MISCELLANEOUS GENERAL KNOWLEDGE―1

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION
 International organization (IOs) are special institutions that satisfy the following conditions:
 They have three or more countries as their member
 They are active in several countries
 There is a formal agreement between the members
 International Organisations can be established for any function that its members want. Some of the existing
organisations have the following functions:
 Data collection and monitoring trends
 Providing appropriate service and help
 Settling disputes
 International organisations foster cooperative behaviour in a sense that they provide different nations a
platform for coming together and working for some common objectives.
 Some international organisations also act as instruments of foreign policy i.e. the member nations use these
organisations for legitimatising or for raising support for their actions and for limiting or condemning the
actions or behaviours of the other countries.

UNITED NATIONS
About the United Nations (UN)
United Nations is an international organisation established in 1945. It is a unique international
organisation – with more than 193 member nations as of now – that works for dealing with a
number of challenges that human race face in the 21st century. Some of these challenges are
peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, human rights, disarmament,
terrorism, humanitarian and health emergencies, gender equality, governance etc.
Main Bodies
United Nations is made up of six main organs. These organs are:
Secretariat: The Secretariat, is the executive arm of the United Nations and one
of its main organs. The UN secretariat is made up of departments which have
distinct roles and responsibilities. These departments work together for carrying
out the day to day work of the organisation and for executing the decisions of
the UN. The UN Secretariat is headed by the Secretary General. The current
Secretary General of United Nations – António Guterres of Portugal – took over
the responsibilities on January 1, 2017. Antonio is the ninth Secretary General
of UN.
General Assembly: The General Assembly is the only organ of the United
Nation which has equal representation from all the 193 member nations. In
General Assembly each member state has one vote. General Assembly is the UN Secretary-General Mr
forum in which all the issues related to UN charter are discussed and in which Antonio Guterres (Portugal)
decisions of them are taken.
Security Council: The Security Council, is the organ of the United Nations which is concerned with the
establishment and maintenance of international peace and security. Security Council identifies threats to
international peace, asks the parties involved in disputes to settle them peacefully and takes actions if everything
else fails. The actions of the Security Council can include sanctions and use of force. All the member states of
United Nations are bound to comply with the decisions of the security council. This organ has 15 members and
each member has one vote. But this council also has five permanent members with veto rights. These members
are United States, Russia, France, China and United Kingdom.
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): The Economic and Social Council deals with
the sustainable development of the world by handling the three important areas of
economics, society and environment. This is the forum where debates and innovations
happen. This council is responsible for following up on major UN conferences and
Summits.
UN Trusteeship
Trusteeship Council: Trusteeship Council was one of the main organs of United Nations. This Council stopped
functioning on November 1, 1994 after fulfilling its mandate. This council was responsible for things related to
trust territories.
International Court of Justice: This the judicial arm of the United Nations. International
Court of Justice, was established in June 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations.
This Court is headquartered at Hague, Netherlands. Interestingly, this is the only principal
organ of the United States not located in New York, United States of America.
International Court of Justice has two main roles. First is settling legal disputes submitted
by the States and second is to give advisory opinion on legal questions sent to it by United
Nations Organs or Specialised Agencies. International Court
of Justice (ICJ)
UN Specialized Agencies
In addition to the specialised organs of United Nations, there are few autonomous organisations that work with
United Nations. The relation between these organs and the United Nations is established by negotiated
agreements. These agencies are classified into four groups:
• Agencies that were established before the First World War but nor associated with League of Nations
• Agencies that were related to the League of Nations
• Agencies that were created simultaneously with the United Nations
• Agencies that came into being after the establishment of United Nations
These Specialised Agencies exist as independent international organisations are their funding includes voluntary
funding and assessed contributions.
FAO: The Food and Agriculture Organization is the principle agency involved in fighting
hunger across the globe. This is the agency that acts as forum for bringing developing and
developed countries together for negotiations; and that acts as a repository for technical
knowledge and information related to fighting hunger.
ICAO: The International Civil Aviation Organization deals with sharing of global skies for the
