Switzerland
Switzerland voted in favour of adopting the TPNW at the UN Diplomatic Conference on 7 July 2017, but has not yet adhered to the Treaty. Switzerland maintains policies and practices that are compliant with all of the prohibitions in Article 1 of the TPNW, and can therefore sign and ratify the Treaty without making changes to existing practices or policies.
Latest developments and background
In June 2018, the Swiss Government published an interdepartmental working group (IDAG) report on the implications of accession to the TPNW. “At the current stage”, the report concluded, “the reasons against an accession of Switzerland outweigh the potential opportunities accompanying a signature and ratification of this treaty” (bit.ly/2nGIhQr). Both houses of the Swiss Parliament subsequently instructed the government to sign and ratify without delay (bit.ly/2kTeiqI). The Swiss Government plans to update the IDAG report and review its decision by the end of 2020, and contends that this fulfils the mandate given by Parliament (bit.ly/2ktmTQF). Parliament and NGOs disagree. Bern and Geneva have signed ICAN’s Cities Appeal.
Recommendations
- Switzerland should urgently sign and ratify the TPNW, and encourage other states to adhere to the Treaty.
| Signed |
|---|
| No |
| Adhered |
|---|
| No |
| Compliance with article 1(1) of the TPNW | ||
|---|---|---|
| Art 1(1)(a) | The prohibition on developing, producing, manufacturing, or otherwise acquiring | Compliant |
| The prohibition on testing | Compliant | |
| The prohibition on possessing or stockpiling | Compliant | |
| Art 1(1)(b) | The prohibition on transferring | Compliant |
| Art 1(1)(c) | The prohibition on receiving transfer or control | Compliant |
| Art 1(1)(d) | The prohibition on using | Compliant |
| The prohibition on threatening to use | Compliant | |
| Art 1(1)(e) | The prohibition on assisting prohibited activities | Compliant |
| The prohibition on encouraging or inducing prohibited activities | Compliant | |
| Art 1(1)(f) | The prohibition on encouraging or inducing prohibited activities | Compliant |
| Art 1(1)(g) | The prohibition on allowing stationing, installation, or deployment | Compliant |
| TPNW process | |
|---|---|
| Vote on mandate resolution (A/RES/71/258) | Abstained |
| Participated in treaty negotiations (% women) | Yes (14%) |
| Vote on adoption of treaty text | Voted yes |
| Vote on UNGA resolution 2018 | Abstained |
| Fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Highly enriched uranium stocks | No |
| Civilian plutonium stocks | |
| Fissile material production | No |
| Related treaties and mechanisms | |
|---|---|
| Party to the NPT | Yes |
| Party to a NWFZ | No |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Annex 2 state) |
| Party to the PTBT | Yes |
| Member of the CD | Yes |
| IAEA CSA in force | Yes |
| IAEA AP in force | Yes |
| Party to the CWC | Yes |
| Party to the BWC | Yes |