
and
the Treaty of Pelindaba also prohibit dumping of
radioactive wastes and other radioactive materials in territorial waters.
In addition to the internationally recognized NWFZs, individual
countries have declared themselves nuclear-weapon-free. To date, Mongolia is
the only single country to have its
nuclear weapon free status recognized by the
United Nations. However, other countries are seeking nuclear-weapon-free
status. The New Zealand Parliament adopted
the New Zealand Nuclear Free
Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act of 1987. In 1967, Japanese
government announced the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles,"
which declared that Japan shall not possess, manufacture or allow nuclear weapons
in Japan. However, these principles have not been translated into any
national legislation, are not legally binding.
Some cities and towns in Japan, the United States, and Western
Europe have declared themselves "nuclear-free zones." However,
these local declarations are not considered legally binding NWFZs. These
declarations may have political significance, but they have no legal force or
international recognition.
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