Presentation to SELECT committee on international relations and cooperation 14 November 2018 Ratification by South Africa of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) Secret Secret PURPOSE To submit for approval by Parliament
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Presentation Transcript
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Presentation to SELECT committee on international relations and cooperation 14 November 2018 Ratification by South Africa of the
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) Secret Secret<br>
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PURPOSE To submit for approval by Parliament the recommendation that South Africa ratifies the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). 2 Secret<br>
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SUMMARY UN Conference adopts Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) on 7 July 2017.
TPNW is culmination of the humanitarian initiative on nuclear weapons – strategic intervention given lack of progress on nuclear disarmament.
Among most significant developments in the area - ICAN awarded 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.
Treaty in line with South Africa’s disarmament policies, domestic legislation and international obligations.
President Zuma signed Treaty at High-Level Signing Event on 20 September 2017. 3 Secret<br>
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STRATEGIC FOCUS Outcome 11 of MTSF - create a better South Africa and contribute to a better and safer Africa in a better world
DIRCO Stratplan - commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international order - adequate attention to all global threats facing humanity
Nuclear weapons pose existential threat to humanity 4 Secret<br>
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DISARMAMENT POLICY Primary goal: reinforce and promote South Africa as a responsible producer, possessor and trader of military items and advanced technologies in the nuclear, biological and chemical fields
Promote benefits for international and regional peace and security - essential for sustainable socio-economic development, including realizing NDP.
Key objective: ensure that unwarranted restrictions are not imposed on right of States to peaceful application of materials/technologies needed for development. 5 Secret<br>
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PREAMBLE Focus on humanitarian impact and risk; disproportionate resources to maintenance and modernization; impact on socio-economic development, environment, global economy, food security, health; disproportionate impact on women, girls and indigenous people; principles and rules of International Humanitarian Law (IHL); UN Charter; 1st UN General Assembly resolution (1946); obligation to negotiate; right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy 6 Secret<br>
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PROHIBITIONS Prohibited to develop, test, produce, manufacture, acquire, possess, stockpile; transfer or receive transfer; use or threaten to use; assist, encourage or induce to engage in prohibited activity; seek or receive assistance to engage in prohibited activity; allow stationing or deployment of nuclear weapons on territory.
Prohibitions are consistent with treaties establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones (i.e. Pelindaba), and reinforce and complement the NPT and the CTBT. 7 Secret<br>
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DECLARATIONS, SAFEGUARDS & ELIMINATION Declarations establish Treaty baseline
Maintain safeguards obligations - if none, sign Comprehensive Safeguards (same as NPT)
Pathways for States stationing weapons, States that possessed but eliminated before joining, States that still possess
Irreversibly eliminate/remove nuclear weapons under plan/timeframe to be agreed with competent authority to be designated by Parties 8 Secret<br>
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INSTITUTIONAL Signed by 69 States and Ratified by 19 States
Treaty has unlimited duration; enter into force 90 days after deposit of 50th Instrument of Ratification
Meet biennially to review progress in implementation and universalization; Review Conferences every six years; no reservations allowed.
Withdrawal only if “extraordinary events” have jeopardised supreme interests of State. Withdrawal enters into force 12 months after notification, but only if State not involved in armed conflict. 9 Secret<br>
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Implementation Plan Cooperate with Africa Group, NAM and other likeminded States to promote Treaty
Engage with States opposed to Treaty to seek support/understanding of objectives 10 Secret<br>
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IMPLICATIONS Organisational/Personnel: DIRCO, Permanent Missions in New York, Geneva and Vienna
Financial: Costs limited to meetings
Communication: Media strategy for ratification
Constitutional: Consistent with national legislation and international obligations
Vulnerable groups: disproportionate impact on women, girls, indigenous people
Security: increasing risk of use – wide impact 11 Secret<br>
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RECOMMENDATIONS That Parliament approves the proposed ratification by South Africa of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
Thank you 12 Secret<br>
