9 December 1982

Urgent need for a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty

The General Assembly,

Convinced of the urgent need for the negotiation of a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty capable of attracting the widest possible international support and adherence,

Reaffirming its conviction that an end to nuclear-weapon testing by all States in all environments would be a major step towards ending the qualitative improvement, development and proliferation of nuclear weapons, a means of relieving the deep apprehension concerning the harmful consequences of radio-active contamination for the health of present and future generations and a measure of the utmost importance in bringing the nuclear arms race to an end,

Recalling that the parties to the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water undertook not to carry out any nuclear-weapon-test explosion, or any other nuclear explosion, in the environments covered by that Treaty, and that in that Treaty and in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons the parties expressed their determination to continue negotiations to achieve the discontinuance of all test explosions of nuclear weapons for all time,

Recalling also its previous resolutions on this subject,

Recognizing the indispensable role of the Committee on Disarmament in the negotiation of a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty,

Taking into account that part of the report of the Committee on Disarmament concerning consideration of the item entitled "Nuclear test ban" during its session in 1982,

Convinced that the Committee on Disarmament should commence negotiations on such a treaty at the earliest possible date,

Recognizing the importance to such a treaty of the work assigned by the Committee on Disarmament to the Ad Hoc Group of Scientific Experts to Consider International Co-operative Measures to Detect and Identify Seismic Events on a global network of stations for the exchange of seismological data,

Stressing the importance of further efforts by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America to facilitate the conclusion of such a treaty,

1. Reiterates its grave concern that, despite the express wishes of the overwhelming majority of Member States, nuclear-weapon testing continues unabated;

2. Reaffirms its conviction that a treaty to achieve the prohibition of all nuclear-test explosions by all States for all time is a matter of the greatest urgency and highest priority;

3. Expresses the conviction that such a treaty would constitute a vital element for the success of efforts to halt and reverse the nuclear-arms race and the qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons, and to prevent the expansion of existing nuclear arsenals and the spread of nuclear weapons to additional countries;

4. Notes that the Committee on Disarmament, in the exercise of its responsibilities as the multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, established on 21 April 1982 an Ad Hoc Working Group under item 1 of its agenda, entitled "Nuclear test ban", and, considering that discussion of specific issues in the first instance might facilitate progress towards negotiation of a nuclear test ban, requested the Ad Hoc Working Group:

(a) To discuss and define, through substantive examination, issues relating to verification and compliance, with a view to making further progress towards a nuclear test ban;

(b) To take into account all existing proposals and future initiatives and report to the Committee on the progress of its work before the conclusion of the session of 1982;

5. Also notes that the Committee on Disarmament agreed that it would thereafter take a decision on subsequent courses of action with a view to fulfilling its responsibilities in this regard;

6. Further notes that the Ad Hoc Working Group has initiated consideration of the issues under its mandate;

7. Requests the Committee on Disarmament to continue the consideration of these issues and to take the necessary steps to initiate substantive negotiations in order that the draft of a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty may be submitted to the General Assembly at the earliest possible date;

8. Urges all members of the Committee on Disarmament, in particular the nuclear-weapon States, to co-operate with the Committee in fulfilling these tasks;

9. Also requests the Committee on Disarmament to determine, in the context of its negotiations on such a treaty, the institutional and administrative arrangements necessary for establishing, testing and operating an international seismic monitoring network and an effective verification system;

10. Calls upon the Committee on Disarmament to report on progress to the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session;

11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-eighth session an item entitled "Urgent need for a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty".