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Pillar 1

Action 22

All States are encouraged to implement the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations (A/57/124) regarding the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education, in order to advance the goals of the Treaty in support of achieving a world without nuclear weapons.

China

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What has the NWS done so far (prior to the current Review Cycle 2022–2026)?

China has not publicly reported a dedicated Action 22 program explicitly framed around the implementation of the recommendations contained in A/57/124. However, it has undertaken related education, training and capacity-building activities in support of NPT objectives. These include training on nuclear safeguards, nuclear security, export controls and non-proliferation implementation, including cooperation with the IAEA and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. China has also supported expert exchanges and research on nuclear disarmament verification, and has provided nuclear science and technology education opportunities to students and professionals from developing countries through the China Atomic Energy Scholarship Program and IAEA-related training platforms.

Chinese universities, research institutes, and think tanks have long participated in and provided arms control education and capacity-building activities. For instance, between 2002 and 2010, Professor LI Bin at Tsinghua University used to organize arms control summer school for students and professionals in international relations.

What is the NWS doing on this action in the current Review Cycle 2022–2026?

China continued to report education- and training-related activities mainly under the headings of nuclear disarmament verification, safeguards, nuclear security, export control and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In its 2026 NPT national report, China stated that it encourages experts in nuclear disarmament verification to participate in international academic exchanges and cooperation, co-hosted training courses for Security Council resolution 1540 points of contact in the Asia-Pacific region, and continued to cooperate with the IAEA on nuclear safeguards, nuclear security and nuclear energy management training. China also hosted meetings of the P5 Expert Level Track and Young Professional Network during its 2024-2025 coordination of the P5 process.

Sources

Implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons–Report submitted by the People’s Republic of China, NPT/CONF.2015/32, 17 April 2015

Implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in the People’s Republic of China, NPT/CONF.2020/41, 28 January 2022

Implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in the People’s Republic of China, NPT/CONF.2026/33, 17 April 2026

White Paper: China’s Arms Control, Disarmament, and Nonproliferation in the New Era, State Council Information Office, November 27, 2025

Statement by the Chinese Delegation on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy at the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 NPT Review Conference, May 9, 2025

2024 The Atomic Energy Scholarship Program of China, Feb 23, 2024

Verbal consultation with Chinese interlocutors, April 2026

East Asia Nonproliferation Program – Tsinghua University Summer Symposium on Arms Control

France

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What has the NWS done so far (prior to the current Review Cycle 2022–2026)?

France has been supporting UNGA resolutions on youth participation in disarmament and supports the UNODA Young Fellowship Programme.

It has supported the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) through votes at the UNGA and financial contributions.

It expresses its support for research on disarmament at the national level (studies by think tank and academics), promoting the emergence of young researchers, and at the EU level, through the EU Consortium on Disarmament and Nonproliferation.

France launched the idea of the creation of a P5 Young Professional Network in 2021.

What is the NWS doing on this action in the current Review Cycle 2022–2026?

France has supported the P5 Young Professional Network, funding the participation of French experts to the meetings.

France has continued to support UNIDIR financially (354,000 euros in 2024), a contribution that was dedicated to the production of a study on how to revitalize the CD, the setting up of a portal on space security, the translation of research work into French and the launch a series of courses on disarmament in French for the French-speaking community.

France continues to express its support for research on disarmament at the national level (studies by think tank and academics) and EU level, through the EU Consortium on Disarmament and Non-proliferation.

Sources

Statement by France. Conference on disarmament – Statement by Ambassador Camille PETIT on education and research in disarmament (Geneva), 6 June 2024. https://cd-geneve.delegfrance.org/Conference-on-disarmament-Statement-by-Ambassador-Camille-PETIT-on-education

Russia

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What has the NWS done so far (prior to the current Review Cycle 2022–2026)?

Russia submitted a report on the implementation of A/57/124 in 2004 and signed a Joint Statement on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education in 2010. Russia consistently supported relevant UN GA resolutions on disarmament and non-proliferation education

In its national report to the 2015 NPT Review Conference Russia has reported that it fully complied with its obligations under Action 22 through the activities of its academic and non-governmental organizations

Russia has supported the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) through financial contributions.

Russia organized training and education for international specialists in the nuclear energy sector, and contributes to capacity building programmes with the IAEA and the CTBTO

What is the NWS doing on this action in the current Review Cycle 2022–2026?

Russia reported that it continues to actively participate in educational processes on disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including through academic and non-governmental organizations

Russia supported the activities of the P5 Young Professional Network as chair of the P5 Process in 2023-2024.

Russia supported the organisation of the Moscow Non-Proliferation Conference which included a youth segment in 2022, 2024 and in 2026

Russia continued to organize training and education for international specialists in the nuclear energy sector, and contribute to capacity building programmes with the IAEA and the CTBTO

Russia continued to support the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) through financial contributions

Sources

National report of the Russian Federation for the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (New York), 21 May 2015.

https://www.un.org/en/conf/npt/2015/pdf/NPT-CONF2015-48_National%20report%20of%20the%20Russian%20Fed_E.pdf

National report of the Russian Federation, 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (New York), 19 March 2021.

https://docs.un.org/en/NPT/CONF.2020/17/Rev.1

National report of the Russian Federation, 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (New York), 2 March 2026.

https://docs.un.org/en/NPT/CONF.2026/14

United Kingdom

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What has the NWS done so far (prior to the current Review Cycle 2022–2026)?

