Summary of the Model Nuclear Weapons Convention

(For a copy of the full convention see www.lcnp.org)

General Obligations Compliance and Enforcement

The model nuclear weapons convention (treaty) The treaty provides incentives for compliance prohibits development, testing, production, plus a series of graduated responses for non- stockpiling, transfer, use and threat of use of compliance beginning with consultation and nuclear weapons. States possessing nuclear clarification, negotiation, and, if required, weapons will be required to destroy their sanctions or recourse to the U.N. General arsenals in a series of phases over fifteen years. Assembly and Security Council. The treaty also prohibits the production of weapons usable fissile material and requires Individual responsibility delivery vehicles to be destroyed or converted to make them non-nuclear capable. The obligations will apply to individuals as well as States. Procedures for the apprehension and Agency fair trial of individuals accused of committing crimes under the treaty are provided for. An agency will be established to implement the treaty. It will be responsible for verification, Phases for elimination ensuring compliance, and decision making, and will comprise a Conference of States Parties, an The treaty outlines a series of five phases for the Executive Council and a Technical Secretariat. elimination of nuclear weapons. Steps in these phases include gradual reductions in stockpiles, Verification taking nuclear weapons off alert, removing weapons from deployment, removing nuclear Verification will include declarations and warheads from their delivery vehicles, disabling reports from States, routine inspections, the warheads, removing and disfiguring the challenge inspections, fixed on-site sensors, "pits" and placing the fissile material under satellite photography, radionuclide sampling and international control. In the initial phases the other remote sensors, information sharing with U.S. and Russia are required to make the other organizations, and citizen reporting deepest cuts in their nuclear arsenals. (societal verification). Whistleblower protection will be available to Financing citizens reporting suspected violations of the convention. The treaty obliges nuclear weapon states to The Agency will establish an international cover the costs of the elimination of their monitoring system to gather information, and nuclear arsenals, but establishes an international will make most of this information available fund to assist states which may have financial through a registry. Information which may difficulties in meeting their obligations. jeopardize commercial secrets or national security will be kept confidential. Nuclear Material & Nuclear Energy

Conflict Resolution The treaty prohibits the production of any fissionable or fusionable material which can be The treaty includes provisions for consultation, used to make a nuclear bomb, including cooperation and fact-finding to clarify and plutonium and highly enriched uranium. resolve questions of interpretation with respect Low enriched uranium is permitted for nuclear to compliance and other matters. A legal dispute energy, but the treaty includes an optional may be referred to the International Court of protocol which would establish a program of Justice by mutual consent of States Parties. The energy assistance for States Parties choosing not Agency may request an advisory opinion from to develop nuclear energy or to phase out the ICJ on a legal dispute. existing nuclear energy programs.