Forty-ninth session
Agenda item 63
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly,
Recalling its decision taken in 1982 at its twelfth special
session, the second special session devoted to disarmament, by
which the World Disarmament Campaign was launched, 1/
Bearing in mind its various resolutions on the subject,
including resolution 47/53 D of 9 December 1992 in which it decided,
inter alia, that the World Disarmament Campaign should be known
thereafter as the "United Nations Disarmament Information
Programme" and the World Disarmament Campaign Voluntary Trust
Fund as the "Voluntary Trust Fund for the United Nations
Disarmament Information Programme",
Having examined the reports of the Secretary-General of
9 September 1994 on the United Nations Disarmament Information
Programme, 2/ and of 2 September 1994 on the Advisory Board on
Disarmament Matters 3/ as it relates to the implementation of
the Disarmament Information Programme, as well as the Final Act
of the Twelfth United Nations Pledging Conference for the Programme,
4/ held on 28 October 1994,
Noting with appreciation the contributions that Member
States have already made to the Programme,
1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 9 September
1994 on the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme;
2/
2. Commends the Secretary-General for his efforts to make
effective use of the resources available to him in disseminating
as widely as possible information on arms limitation and disarmament
to elected officials, the media, non-governmental organizations,
educational communities and research institutes, and in carrying
out an active seminar and conference programme;
3. Notes with appreciation the contributions to the efforts
of the Programme by the United Nations information centres and
the regional centres for disarmament;
4. Recommends that the Programme should further focus its
efforts:
(a) To inform, to educate and to generate public understanding of the importance of and support for multilateral action, including action by the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament, in the field of arms limitation and disarmament, in a factual, balanced and objective manner;
(b) To facilitate unimpeded access to and an exchange of information on ideas between the public sector and public interest groups and organizations, and to provide an independent source of balanced and factual information that takes into account a range of views to help further an informed debate on arms limitation, disarmament and security;
(c) To organize meetings to facilitate exchanges of views and information between governmental and non-governmental sectors and between governmental and other experts in order to facilitate the search for common ground;
5. Invites all Member States to contribute to the Voluntary
Trust Fund for the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme;
6. Commends the Secretary-General for supporting the efforts
of universities, other academic institutions and non-governmental
organizations active in the educational field in widening the
worldwide availability of disarmament education, and invites him
to continue to support and cooperate, without cost to the regular
budget of the United Nations, with educational institutions and
non-governmental organizations engaged in such efforts;
7. Decides that at its fiftieth session there should be
a thirteenth United Nations Pledging Conference for the United
Nations Disarmament Information Programme, and expresses the hope
that on that occasion all those Member States that have not yet
announced any voluntary contributions will do so, bearing in mind
the objectives of the Third Disarmament Decade 5/ and the need
to ensure its success;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General
Assembly at its fifty-first session a report covering both the
implementation of the activities of the Programme by the United
Nations system during the previous two years and the activities
of the Programme contemplated by the system for the following
two years;
9. Also decides to include in the provisional agenda of
its fifty- first session the item entitled "United Nations
Disarmament Information Programme".
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on United
Nations disarmament fellowship, training and advisory services
programme, 6/
Recalling its decision, contained in paragraph 108 of the
Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,
7/ the first special session devoted to disarmament, to establish
a programme of fellowships on disarmament, as well as its decisions
contained in annex IV to the Concluding Document of the Twelfth
Special Session of the General Assembly, 8/ the second special
session devoted to disarmament, in which it decided, inter alia,
to continue the programme,
Noting with satisfaction that the programme has already
trained an appreciable number of public officials selected from
geographical regions represented in the United Nations system,
most of whom are now in positions of responsibility in the field
of disarmament affairs in their respective countries or Governments,
Recalling also its resolutions 37/100 G of 13 December
1982, 38/73 C of 15 December 1983, 39/63 B of 12 December 1984,
40/151 H of 16 December 1985, 41/60 H of 3 December 1986, 42/39
I of 30 November 1987, 43/76 F of 7 December 1988, 44/117 E of
15 December 1989, 45/59 A of 4 December 1990, 46/37 E of 6 December
1991, 47/53 A of 9 December 1992 and 48/76 C of 16 December 1993,
Noting also with satisfaction that the programme, as designed,
has enabled an increased number of public officials, particularly
from the developing countries, to acquire more expertise in the
sphere of disarmament,
Believing that the forms of assistance available to Member
States, particularly to developing countries, under the programme
will enhance the capabilities of their officials to follow ongoing
deliberations and negotiations on disarmament, both bilateral
and multilateral,
1. Reaffirms its decisions contained in annex IV to the
Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General
Assembly and the report of the Secretary-General 9/ approved by
resolution 33/71 E of 14 December 1978;
2. Expresses its appreciation to the Governments of Finland,
France, Germany, Japan and Sweden for inviting the 1994 fellows
to study selected activities in the field of disarmament, thereby
contributing to the fulfilment of the overall objectives of the
programme;
3. Notes with satisfaction that, within the framework of
the programme, the Centre for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat
organizes regional disarmament workshops for Africa, Asia and
the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean;
4. Commends the Secretary-General for the diligence with
which the programme has continued to be carried out;
5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue the implementation
of the Geneva-based programme within existing resources and to
report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-first session;
6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its
fiftieth session an item entitled "United Nations disarmament
fellowship, training and advisory services".