The UK stated that it actively supports education, training and research on disarmament and non-proliferation through engagement with non-governmental organisations, academics and students, and through digital outreach. The UK co-sponsored the UN General Assembly Resolution on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education consistently over the past review cycle.

What is the NWS doing on this action in the current Review Cycle 2022–2026?

The UK reports that it has funded 45 nuclear non-proliferation related projects since 2021 through the Counter Proliferation Programme that funds projects to strengthen political will or technical capacity to tackle the threat of weapons proliferation, including through engagement with NGOs, academics and research institutions. The UK Safeguards Support Programme also supports education through training and the provision of expertise to IAEA inspectors and analysts. The programme funds projects that strengthen political will or technical capacity to tackle the threat of weapons proliferation, including through engagement with NGOs, academics and research institutions.

The UK also states that it has supported increased public understanding on nuclear issues, including through investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

The UK stated in 2024 that it is “actively engaged in and funding a range of research and public education projects on nuclear issues including disarmament, non-proliferation and strategic stability”. It lists Ministry of Defence sponsorship of the UK Project on Nuclear Issues (UKPONI) run by the Royal United Services Institute and “transparency with the general public”.

However, no official UK government document retrieved identifies a national disarmament and non-proliferation education strategy as being in place or under development.

Sources

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (2021). UK national report pursuant to Actions 5, 20 and 21 of the NPT Review Conference 2010, for the 10th NPT Review Conference. 1 November. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/treaty-on-the-non-proliferation-of-nuclear-weapons-uk-national-report-for-the-10th-review-conference

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (2026). National report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland pursuant to actions 5, 20 and 21 of the action plan of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons for the eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty. <https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69df600a53469bbcdf408e8b/UK-National-Report-11th-Treaty-on-the-Non-Proliferation-of-Nuclear-Weapons-NPT-Review-Conference.pdf>

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2021). National report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland pursuant to actions 5, 20 and 21 of the action plan of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons for the tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty.

UK Mission Geneva (2024). Conference on Disarmament Statement by the United Kingdom H.E. Mr Aidan Liddle, Permanent Representative Geneva, 6 June. https://docs-library.unoda.org/Conference_on_Disarmament_-_(2024)/2024_UK_disarmament_education_statement.pdf

United States

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What has the NWS done so far (prior to the current Review Cycle 2022–2026)?

The United States did not formally submit any data to the Secretary-General’s annual A/57/124 implementation reports until 2024; however, prior to the current Review Cycle it supported several initiates relating to disarmament and non-proliferation education, including next-generation education.

For example, since the introduction of UNODA’s Disarmament Fellowship in 1978, numerous U.S. Government leaders/experts have addressed and supported the Fellows, and fourteen American representatives participated in the program as Fellows. In addition, the US-led International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) includes several resources related to disarmament education.

What is the NWS doing on this action in the current Review Cycle 2022–2026?

In its submission to the A/57/124 implementation report for the 2022-2024 period, the United States reported the following efforts in support of increasing access to disarmament and non-proliferation education:

  • Supporting global education and professional development through the United States-Black Sea Nonproliferation Professionals Exchange, the Center for Nonproliferation Studies Visiting Fellows, the Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network, the P5 Young Professionals’ Network and networks in other regions.
  • Promoting the participation of underrepresented groups, including women, in non-proliferation and disarmament education efforts.
  • Hosting the Timbie Forum to engage representatives from universities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations and the Government on pressing challenges facing the disarmament and non-proliferation architectures.
  • Co-sponsoring multiple United Nations resolutions that promote disarmament and non-proliferation education, fellowships and training, and awareness-raising.
  • Supporting efforts to increase transparency, information-sharing and accountability as part of the Non-Proliferation Treaty review process, including by holding interactive discussions of national reports.
  • Conducting extensive outreach to NGOs, universities and other public institutions, participating in dozens of public events each year to support education and awareness-raising, and promoting nuclear disarmament verification research by non-Government and Government experts.
  • Engaging and providing mentorship to interns, university and graduate students, and early-career NGO experts.
  • Participating in and supporting the United Nations Disarmament Fellowship, Training and Advisory Services Programme of the Office for Disarmament Affairs.

Sources

United Nations General Assembly. ‘Disarmament and non-proliferation education: Report of the Secretary-General’. 2 July 2024. https://docs.un.org/en/A/79/114.

United States of America. ‘U.S. Views on Promoting Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education’. Reply received from the United States pursuant to resolution 77/52. 12 June 2024. https://docs-library.unoda.org/General_Assembly_First_Committee_-Seventy-Ninth_session_(2024)/77-52-US-EN.pdf.

International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification. https://www.ipndv.org/