Maldives
In a statement marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on 26 September 2023, the Maldives said that it took pride in being a TPNW State party and urged all UN member States ‘who have not done so to ratify the Treaty and reaffirm their dedication to the principles outlined in the Treaty’.[1]
TPNW Status
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (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 | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Voted yes (2023) |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | Yes |
| 2MSP delegation size (% women) | 7 (57%) |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Did not vote* |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | Yes |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Voted yes |
| Other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) treaties | |
|---|---|
| Party to an NWFZ | No |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Ratified 1970) |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 2000) |
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Acceded 1993) |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 1994) |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards agreement | Yes (2 Oct 1977) |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | Yes (Modified) |
| Additional Protocol | No |
| Enrichment facilities/reprocessing plants | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
Latest developments
In the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2023, the Maldives said that it was pleased with the outcomes of the First Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW held in 2022 and ‘the strong commitment demonstrated by States during the meeting’.2 It participated in the Second Meeting of States Parties (2MSP) in November and December 2023 but did not make a statement.
The Maldives was one of the co-sponsors for the 2023 UN General Assembly resolution on the TPNW, which called upon ‘all States that have not yet done so to sign, ratify, accept, approve or accede to the Treaty at the earliest possible date’.3
Recommendations
-
The Maldives should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
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The Maldives should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.
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The Maldives should conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol with the IAEA.
* After the vote on the TPNW on 7 July 2017, the Maldives informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour (A/72/206, note 2)