The Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) concluded successfully on March 7 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York with a strong political declaration rejecting nuclear weapons, challenging deterrence and adopting a series of decisions that strengthen the treaty process.
Here are some highlights from the meeting that took place in NYC from March 3-7, 2025, based on the daily notes shared:
86 countries participated in the work, including States Parties, signatories and observers. The meeting also counted on the active participation of a thousand representatives from 163 civil society organizations, including many voices from affected communities and nine international organizations.
In the context of the 3MSP, over 70 events were held at the United Nations and throughout New York City.
A political declaration and various decisions were adopted, linking nuclear disarmament to global security concerns and introducing the roadmap for dismantling nuclear deterrence;
Eighty years after the first use of the weapons and against a backdrop of growing instability and calls for nuclear proliferation in Asia and Europe, the States parties and signatories to the treaty are demonstrating their leadership in putting an end to the threats that nuclear weapons and nuclear deterrence represent for their security and that of everyone else.
In the declaration adopted at the end of the meeting, the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons agreed that the best way to advance global security with respect to nuclear weapons is to involve more countries in the treaty, which now includes 94 signatories and 73 States Parties. The States Parties agreed that
“nuclearweapons threaten the security, and ultimately the very existence, of all States, whether or not they possess nuclear weapons, subscribe to nuclear deterrence, or firmly oppose it.”
A report presented at the conference provided detailed recommendations on how TPAN states can challenge current doctrines on nuclear weapons and the ways in which they threaten their security, including at the United Nations Security Council, by involving the media and bilaterally with nuclear-armed states.
The statement also rejects nuclear deterrence as a threat to TPAN member states, challenging the growing reliance on deterrence by nuclear-armed states and other pro-nuclear weapon states that we are seeing in both Europe and Asia, stating:
“Nuclear deterrence is based on the very existence of nuclear risk, which threatens the survival of all.”
Communities affected by nuclear weapons, including indigenous peoples, were an integral part of the meeting with their demand for justice.
The 3MSP heard from Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nihon Hidankyo and from peoples affected by the effects of atomic detonations such as the Yankunytjatjara people of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea, the Maohi Nui of French Polynesia, the Maohi Nui of Kiribati and Fiji, and the Navajo.
In a series of events, including the fourth Nuclear Survivor Forum, representatives of the affected communities emphasized the urgent need to address the issues related to the damage caused by nuclear weapons tests in an inclusive manner. The declaration that emerged from the meeting committed the participants “to continue to engage, in an inclusive manner, with all States, international organizations, parliamentarians, civil society, scientists, financial institutions, young people, as well as communities and individuals affected by nuclear weapons, including indigenouspeoples”.
The States have agreed to continue working on the Vienna Action Plan on the 50 points adopted during the First Meeting of States Parties in 2022, in order to take stock of the progress made and prepare the next set of actions at the Review Conference, to outline an inclusive and determined path;
Given the current geopolitical tensions in Asia and Europe, the main aspect agreed upon concerns “nuclear deterrence” as it represents a significant security issue for the whole world.
The fourth meeting of States Parties to the treaty (4MSP) will take place from November 30 to December 4, 2026, in New York and will be chaired by South Africa.
For all those who would like to learn more about the brief daily summaries, and read all the speeches that were given, please follow this link.
