Issues and proposals for taking forward nuclear disarmament
Framwork Forum roundtable for invited governments
April 18, 2016
Hosted by the Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN, Geneva
Co-sponsored by Middle Powers Initiative and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Introduction
The last year presented a mixed picture for nuclear disarmament. The NPT RevCon did not produce a final outcome report and the Conference on Disarmament (CD) was unable to agree on a program of work. At the First Committee, a number of resolutions provided means of advancing disarmament, including a resolution to begin FMCT negotiations in the CD and a resolution establishing an Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) with a mandate to recommend measures to take forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations.
Prospects for progress on nuclear disarmament in 2016 seem equally difficult, although the CD has been debating several options for a program of work and the OEWG may produce broad recommendations for ways forward. This roundtable will provide an opportunity to reflect on some of the key issues being raised in the CD and the OEWG and consider the possibilities for progress on a range of measures, including recommendations for action by non-nuclear, allied and nuclear-armed States.
Program:
Session 1: Political and Security Challenges and Opportunities
Session 2: Possible Measures to take Forward Nuclear Disarmament
Session 3: Prospects for success