(10th plenary meeting) Third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Colleagues, the tenth plenary meeting is called to order. The meeting will now consider sub-item B entitled Report of the Credentials Committee of agenda item seven entitled Credentials of Representatives to the Meeting. Thank you. I am pleased to give the floor to the Chair of the Credentials Committee, Mr. Kieran Doyle of Ireland, to introduce the report of the committee, which bears the symbol TPW-MSP-2025/10. Thank you.

Very much, President. On behalf of the Credentials Committee, I have the honour to introduce the report of the committee concerning the credentials of the representatives of States parties to the third meeting of States parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, contained in document TPNW/MSP/2025/10. Having considered the credentials of the representatives at its second meeting on 6 March 2025, the Credentials Committee adopted, without a vote, a draft resolution accepting the credentials. The committee also recommended to the plenary of the meeting the adoption of the draft resolution concerning credentials of representatives to the meeting, contained in paragraph 14 of the report of the committee. I would like to note that, since the meeting of the credentials committee yesterday, formal credentials were received by the Secretary-General of the meeting regarding Honduras and Lesotho. In addition, Information concerning the appointment of representatives of States parties to the meeting has been communicated by Congo and Paraguay. The meeting is therefore requested to adopt the draft resolution approving the report of the Credentials Committee and to accept the additional credentials submitted subsequent to the meeting of the Credentials Committee. Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the members of the committee and to the secretariat for facilitating our work. Thank you very much for your attention.

I thank the Chair of the Credentials Committee for his statement. May I take it that it is the wish of the meeting to adopt the draft resolution contained in paragraph 14 of the report of the Credentials Committee, TPNW/MSP/2025/10, and to accept the credentials submitted after the meeting of the committee? I see no objection.

It is so decided.

May I take it that it is the wish of the meeting to conclude its consideration of sub-item B of agenda item seven and of agenda item seven as a whole. I see no objection.

It is so decided.

The meeting will now consider sub-item A entitled election of the president of agenda item 13 entitled preparation for the review conference. On 5 January 2025, I circulated a letter to all state parties seeking nominations for the presidency of the first review conference of parties to the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. On 16 January, I received one nomination from the Republic of South Africa. South Africa has advised that it will designate an appropriate representative to fulfil this role and that this will be communicated to states accordingly. Given that I have only received one nomination, for the presidency of the review conference, may I take it that the meeting decides to dispense with the secret ballots for this election? I see no objection.

It is so decided.

We will now proceed to the election. May I take it that it is the wish of the meeting to approve South Africa as president of the review conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons On the understanding that South Africa will designate an appropriate representative to fulfill the role, I see no objection.

It is so decided.

We congratulate South Africa and wish the President all the best as he or she leads the preparation to the review conference. May I take it that it is the wish of the meeting to conclude its deliberation on sub-item A of agenda item 13? I see no objection.

It is so decided.

The meeting will now consider sub-item B entitled dates and venue of agenda item 13 entitled preparation for the review conference. As contained in the document draft decision on the third meeting of the state parties to the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons tpmw msp 2025 crp3 and consistent with article 8 paragraph 2 of the treaty it is proposed proposed that the review conference will be held within the week of 30th november to 4th of december 2026 at united nations headquarters in new york does any delegation wish to take the floor I see none. All right. The meeting has before it a proposal that the review conference to be held within the week of 30th November to 4th December 2026 at United Nations headquarters in New York. May I take it that it is the wish of the meeting to proceed accordingly? I see no objection.

It is so decided.

May I also take it that it is the wish of the meeting to defer consideration of all other organisational matters related to the third meeting of the States Parties to the intersessional period? I see no objection.

It is so decided.

May I take it that it is the wish of the meeting to conclude its consideration of sub item of agenda item 13 and of agenda item 13 as a whole? I see no objection.

It is so decided.

Dear colleagues, the meeting will now consider agenda item 14 entitled Other matters. Does any delegation wish to take the floor? I see none. May I take it that it is the wish of the meeting to conclude its consideration of agenda item 14? I see no objection.

It is so decided.

The meeting will now turn to agenda item 15 entitled consideration and adoption of the final documents of the meeting. Delegations have before them the following documents: Conference Room Paper TPNW

Thank you very much.

