The Dutch government must actively work on the start of negotiations on an international treaty banning nuclear weapons. This motion is one of the outcomes of the parliamentary debate on PAX’ citizen’s proposal ‘Ban nuclear weapons in the Netherlands’ (April 28, 2016) and was adopted by a large majority on May 17, 2016.
Several motions were put forward by parliamentarians during the April debate, and four received majority support during the voting session. In addition to supporting the start of negotiations on an international treaty banning nuclear weapons, parliament also endorsed the proposal to disclose the secret treaties on the basis of which nuclear weapons were placed in the Netherlands. MPs also supported the request to use the unwanted modernization of nuclear weapons in Europe to boost global nuclear disarmament. Lastly, the House called on the Dutch government to cumulatively rejects its nuclear task in consultation with the United States.
High on the agenda
Krista van Velzen, nuclear disarmament campaigner at PAX is satisfied. “Due to the citizen’s initiative of the Dutch Red Cross, ASN Bank and PAX nuclear disarmament is high on the political agenda. Dutch politicians have a clear and urgent message for the Dutch Government: end the Dutch nuclear task and start negotiations for an international ban.”
Netherlands: advocate for immediate start negotiations
At last week’s meeting of the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on nuclear disarmament, an overwhelming majority of participating countries supported the call to start international negotiations for a treaty banning nuclear weapons. However, during this meeting the Netherlands did not show clear support for the start of negotiations. With the parliament calling for the negotiations for an international ban treaty, the government must adjust its story and should advocate the immediate start of these negotiations. Van Velzen: “The call of more than 45.000 Dutch citizens who signed our proposal to ban nuclear weapons is now reinforced by the parliament. Hence we need to ensure that the Dutch government will listen, and act.”