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The 1968 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is an essential cornerstone in the global pursuit of nuclear disarmament. It was designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to further the goal of nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament, and to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
A total of 189 states have joined the Treaty, including the five Nuclear-Weapon States (i.e. United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France and China).
Under the Treaty, each nuclear-weapon-state party (NWS) undertakes not to transfer nuclear weapons to any recipient or assist or encourage any non-nuclear-weapon state to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons. Similarly, each non-nuclear-weapon-state party (NNWS) undertakes not to receive the transfer of nuclear weapons or manufacture or otherwise acquire them. The illicit transfer of nuclear materials for the manufacture of nuclear weapons from one state to another and the activities of some nuclear weapons states to upgrade the quality of their nuclear weapons continue to pose serious threats to international peace and security
To further the goal of non-proliferation and as a confidence-building measure between states parties, the Treaty establishes a safeguards system under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Safeguards are used to verify compliance with the NPT through inspections conducted by the IAEA. The Treaty promotes cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear technology and equal access to this technology for all states parties, while safeguards prevent the diversion of fissile material for the development of weapons.
The NPT, which entered into force in 1970 and was extended indefinitely in 1995, requires under its Article VIII that review conferences be held every five years to assess the operation and implementation of the treaty.
The Review Conference is preceded by Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) meetings held in order to prepare for the Review Conference in terms of assessing the implementation of each article of the NPT and facilitating discussion among States with a view to making recommendations to the Review Conference.
Three Preparatory Committee meetings, open to all States parties to the Treaty, were conducted to address substantive and procedural issues related to the Treaty and the upcoming Review Conference in 2010.
The Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) held its first session from 30 April to 11 May 2007 at the Austria Centre Vienna. The Chairman of the first session was Ambassador Yukiya Amano of Japan.
The second session was held from 28 April-9 May 2008 in the UN Office in Geneva, chaired by Ambassador Volodymyr Yel'chenko of Ukraine.
The third session took place from 4-15 May 2009 at the UN Headquarters in New York, chaired by Ambassador Boniface G. Chidyausiku of Zimbabwe. It was at this third session that the 118-member Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) formally nominated Philippine Ambassador Libran Cabactulan as President of the 2010 NPT Review Conference. The meeting unanimously endorsed his nomination and he will be formally elected at the beginning of the 2010 Review Conference.