Dear colleagues, I would like now to open the floor for your comments. statements, recommendations, and I have South Africa wishing to take the floor. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Allow me to thank you for the exceptional leadership you have provided in the lead up to and during this third meeting of States Parties. You created an atmosphere of trust that enabled delegations to fully express themselves, resulting in vibrant discussions. We also thank you for your kind words. South Africa is indeed honoured to assume the presidency of the first review conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. South Africa acknowledges the efforts of yourself and the previous presidents, Mexico and Austria, to guide the implementation of the treaty from its earliest stages. The treaty has additionally had excellent support from member states parties, especially those who had taken up coordinating roles in the working groups, the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as invaluable voluntary support of scientific experts, all of which have culminated, which have cumulatively enabled us to progress a long way since the first meeting of States Parties, setting a strong foundation for our treaty. Mr. President, The inclusive nature of the TPNW is its key strength and cannot be overstated. The participation of civil society, national, regional and international organisations, and crucially victims and affected communities, once again demonstrates the dedication of a broad range of stakeholders in support of and in promotion of the goals of the TPNW. We are optimistic of obtaining this continued engagement and support, especially by civil society, notably through the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, and as we all know them, ICAN. Accordingly, South Africa looks forward to continued support and active involvement of all participants to ensure we maintain the unrelenting momentum that has characterized the TPNW in our march towards a world free of nuclear weapons. As decided a short while ago, the first review conference will be held from 30 November till 4 December 2026. The next almost two years will be demanding in our efforts to review and recommit to the TPNW. Nevertheless, you can rest assured that South Africa will spare no effort to ensure that our first review conference progresses in an inclusive manner and towards a successful outcome. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of South Africa for his statement. Now I give the floor to the representative of the Republic of the Congo, to be followed by ICANN.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for giving us the floor once again at this important meeting. On behalf of my country, I would once again like to commend the leadership with which you have conducted these historic meetings. I applaud the serious nature in which this meeting was prepared for and organised. Of course, this meeting is devoted to the third meeting of states parties of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. I congratulate the Republic of South Africa on being elected President of the Review Conference, and we wish them every success in this important role for international peace and security. I also applaud the concerted efforts by the Austrian delegation that responded favourably to the aspirations of building a society free of nuclear weapons. However, beyond all of the excellent literature that expresses and reveals the intrinsic nature of all of the delegations that took the floor, I would like to draw everyone's attention to the need for us to connect with theory, or rather disconnect from theory. and to get down to building a world free of nuclear weapons. An African proverb says as follows if someone protects the serpent, the snake, to the detriment of the family that is taking up pieces of this, who is then going to be bitten by that serpent? Because it is the nature of the serpent to bite. And here, the snake, the serpent is nuclear weapons. And the victim of the snake is human beings. Human beings continue to be the victim of that snake, of that serpent, and that serpent of nuclear weapons is fed off those who, whether they are users or not, let us rid ourselves and do away with nuclear weapons. Thank you.

I thank you and I give the floor to ICANN to be followed by the Philippines.

Thank you. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, at the outset, let me congratulate and thank Kazakhstan for guiding this important meeting to a successful conclusion and extend my best wishes on behalf of ICANN to South Africa as it takes up the mantle for the first review conference. Today, the world stands at a crossroads. Either we continue down the path of increasing confrontation, militarisation and proliferation, which is a one-way downward spiral to annihilation, or we choose the path of dialogue, diplomacy and disarmament, and thereby create a future that respects the earth and each other. The TPNW is the path that most of the world is choosing to be on. As American author Robert Lee Fulghum said, "Peace is not something you wish for, it is something you make, something you are, something you do, and something you give away." Today, TPNW States Parties have taken important decisions and adopted a powerful declaration to move us to the next phase in the treaty's implementation. This forum which is more important than ever given current global challenges and uncertainties, allows the nuclear weapon free majority to speak with one voice in denouncing actions that threaten our very survival as a species. Through your declaration, you have rejected unequivocally the continued expansion of nuclear arsenals, dangerous nuclear rhetoric, which we are hearing every day now, and the promotion of the flawed theory of nuclear deterrence. and you have made a clarion call for a nuclear weapon-free world. Distinguished delegates, more than 1,000 civil society representatives from 163 organizations have participated in this meeting. Of these organizations, 44 are engaging with the TPNW process for the first time. Throughout the week, we've held more than 60 events covering a wide range of topics, from the role of art in the anti-nuclear movement to divestment from the nuclear arms industry, to the impact of nuclear weapons on children. We've also had many events organised by and for people from communities around the world harmed by nuclear weapons. We've greatly valued the contributions of hibakusha from Japan and South Korea, as well as test survivors from Australia, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Maonui, the Marshall Islands, the United Kingdom and the United States. We've also warmly welcomed the participation of 22 parliamentarians from 13 countries, 12 of which have not yet joined the TPNW. They are working actively to bring their respective countries on board this indispensable treaty. Distinguished delegates, 80 years after the first nuclear detonation in New Mexico and 80 years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we are meeting at a moment of heightened nuclear dangers, with the aim of ridding our world of this ultimate menace. As the UN Secretary General has said, the elimination of nuclear weapons would be the greatest gift we could bestow on future generations. Thank you.

I thank the Executive Director of ICAN, Melissa Park, for her statement, for her support. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Philippines, to be followed by Djibouti.

