On 20 June 2022 a Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons was held in Vienna, Austria, followed by a three-day Meeting of States Parties who have signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

The conference (HINW22Vienna)

This brought together state representatives, international organisations, the scientific community, survivors and civil society to discuss and explore established and new research on the humanitarian consequences and risks of nuclear weapons.

Building on the Conferences on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons in Oslo (March 2013), Nayarit (February 2014) and Vienna (December 2014), HINW22Vienna provided an overview of their findings and discussions, and provided additional insight and new research conducted since.

The aim was to further advance the common factual and scientific foundation for the global discussion on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

See here for more information about the Conference from the Federal Ministry of the Republic of Austria.

The Meeting of States Parties

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) entered into force on 22 January 2021 and Article 8, paragraph 2, of the Treaty specifies that “the first meeting of States Parties shall be convened by the Secretary- General of the United Nations within one year of the entry into force of this Treaty.”

Originally scheduled to be held in January 2022, States Parties subsequently decided to hold the Meeting from 21 to 23 June 2022 at the Austria Center Vienna. On 4 April 2022, the Secretary-General of the United Nations circulated a note verbale convening the Meeting of States Parties and inviting States not party to the TPNW to attend the Meeting as observers (available in English, Français & Español).

Delegates and representatives of civil society are requested to review the information on information on participation and information for civil society, respectively. Please also keep an eye on this website, as updated information will be made available closer to the dates of the Meeting.

All members of delegations to the Meeting of States Parties, irrespective of whether they are already in possession of a grounds pass to the United Nations Office in Vienna, are reminded that a special conference pass is needed to allow entry to the Meeting of States Parties.

See here for more information from the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).