The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday resumed negotiations on a legally binding global prohibition on nuclear weapons.
The body released at the end of May its first draft of the ban treaty, which details prohibitions on the use, production, transfer, and testing of such weapons. The second round of negotiations will continue until July 7, featuring read-throughs of each article in the draft and open floor discussion between participating states.
The U.N. General Assembly said the language negotiated Thursday were the paragraphs on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapon use, the need to achieve total nuclear disarmament, and the vulnerability of women and girls in these issues.
Roughly 40 nations boycotted the initial negotiations that began in March – including the nuclear-weapon states France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Still, the General Assembly produced a draft under which states parties would agree never to develop, produce, possess, or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices; transfer or receive such weapons; use them; conduct nuclear test explosions; and conduct related activities.
The conference will submit a report to the General Assembly’s 72nd session in September after it finishes negotiations.
Participants on the opening day of this week’s negotiations included Brazil, Austria, Mexico, Switzerland, Sweden, and Argentina.
