Amendment of the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water, G.A. res. 47/46, 47 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 56, U.N. Doc. A/47/49 (1992).


The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 44/106 of 15 December 1989, 45/50 of 4 December 1990 and 46/28 of 6 December 1991,

Reiterating its conviction that a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty is the highest-priority measure for the cessation of the nuclear-arms race and for the achievement of the objective of nuclear disarmament,

Recalling the central role of the United Nations in the field of nuclear disarmament and in particular in the cessation of all nuclear-test explosions, as well as the persistent efforts of non-governmental organizations in the achievement of a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty,

Conscious of the growing environmental concerns throughout the world and of the past and potential negative effects of nuclear testing on the environment,

Recalling its resolution 1910 (XVIII) of 27 November 1963, in which it noted with approval the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water, signed on 5 August 1963, and requested the Conference of the Eighteen-Nation Committee on Disarmament to continue with a sense of urgency its negotiations to achieve the objectives set forth in the preamble to the Treaty,

Recalling also that more than one third of the parties to the Treaty requested the Depositary Governments to convene a conference to consider an amendment that would convert the Treaty into a comprehensive test-ban treaty,

Recalling further that a substantive session of the Amendment Conference of the States Parties to the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water was held in New York from 7 to 18 January 1991,

Reiterating its conviction that the Amendment Conference will facilitate the attainment of the objectives set forth in the Treaty and thus serve to strengthen it,

Noting with satisfaction the unilateral nuclear-test moratoria announced by several nuclear-weapon States,

Recalling its recommendation that arrangements be made to ensure that intensive efforts continue, under the auspices of the Amendment Conference, until a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty is achieved,

Recalling also the decision adopted by the Amendment Conference to the effect that, since further work needed to be undertaken on certain aspects of a comprehensive test-ban treaty, especially those with regard to verification of compliance and possible sanctions against non-compliance, the President of the Conference should conduct consultations with a view to achieving progress on those issues and to resuming the work of the Conference at an appropriate time,

Welcoming the ongoing consultations being conducted by the President of the Amendment Conference,

1. Notes the ongoing consultations being conducted by the President of the Amendment Conference of the States Parties to the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water and the special meeting of States parties of a brief duration to be held in New York in the second quarter of 1993 to review the developments on the issue of nuclear testing, with a view to examining the feasibility of resuming the work of the Amendment Conference later that year;

2. Calls upon all parties to the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water to participate in, and to contribute to the success of, the Amendment Conference for the achievement of a comprehensive nuclear-test ban at an early date, as an indispensable measure towards implementation of their undertakings in the preamble to the Treaty;

3. Urges all States, especially those nuclear-weapon States which have not yet done so, to adhere to the Treaty;

4. Recommends that arrangements should be made to ensure the fullest possible participation of non-governmental organizations in the Amendment Conference;

5. Reiterates its conviction that, pending the conclusion of a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty, the nuclear-weapon States should suspend all nuclear-test explosions through an agreed moratorium or unilateral moratoria;

6. Stresses once again the importance of ensuring adequate coordination among the various negotiating forums dealing with a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty;

7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-eighth session the item entitled "Amendment of the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water".

81st plenary meeting
9 December 1992


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