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Recalling the purposes and principles of the United Nations
and its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international
peace and security in accordance with the Charter of the United
Nations,
Bearing in mind the guidelines for general and complete
disarmament adopted at its tenth special session, the first special
session devoted to disarmament,
Recalling also its resolutions 43/78 H and 43/85 of 7 December
1988, 44/21 of 15 November 1989, 45/58 M of 4 December 1990, 46/37
B of 6 December 1991, 47/53 F of 15 December 1992 and 48/76 A
of 16 December 1993,
Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building
measures taken at the initiative and with the participation of
all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics
of each region, in that they can contribute to regional disarmament
and to international security, in accordance with the principles
of the Charter,
Convinced that the resources released by disarmament, including
regional disarmament, can be devoted to economic and social development
and to the protection of the environment for the benefit of all
peoples, in particular those of the developing countries,
Bearing in mind the establishment by the Secretary-General
on 28 May 1992 of the Standing Advisory Committee on Security
Questions in Central Africa, the purpose of which is to encourage
arms limitation, disarmament, non-proliferation and development
in the subregion,
1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on
regional confidence-building measures, 10/ which deals chiefly
with the meetings of the Standing Advisory Committee on Security
Questions in Central Africa, held at YaoundÇ in April and
September 1994;
2. Reaffirms its support for efforts aimed at promoting
confidence- building measures at the regional and subregional
levels in order to ease regional tensions and to further disarmament,
non-proliferation and the peaceful settlement of disputes in Central
Africa;
3. Also reaffirms its support for the programme of work
of the Standing Advisory Committee adopted at the organizational
meeting of the Committee held at YaoundÇ from 27 to 31
July 1992;
4. Takes note of the readiness of the States members of
the Economic Community of Central African States to reduce the
military forces, equipment and budgets in the subregion and to
continue reviewing the studies carried out on the subject with
a view to reaching agreements to that end;
5. Welcomes with satisfaction the initialling of the Non-Aggression
Pact between the States members of the Economic Community of Central
African States, which is likely to contribute to the prevention
of conflicts and to confidence-building in the subregion, and
encourages those States to sign the Pact as soon as possible;
6. Also welcomes with satisfaction the decision taken by
the States members of the Economic Community of Central African
States to participate in peace-keeping operations of the United
Nations and the Organization of African Unity and, to that end,
to establish units specializing in peace-keeping operations within
their respective armed forces;
7. Requests Member States and non-governmental organizations
to assist and to promote the training and preparation of units
specializing in peace operations in the member countries of the
Standing Advisory Committee;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide
assistance to the Central African States in implementing the programme
of work of the Standing Advisory Committee;
9. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the
General Assembly at its fiftieth session a report on the implementation
of the present resolution;
10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its
fiftieth session the item entitled "Regional confidence-building
measures".
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60
D of 3 December 1986, 42/39 J of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 D
of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace
and Disarmament in Africa, 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 K
of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 H of 7 December 1988 on the United
Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development
in Latin America and the Caribbean, 42/39 D of 30 November 1987
and 43/76 G of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional
Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia, and 44/117 F of 15 December
1989, 45/59 E of 4 December 1990 and 46/37 F of 9 December 1991
on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament
in Africa, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament
in Asia and the Pacific and the United Nations Regional Centre
for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the
Caribbean,
Reaffirming its resolutions 46/36 F of 6 December 1991
and 47/52 G of 9 December 1992 on regional disarmament, including
confidence-building measures,
Also recalling its resolution 48/76 E of 16 December 1993
on the regional centres,
Mindful of the provisions of Article 11, paragraph 1, of
the Charter of the United Nations stipulating that a function
of the General Assembly is to consider the general principles
of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security,
including the principles governing disarmament and arms limitation,
Bearing in mind that the changed international environment
has created new opportunities for the pursuit of disarmament,
as well as posed new challenges,
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the
activities of the regional centres, 11/
Convinced that the initiatives and activities mutually
agreed upon by Member States of the respective regions aimed at
fostering mutual confidence and security, as well as the implementation
and coordination of regional activities under the United Nations
Disarmament Information Programme, would encourage and facilitate
the development of effective measures of confidence- building,
arms limitation and disarmament in these regions,
Welcoming the programme of activities carried out by the
regional centres, which have contributed substantially to understanding
and cooperation among the States in each particular region and
have thereby strengthened the role assigned to each regional centre
in the areas of peace, disarmament and development,
Recognizing the need to provide the regional centres with
financial viability and stability so as to facilitate the effective
planning and implementation of their respective programmes of
activities,
Expressing its gratitude to the Member States and international
governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations
that have contributed to the trust funds of the three regional
centres,
1. Commends the activities being carried out by the regional
centres in identifying and broadening the understanding of pressing
disarmament and security issues and exploring optimum solutions
under given specific conditions prevailing in each region, in
accordance with their mandates;
2. Encourages the regional centres to continue intensifying
their efforts in promoting cooperation with subregional and regional
organizations and among the States in their respective regions
to facilitate the development of effective measures of confidence-building,
arms limitation and disarmament, with a view to strengthening
peace and security;
3. Also encourages further use of the potential of the
regional centres to maintain the increased interest in and momentum
for revitalization of the Organization to meet the challenges
of a new phase of international relations in order to fulfil the
purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations related
to peace, disarmament and development, taking into account the
guidelines and recommendations for regional approaches to disarmament
within the context of global security as adopted by the Disarmament
Commission at its 1993 substantive session; 12/
4. Appeals once again to Member States, as well as to international
governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations,
to make voluntary contributions in order to strengthen the programmes
of activities of the regional centres and their effective implementation;
5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide
all necessary support to the regional centres in carrying out
their programmes of activities;
6. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the
directors of the regional centres are locally based in order to
revitalize the activities of the centres;
7. Further requests the Secretary-General to report to
the General Assembly at its fiftieth session on the implementation
of resolution 46/37 F and of the present resolution;
8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its
fiftieth session the item entitled "United Nations Regional
Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, United Nations Regional
Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific and United
Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development
in Latin America and the Caribbean".
