Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament (PNND)

A non-partisan forum for parliamentarians, nationally and internationally, to share resources and information, develop cooperative strategies and engage in nuclear disarmament issues, initiatives and arenas. 

The Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament was formed in March 2001 to engage parliamentarians and other legislators in the disarmament process. As citizen representatives to government, parliamentarians are a vital link between civil society and national leaders. The PNND open to any parliamentarian to join and is free of charge.

PNND recognises and affirms existing parliamentary activities and initiatives, and aims to cooperate with and complement these.

Why Parliamentarians?

"....The parliaments of the world are the bridges between government and civil society. They provide the funds to pay for national initiatives. Through their deliberations, they help to shape policy, and through their investigative and oversight powers they build public accountability. They provide a bulwark to ensure that governments comply with their international commitments and pledges -- a role that at times requires the enactment of domestic legislation. These functions are absolutely vital to the future of nuclear disarmament. They help to give disarmament not only vision, but also some backbone, muscle, and teeth."

UN Under-Secretary-General Jayantha Dhanapala, British House of Commons, July 3, 2000

Why worry about nuclear disarmament?

The Cold War ended a decade ago, yet there are still 30,000 nuclear weapons stockpiled, with over 5,000 deployed on hair trigger alert. Plans by the US to develop a ballistic missile defence are prompting China and Russia to enhance their nuclear capabilities. India and Pakistan are preparing to deploy nuclear weapons following tests in 1998. The increasing availability of fissile material, nuclear technology and missile technology is increasing the likelihood of nuclear threats from other states and non-state actors. However, a window of opportunity exists to move toward a comprehensive and verified ban on nuclear weapons. There is thus a need to build political will amongst governments.

What does the network provide?

• Information for parliamentarians on nuclear disarmament issues and on international events including United Nations disarmament meetings
• Samples of parliamentary resolutions, motions, questions and legislation from around the world
• Contacts with parliamentary colleagues in other countries with whom to share information and ideas
• A forum for developing joint strategy between parliaments on international initiatives such as implementation of the Non Proliferation Treaty disarmament obligations, NATO Review and United Nations resolutions
• Links with non-governmental experts

Key issues for the network

• A ban on all nuclear testing including entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
• De-alerting, stockpile reductions and fissile material control
• Nuclear doctrine
• Disarmament obligations arising from treaties and other international law
• Possibilities for a Nuclear Weapons Convention including consideration of the legal, technical and political requirements for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
• Militarisation of space
• Missile proliferation and anti-ballistic missile programs.

Engaging in international disarmament arenas

Parliamentarians can make an impact in international disarmament arenas through engaging in them in a number of ways:

• Getting appointed to regional and international Parliamentary Assemblies such as the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly
• Joining your government’s delegation to disarmament treaty negotiations and review conferences such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conferences and the Biological Weapons Treaty Protocol negotiations
• Attending international conferences as an observer

International disarmament arenas in which the network engages

• United Nations General Assembly
• Conference on Disarmament
• Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conferences
• NATO Parliamentary Assembly
• OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
• Nuclear Weapon Free Zone bodies
• European Parliament

For more information contact

Alyn Ware

Global Coordinator, Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament

PO Box 23-257, Cable Car Lane
Wellington, Aotearoa-New Zealand
Tel: +64 4 496 9629 Fax: +64 4 496-9599

alyn@pnnd.org

Karel Koster

European coordinator

Obrechtstraat 43 NL-3572 EC, Utrecht, the Netherlands

pH 31 30 271 4376 fax 30,271 4759

karel@amok.antenna.nl

Hiromichi Umebayashi

Japanese coordinator

3-3-1 Minowa-cho, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, 223-0051

Tel: 81-45-563-5101 Fax: 81-45-563-9907

CXJ15621@nifty.ne.jp

PNND is a project of the Middle Powers Initiative, an international coalition of non-governmental organisations with the aim to influence and assist middle power governments to encourage and educate the nuclear weapon states to commit to immediate practical steps to reduce nuclear dangers and commence negotiations to eliminate nuclear weapons.

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