With resolution 79/33 of 11 December 2015, the UN General Assembly established the Open-Ended Working Group to Take Forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations, (OEWG), which was mandated to examine “concrete effective legal measures , legal provisions and norms” necessary to attain and maintain a world without nuclear weapons
The Group was also tasked to address recommendations on “other measures” that could contribute to advancing nuclear disarmament negotiations, that included transparency measures relating to the risks associated with nuclear weapons; measures to reduce the risks of “accidental, mistaken, unauthorized or intentional nuclear weapon detonations”; and measures to increase awareness and understanding of the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons.
The Group met in Geneva for three sessions for a total of 15 days between 22 February and 19 August 2016 under the Chairmanship of Ambassador Thani Thongphakdi of Thailand.
Main Statements
Second Session (2-13 May 2016): Opening Statement (Amb. Vinicio Mati, 2 May); Panel I, Risk Reduction Measures (Amb. Vinicio Mati, 2 May); Additional Awareness-Raising Measures (Amb. Vinicio Mati, 4 May); Legal Measures (Amb. Vinicio Mati, 9 May)
First Session (22-26 February 2016): Panel I, Legal Measures (Amb. Vinicio Mati, 23 February); Panel II, Transparency Measures (Amb. Vinicio Mati, 25 February)
Working Papers co-sponsored by Italy
“Imperatives for arms control and disarmament“, 10 May 2016 (A/AC.286/WP.38)
“A progressive approach to a world free of nuclear weapons: revisiting the building blocks paradigm“, 24 February 2016 (A/AC.286/WP.9)
Documents and Resources
General Assembly Resolution 70/33 (11 December 2015)