socio economic development of the UN member states. It develops standards for global air transport and assists
the UN member states in aviation related matters when required.
IFAD: The International Fund for Agricultural Development was created in 1977 for
eliminating rural poverty. This agency is involved with rural population in the developing
countries with three objectives: eliminating poverty, hunger and malnutrition, for raising
productivity and incomes of rural population; and for improving the quality of life of rural
population.
ILO: The International Labor Organization was established for the sole purpose of promoting
labour rights globally. ILO achieves its purpose by formulating international labour standards.
IMF: The International Monetary Fund was established for boosting economic growth and
employment. IMF fulfil its purpose by providing temporary financial assistance to nations. As of
now IMF has outstanding loans of $165 billion to around 83 countries.
IMO: The International Maritime Organization was established for increasing maritime
cooperation among different nations. Since its inception, IMO has created shipping regulatory
framework for dealing with various concerns like safety, environment, legal, technical etc.
ITU: The International Telecommunication Union was established for dealing with all things
related to the information and communication technologies. ITU works for connecting people across
the world.
UNDP: The United Nations Development Programme mandate is to help nations in removing
poverty, increasing equality and building resilience so that they are able to sustain progress. UNDP is
involved in approximately 170 countries and plays an indispensable role in helping these nations
achieve Sustainable Development Goals.
UNEP (UN Environment): The United Nations Environment Programme was established in 1972
for raising environmental issues in the United Nation system. UNEP works for promoting wise use
of resources and environment along with the sustainable development of nations.
UNESCO: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization deals with
everything from training teachers to protecting historically and culturally important sites.
UNESCO added more than 28 new world heritage sites to its list last year alone.
UNFPA: The United Nations Population Fund deals with everything related to child birth. UNFPA’s envisions
a world in which every pregnancy is wanted, every child birth is safe and the potential of
every young person is achieved.
UN-Habitat: The United Nations Human Settlements Programme was established for
promoting socially and environmentally sustainable development of human settlements
and for ensuring that adequate housing is available for everyone.
UNICEF: The United Nations Children Fund was established for the purpose of saving the lives
of children, defending their rights and for ensuring their full potential is achieved. UNICEF is
currently involved in 190 countries of the world.
UNIDO: The United Nations Industrial Development Organization has a mandate for
encouraging industrial development. UNIDO also ensures that the development of industries
lead to poverty reduction, inclusive globalisation and environmental sustainability.
UNWTO: The World Tourism Organization works towards promoting responsible,
sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
UPU: The Universal Postal Union was established for encouraging cooperation among different players in the
global postal sector.
WFP: The World Food Programme is the largest humanitarian agency is the world. WFP works for eradicating
hunger and malnutrition. Currently WFP is providing nutrition to more than 80 million people in approximately
75 countries of the world.
WHO: The World Health Organization was established as an agency for
coordinating efforts related to international health within the United Nation
system. WHO works towards ensuring that all the people of the world are
able to achieve the highest possible health levels. WHO defines health as a
state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing.
WIPO: The World Intellectual Property Organization was established for protecting intellectual property rights
across the globe. WIPO achieves its objectives through 23 international treaties currently in place.
WMO: The World Meteorological Organization was established for promoting free
international exchange of meteorological data and for further increasing the use of this
information in aviation, shipping, security, agriculture etc.
World Bank Group: The World Bank works towards the objective of poverty reduction and
improvement of living standards. The objective of the World Bank is achieved by providing
low interest loans, interest free credit and grants to developing countries. Currently World
Bank is involved in more than 100 countries. World Bank is not one institute but rather a group of five
institutions that are together known as World Bank Group. These institutions are:
• International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)*
• International Development Association (IDA)
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)*
*International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and Multilateral
Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) are not specialized agencies in accordance with Articles 57 and 63 of the
Charter, but are part of the World Bank Group.
Other Entities and Bodies
UN Women: UN Women focuses exclusively on promoting gender equality and
women empowerment.

