A) Objectives of the pledge:
Belgium and Belgian Red Cross reiterate their deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons. It is therefore important to reduce the risks of the intentional or inadvertent use of nuclear weapons, in particular in view of the current international context.
Considering the States’ longstanding commitments on nuclear disarmament and risk reduction measures on the use of nuclear weapons, Belgium and Belgian Red Cross commit to jointly support effective efforts and steps to diminish the immediate risks of intentional or accidental nuclear detonations.
Belgium commits to seek for urgent implementation of risk reduction and confidence-building measures in the framework of the Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2020 and in other international and regional fora.
Belgium will continue to support effective measures to strengthen the three pillars of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear applications).
Belgium will continue its support for efforts to provide confidence in the irreversibility and verifiability of nuclear disarmament, notably through its participation in the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification.
According to its commitments within the Movement, Belgian Red Cross pledges to continue to promote adherence to and full implementation of relevant treaties on nuclear disarmament, including the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and to encourage the adoption of urgent steps to reduce the risk of intentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons, based on States’ existing international commitments. For that purpose, it will aim to raise awareness of the increasing risks of nuclear weapon detonations and to promote a better understanding of their humanitarian consequences among the population.
Additionally, Belgium and Belgian Red Cross pledge to continue their dialogue on all matters related to the issue of nuclear weapons, in order to further the shared objective of a world without nuclear weapons.
B) Action plan:
By 2023:
– Belgium and Belgian Red Cross commit to closely work together to increase the chances of a successful 2020 NPT Review Conference. They will share concrete ideas and suggestions especially on the adoption of effective and concerted measures to reduce the risk of an intentional or inadvertent use of nuclear weapons, in the line with existing commitments, including those provided in the 2010 NPT Action Plan.
– Belgium commits to advocate at the regional and international level, including in the context of NATO and the NPT Review Conference in 2020, for:
- efforts to allow for the transparent reduction of the role and significance of nuclear weapons in military and security plans, doctrines and policies
- the reduction of the operational readiness of nuclear systems
- the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
- the start of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty
- the implementation of measures to stop nuclear programmes of concern
- the promotion of the peaceful use of nuclear applications on the basis of the current standard for verification, namely the IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement coupled with the Additional Protocol.
– Belgian Red Cross will continue to develop communication and IHL dissemination activities to promote adherence to and full implementation of relevant treaties on nuclear disarmament and to raise awareness, among different target audiences, of the increasing risks of nuclear weapon detonations (intentional or unintended) and their humanitarian consequences, in accordance with the Movement Action Plan on the Non-use, Prohibition and Elimination of Nuclear Weapons 2018–2021 as adopted at the 2017 Council of Delegates (Resolution 4). Where possible, the Belgian authorities support or participate in such events.
– The Belgian authorities and Belgian Red Cross continue to exchange information and positions before and after international meetings on nuclear weapons, during bilateral meetings.
C) Indicators for measuring progress:
to be determined
D) Resource implications:
to be determined
