The Third Meeting of States Parties (TPNW-MSP3), held from 3–7 March 2025 at the United Nations in New York, focused on advancing nuclear disarmament. The conference brought together 55 States Parties, 31 Observer States, and numerous civil society organisations, including Pax Christi International, which continued to advocate for the total abolition of nuclear weapons. 

Key discussions included rejecting nuclear deterrence, expanding the definition of “victim” under the TPNW, and addressing the impacts of nuclear weapons production and testing. Youth involvement was significant, with strong energy for nuclear abolition. A key outcome was a declaration rejecting nuclear deterrence as a security strategy, emphasizing that nuclear weapons increase instability and the risk of conflict. 

The meeting also reaffirmed the importance of expanding the TPNW’s membership and focusing on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, particularly on children. The TPNW remains the first treaty to include victim assistance and environmental remediation obligations. 

Over 1,000 civil society participants joined Nuclear Ban Week, energising advocacy for nuclear disarmament. The TPNW is gaining momentum as the leading force for nuclear abolition, with growing support and examples from countries like Kazakhstan and South Africa decommissioning nuclear weapons. 

Looking ahead, efforts will continue on verification, victim assistance, environmental remediation, and universalising the treaty, as the 80th anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki remind the world of nuclear weapons’ devastating legacy. 

For further details, reports from the delegation members, Mary T. Yelenick, PCI International Representative at the United Nations in New York, and Naomi Zoka from Pax Christi Flanders, can be found below: