The Young Deep Cuts Commission is happy to continue its new Policy Brief Series. In “From NATO to NPT and Beyond: Diversifying Debates, Expanding Nuclear Mindsets”, Young Deep Cuts Commissioners Sara Bundtzen and Ekaterina Lapanovich give recommendations on how to center humanitarian and gender considerations in the debates about nuclear deterrence and disarmament at this year’s NPT Review Conference and beyond.
The authors argue that nuclear-weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states alike should envision an inclusive and open-minded discussion on the principal drivers of the Humanitarian Initiative, rather than focusing on the (in)compatibility between the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). They call on NATO allies to engage humanitarian and gender considerations.
Further, Bundtzen and Lapanovich argue that all nuclear-weapon states should pledge to respect international humanitarian law principles in their nuclear doctrines and operational planning. In addition, NPT States Parties and cross-regional groupings should advance the ongoing conversation on nuclear risk reduction measures and consider de-alerting as a sensible step pending nuclear disarmament.
The Young Deep Cuts Commission (YDCC) is a group of twelve young arms control experts from Germany, Russia, and the United States with diverse academic and professional backgrounds. The Young Commissioners develop fresh ideas to strengthen and revitalize nuclear arms control and disarmament. YDCC is part of the Deep Cuts project, an independent, nongovernmental initiative, which provides decision-makers as well as the interested public with concrete policy options based on realistic analysis.
The YDCC can be contacted via mail: ydcc@deepcuts.org
Learn more about the work of the YDCC and keep up with its latest activities on auf Twitter: @YoungDeepCuts