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Convinced that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most
serious threat to the survival of mankind,
Convinced also that a multilateral agreement prohibiting
the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would strengthen international
security and contribute to the climate for negotiations leading
to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons,
Welcoming the Treaty between the Russian Federation and
the United States of America on Further Reduction and Limitation
of Strategic Offensive Weapons, signed in Moscow on 3 January
1993, aimed at reducing the strategic arsenals to an aggregate
level not to exceed 3,500 deployed strategic warheads for each
side no later than the year 2003,
Conscious that the recent steps taken by the Russian Federation
and the United States of America towards a reduction of their
nuclear weapons and the improvement in the international climate
can contribute towards the goal of complete elimination of nuclear
weapons,
Recalling that, in paragraph 58 of the Final Document of
the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, 7/ it is stated
that all States should actively participate in efforts to bring
about conditions in international relations among States in which
a code of peaceful conduct of nations in international affairs
could be agreed upon and that would preclude the use or threat
of use of nuclear weapons,
Reaffirming that any use of nuclear weapons would be a
violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against
humanity, as declared in its resolutions 1653 (XVI) of 24 November
1961, 33/71 B of 14 December 1978, 34/83 G of 11 December 1979,
35/152 D of 12 December 1980 and 36/92 I of 9 December 1981,
Stressing that an international convention would be a step
towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons leading to
general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international
control,
Noting with regret that the Conference on Disarmament,
during its 1994 session, was unable to undertake negotiations
on this subject,
1. Reiterates its request to the Conference on Disarmament
to commence negotiations, as a matter of priority, in order to
reach agreement on an international convention prohibiting the
use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances,
taking as a possible basis the draft Convention on the Prohibition
of the Use of Nuclear Weapons annexed to the present resolution;
2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report to
the General Assembly on the results of those negotiations.
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The States Parties to this Convention,
Alarmed by the threat to the very survival of mankind posed
by the existence of nuclear weapons,
Convinced that any use of nuclear weapons constitutes a
violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against
humanity,
Convinced also that this Convention would be a step towards
the complete elimination of nuclear weapons leading to general
and complete disarmament under strict and effective international
control,
Determined to continue negotiations for the achievement
of this goal,
Have agreed as follows:
The States Parties to this Convention solemnly undertake not
to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons under any circumstances.
This Convention shall be of unlimited duration.
1. This Convention shall be open to all States for signature.
Any State that does not sign the Convention before its entry into
force in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article may accede
to it at any time.
2. This Convention shall be subject to ratification by signatory
States. Instruments of ratification or accession shall be deposited
with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
3. This Convention shall enter into force on the deposit of instruments
of ratification by twenty-five Governments, including the Governments
of the five nuclear-weapon States, in accordance with paragraph
2 of this article.
4. For States whose instruments of ratification or accession are
deposited after the entry into force of the Convention, it shall
enter into force on the date of the deposit of their instruments
of ratification or accession.
5. The depositary shall promptly inform all signatory and acceding
States of the date of each signature, the date of deposit of each
instrument of ratification or accession and the date of the entry
into force of this Convention, as well as of the receipt of other
notices.
6. This Convention shall be registered by the depositary in accordance
with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.
This Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French,
Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited
with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall send
duly certified copies thereof to the Government of the signatory
and acceding States.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto
by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention,
opened for signature at ______________ on the __________ day of
the ____________ one thousand nine hundred and ___________. .
__________
1/ See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special
Session, Plenary Meetings, 1st meeting, paras. 110 and 111.
2/ A/49/371.
3/ A/49/360.
4/ A/CONF.174/L.2.
5/ See resolution 45/62 A, annex.
6/ A/49/504.
7/ Resolution S-10/2.
8/ See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special
Session, Annexes, agenda items 9 to 13, document A/S-12/32.
9/ A/33/305.
10/ A/49/546.
11/ A/49/389.
12/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session,
Supplement No. 42 (A/48/42), annex II.