Thank you, Mr. President. I extend my delegation's sincere appreciation to you, Mr. President, and to Kazakhstan's dedicated team and to the Secretariat for your tireless leadership and meticulous coordination throughout the year and this week, culminating in the successful conclusion of this third meeting of states parties to the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. We also extend our appreciation to the co-chairs, co-facilitators and focal points from the delegations for their unwavering commitment and hard work that have played a crucial role in shaping the discussions and outcomes of this meeting. Our sincere appreciation extends to all the delegations for their constructive engagement and collaborative spirit, which has resulted in a strong and balanced declaration alongside decisive and concrete actions outlined in the adopted decisions. With the renewal of the mandate of the informal working group on nuclear disarmament verification, the Philippines, in line with our longstanding commitment to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, stands ready to facilitate, together with Malaysia, meaningful dialogue, strategic collaboration, and innovative exchange of ideas within this working group and with the scientific advisory group, academia, civil societies, organizations, NGOs, and other stakeholders. We firmly believe that through inclusive multilateral cooperation and the sharing of expertise, we can make significant strides in advancing the objectives of the treaty and in strengthening global security and peace. This informal working group addresses the fundamental challenge of disarmament verification, cornerstone for building confidence and ensuring the credibility, transparency, and effectiveness of our collective journey toward a world free of nuclear weapons. Mr. President, we extend our sincere appreciation and acknowledge the vital role of the Scientific Advisory Group in enhancing the technical foundation for the implementation of the treaty. We recognize the critical importance of engaging a diverse ecosystem of stakeholders, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, as well as other observers, civil society organizations, the scientific community, academia, religious leaders, individuals, and survivors of nuclear weapons use and testing in this process. Our profound concern over the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons, along with our unequivocal rejection of efforts to normalize nuclear rhetoric or threats, reaffirms our steadfast commitment to a world free from nuclear dangers. Lastly, we congratulate South Africa for being elected as the president of the first review conference in 2026. To conclude, Mr. President, the Philippines remains resolute in our commitment to the TPNW and to realizing a world free of nuclear weapons. We pledge to actively support the implementation of the decisions adopted at this meeting, and to work in solidarity with all states parties and stakeholders to ensure the success of this vital mission for humanity's collective security and future generations. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank you. Now I give the floor to the distinguished President of Djibouti.

Thank you, Mr. President. As we reach the closing of this third Meeting of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. I'd first of all like to reiterate my delegation's congratulations to you and your team for the way in which you have conducted the work of this session. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all of those that have contributed to these enriching discussions. that will allow us to strengthen our discussions on the TPNW. I would like to congratulate South Africa on hosting the next TPNW review conference and we wish them every success. The closing of this important meeting coincides with International Women's Day, which was celebrated this morning at the United Nations, and we applaud that. The possession of nuclear weapons is not just a threat to humanity, it also increases and strengthens systemic inequalities that run contrary to the rights of women due to the impact of nuclear weapons on women's health, as was explained so well today in the report by Mexico. I would thus like to call upon nuclear weapons states to respect their commitments vis-a-vis the rights of women, to ensure a world free of nuclear weapons so as to ensure human security, but also to preserve the health of women and girls. We thank Mexico for its report, which is based on scientific research, which showed to us the vulnerability of the health of women and children. We are in favor of the involvement of women decision makers in discussions of the TPNW. We cannot ignore the growing dangers linked to rhetoric over nuclear deterrence and the idea that nuclear weapons guarantee security is a dangerous fallacy that increases the arms race and runs the risk of an irreversible catastrophe. We cannot normalize this because it undermines disarmament efforts and legitimizes the existence of weapons of mass destruction. It is essential that we promote collective security that is based on diplomacy, cooperation, and respect for international law. Together, let us continue to work for a world free of this threat, a world where peace and security prevails for future generations. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank you for your statement. I have no more requests for the floor. Dear colleagues, before we close, I see a representative of the ICRC. You have the floor, Veronique.

Mr. President, the ICRC would like to echo other speakers in thanking you, congratulating you on your exceptional leadership. The ICRC and the International Movement of Red Cross and Red Crescent is honored to have participated and contributed to the success of this third meeting of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Together, we must continue to make every possible effort to make progress in spite of the current international environment not in spite of it, rather, but because of it the introduction of nuclear weapons. is making armed conflicts much more dangerous and runs the risk of a global conflagration in which humanity would suffer irremediably. The only way to make sure that nuclear weapons are never used again is to prohibit them and to eliminate them, which we are contributing to doing. The growing membership of the treaty and the elaboration of a discourse on nuclear weapons in line with humanitarian and legal arguments upon which the treaty is based is an unshakable priority for the International Committee of the Red Cross. You can count on the tireless support of our institution in its determination to work for the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Thank you.

I thank you for your statement. Before we close the meeting, I just forgot to mention about those who have been helping me throughout the meeting, the vice presidents of this meeting, Austria, Cambodia and Kiribati. Thank you very much for your unwavering support. I see Kiribati asked for the floor. Christian, you have the floor.

Thank you, President. Kiribati would like to congratulate your team for ensuring an efficient and steady meeting of States Parties. We greatly appreciate our work with you, President, the co-chairs and facilitators, and members of the Coordination Committee. We look forward to South Africa's presidency of the Review Conference. As we move closer to the Review Conference, we must think about the survivors. and frontline communities. We must continue our work on the establishment of the International Trust Fund. As we leave this room and continue our work, let us commit to ensuring that TPNW remains more than just a legal instrument. It must be a living, responsive framework that actively uplifts the communities it seeks to protect. Thank you.

Thank you, Christian. So, dear colleagues, I think this is -- this was the final request for the floor. So this concludes the business of this meeting, and I declare closed the third meeting of state parties to the treaty on prohibition of nuclear weapons. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Thank you very much. we don't get to work together again. Yeah.