World · Africa · 5 hrs ago
Nuclear weapons ban treaty review conference set for New York
States that joined the nuclear weapons ban treaty will meet in New York from Nov.
30 to Dec.
4 for its first review conference.
The treaty, which entered into force in 2021, bars members from developing, testing, possessing or stationing nuclear weapons.
A South African diplomat chairing the meeting wants countries to reaffirm abolition as a shared norm and review how the treaty is being carried out.
So far, 75 states have joined, while 26 more have signed but not ratified it; Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Japan are not members.
The chair hopes Japan will attend as an observer, though it has skipped previous meetings, citing its reliance on the U.S. nuclear umbrella.
Members may discuss disarmament measures and a proposed fund for victims of nuclear use and testing, including environmental cleanup.
The meeting is another chance to discuss disarmament after a separate review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty failed in May to agree on a final document.
The first review conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is scheduled in New York from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4.
Conference president Xolisa Mabhongo said he hopes the meeting will affirm the norm of nuclear weapons abolition.
The treaty bans its members from developing, testing, possessing or stationing nuclear weapons.
Seventy-five states have ratified or acceded to the treaty, while 26 other signatories have yet to become parties.
None of the five original nuclear weapons states or Japan is a party to the treaty.
- Who
- Treaty member states will attend, and South African diplomat Xolisa Mabhongo will chair the conference.
- What
- The treaty’s first review conference will assess implementation and may consider further measures on disarmament and eliminating nuclear weapons programs.
- When
- Nov. 30 to Dec. 4. The article was published Oct. 20, 2026.
- Where
- New York.
- Why
- To review the treaty’s implementation and discuss nuclear disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted and opened for signature.
The treaty entered into force.
The review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty failed to adopt a final outcome document by consensus.
The treaty’s first review conference is scheduled to take place in New York.
- Treaty
- Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)
- Conference dates
- Nov. 30 to Dec. 4
- Location
- New York
- Ratified or acceded
- 75 states
- Other signatories
- 26 states have yet to become parties
- Conference president
- Xolisa Mabhongo
What people are saying
The TPNW is unique because it provides a legal basis for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
This is an opportunity, therefore, for the international community, for the states parties, to affirm this norm
very important
We are opening a door through the (meeting) for continued conversations between states parties to the TPNW, but also with member states of the U.N. that are not yet members