Holy See
The Holy See and Pope Francis have on multiple occasions expressed grave concern over the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental effects of the use of nuclear weapons, and comdemnded the possession of nuclear weapons.
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compliant |
| Test | Compliant | |
| Possess or stockpile | Compliant | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compliant |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Compliant |
| (d) | Use | Compliant |
| Threaten to use | Compliant | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compliant |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compliant |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compliant |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| 2021 UNGA resolution on TPNW | |
| 2020 UNGA resolution on TPNW | |
| 2019 UNGA resolution on TPNW | N/A |
| 2018 UNGA resolution on TPNW | N/A |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations | Yes |
| Share of women in TPNW negotiations | 22% |
| Vote on adoption of treaty text | Voted yes |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Voted yes |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards Agreement | Yes |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | Yes (Modified) |
| Additional Protocol | Yes |
| Fissile material production facilities | No |
| Highly enriched uranium stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks (mil/civ) | No/No |
| Related treaties and regimes | |
|---|---|
| Party to the BWC | Yes |
| Party to the CWC | Yes |
| Party to the PTBT | No |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes |
| Party to the NPT | Yes |
| Party to a NWFZ | No |
| Member of the CD | No (Observer) |
Latest developments
In the First Committee of the 2021 UN General Assembly, the Holy See welcomed the entry into force of the TPNW as a loud and clear reaffirmation of 'the illegality of these immoral weapons of war'. It added: 'The movement that led to the drafting of the Treaty is itself encouraging and surely represents the aspiration of millions of men and women everywhere for a world free of nuclear weapons. The large number of States that voted in 2017 to adopt the Treaty, as well as the growing number of States that have ratified it, is a positive indicator that one day nuclear weapons will at last be confined to the history books.'1
Also in the First Committe, the Holy See said that the TPNW 'has established a legal prohibition on nuclear weapon possession, and will in due course be a basis for the nuclear-weapon-possessing states to become parties upon eliminating their programs. [...] For now, the current parties to the Treaty can work to develop the procedures that will be necessary for the verification authority or authorities established by the Treaty reliably to assure that the relevant nuclear weapons programs have indeed been eliminated.'2
Recommendations
- The Holy See should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
- The Holy See should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.