The Third Meeting of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) took place from 3 to 7 March 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The event was attended by 86 countries and over 1,000 civil society representatives. The Mayor of Hanover, Belit Onay, led the Mayors for Peace delegation and met with the Executive Director of ICAN, Melissa Parke, to further deepen cooperation between the two organizations. In addition, other Mayors for Peace member cities, including a Croatian delegation and members of the secretariat, also attended the meeting.

Mayors for Peace, in collaboration with several organizations, organized two major events highlighting the important role of cities in nuclear disarmament. The delegation also met with representatives from South Africa to explore the usefulness of the Mayors for Peace European Chapter in developing an African Chapter, as well as with European Union countries such as Ireland and Austria, which have shown a strong commitment to the TPNW.

Since its adoption in 2017, the TPNW has been a key instrument for a world free of nuclear weapons. The Third Meeting strengthened international commitment, with discussions on nuclear risks and educational and social events. The meeting concluded with a political declaration against nuclear weapons and nuclear deterrence. With further ratifications, the TPNW remains essential in the fight for nuclear disarmament.

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Third Meeting of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) 2025: A World Free of Nuclear Weapons as a Goal

From 3 to 7 March 2025, the Third Meeting of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, chaired by Ambassador Akan Rakhmetullin of Kazakhstan.

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), adopted in 2017 with broad international support, is the first global treaty to completely ban nuclear weapons and establish a framework for their permanent elimination. It also provides assistance to victims of testing and their effects. Since its entry into force, the measures taken demonstrate how the international community is moving towards the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons.

The First Meeting of the States Parties adopted the Vienna Programme of Action, an ambitious plan aimed at advancing the implementation of the treaty. This led to the creation of a structure that operates between sessions through thematic working groups, coordinated by co-chairs and facilitators. The Second Meeting of the States Parties agreed to address more effectively security concerns related to nuclear weapons and nuclear deterrence.

The Third Meeting of the States Parties opened on the 3rd of March at UN Headquarters in New York, with the participation of 86 countries and representatives of civil society organizations. This diplomatic meeting included four main areas of debate: a high-level segment, a discussion on the risks of nuclear conflict and its devastating humanitarian consequences, a general debate and a review of the functioning of the treaty.

The Parliamentary Conference highlighted the important role of legislators in advancing the objectives of the treaty and strengthening international efforts for nuclear disarmament. Parliamentarians from countries such as Japan, Norway, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, French Polynesia, Canada, Scotland and Austria rejected nuclear deterrence as a viable strategy. During the meeting, a report was presented detailing the States’ participation in a consultative process that questions the security paradigm based on nuclear deterrence, arguing that it increases risks and uncertainty. As an alternative to nuclear deterrence, States Parties advocated for the ratification and implementation of the TPNW.

In addition to the diplomatic meetings, numerous events were held for civil society and government delegations, addressing issues ranging from nuclear justice to art. For example, the Marshallese Education Initiative and the Permanent Mission of the Marshall Islands to the UN organized an event to commemorate the detonation of the largest nuclear weapon ever tested by the US over Bikini Atoll, with a panel on nuclear justice and testimonies from people affected by the test. There was also a travelling exhibition by the Artists Against the Bomb project, which brought iconic art to iconic locations such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park. Young people also played a prominent role in the youth forum, where they expressed their rejection of nuclear weapons and called for their abolition.

The Third Meeting of the States Parties to the TPNW concluded at the UN with a political declaration rejecting nuclear weapons and nuclear deterrence, adopting decisions that strengthen the Treaty. Nuclear deterrence was rejected, as it is considered a threat to global security. The States Parties reaffirmed that the best way to move towards global security without these weapons is to add more countries to the Treaty, which now has 73 States that have signed and ratified it, plus 25 that have only signed it. The States agreed to continue working on the Vienna Plan of Action and prepare for the 2026 Review Conference.