UNAIDS: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) was

established for achieving the triple goals of eliminating HIV infection; ensuring
zero discrimination of HIV/AIDS affected individuals and for ensuring zero
AIDS-related deaths in the world. For the purpose of achieving its goals UNAIDS
coordinates and helps the efforts of 11 United Nations organisations namely: UNHCR,
UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the
World Bank. One of the Sustainable Development Goal is to eradicate AIDS epidemic by 2030.
UNCTAD: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development deals with the development concerns in
general and international trade in particular.
UNHCR: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established for
protecting refugees across the globe and for facilitating their return home or their
resettlement depending on the circumstances.
UNIDIR: The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research deals with ideas and
actions for disarmament and security. UNIDIR receives its funding through voluntary
funding.

UNITAR: The United Nations Institute for Training and Research was established as an
autonomous UN agency in 1963. UNITAR is responsible for training within the United
Nations System.
UNOPS: The United Nations Office for Project Services was established for improving the
quality of life of individuals and for helping nations across the globe achieve peace and
sustainable development. UNOPS helps UN, governments and other partners to manage
projects.
UNRWA: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees was established for looking after the welfare and human
development of Palestine refugees. UNRWA deals with education, health care,
relief, microfinance, emergency assistant etc. UNRWA reports directly to the United
Nations General Assembly.
UNSSC: The United Nations System Staff College is the learning organization of the
United Nations system. UNSSC is responsible for designing and administrating learning
programs for staff of United Nations and its partners. UNSSC is mandated to make
United States more effective by fostering a common leadership and management culture.
Related Organizations

CTBTO: The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban

Treaty Organization was established for promoting the Comprehensive Nuclear-
Test-Ban Treaty (which has not yet come to force) and for creating a verification
regime for the time when Treaty will come into force.
IAEA: The International Atomic Energy Agency was established for encouraging cooperation in
the nuclear field. IAEA works with the member states and other partners for promoting safe, secure
and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.
IOM: The International Organization for Migration was established with three main
objectives:
• Promoting international cooperation on issues related to migration
• Assisting in the search for solutions to migration problems
• Providing humanitarian assistance to the need of migrants
OPCW: The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was established for
implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). OPCW Member States work together
to achieve a world free of chemical weapons.

UNFCCC: The UNFCCC Secretariat (UN Climate Change) was established in

1992 for implementing and overseeing the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Later on, with the
adoption of Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and Paris Agreement in 2015, the role of
UNFCCC has been extended to include these also. UNFCCC exists for
supporting the global response to the threat of climate change.

OTHER IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

EUROPEAN UNION
The European Union (EU) is an economic union of member states. 19 of the 27
members of EU have adopted its official currency Euro. The EU was established with a
desire of forming a single European political entity for ending the warfare among the
European nations that led to the World War II.
European Single Market was established in 1993 with 12 countries. This market ensures
free movement of goods, services, people and funds.
Member Countries
1. Austria 2. Italy 3. Belgium 4. Latvia 5. Bulgaria 6. Lithuania
7. Croatia 8. Luxembourg 9. Cyprus 10. Malta 11. Czechia 12. Netherlands
13. Denmark 14. Poland 15. Estonia 16. Portugal 17. Finland 18. Romania
19. France 20. Slovakia 21. Germany 22. Slovenia 23. Greece 24. Spain
25. Hungary 26. Sweden 27. Ireland

Brexit
The United Kingdom on June 23, 2016 voted (through a referendum) to leave European Union. This is known
as Brexit (British Exit). The exit was officially supposed to take place on March 29, 2019, but it was extended
because the British Parliament could not agree on the Brexit plan.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May resigned due to her failure to unite the Parliament on the Brexit plan. The
Brexit has been delayed till 31st October 2019. Under Boris Johnson's government, the UK finally left the EU on
31 January 2020.
ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC)
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum for
benefiting from the growing interdependence of the Asia Pacific region. APEC was
established in 1989. APEC has 21 members as of now.
Members
1. Australia 2. Brunei Darussalam 3. Canada 4. Chile 5. China
6. Hong Kong 7. Indonesia 8. Japan 9. Republic of Korea 10. Malaysia
11. Mexico 12. New Zealand 13. Peru 14. Papua New Guinea 15. Philippines
16. Russia 17. Singapore 18. Thailand 19. Chinese Taipei 20. USA
21. Viet Nam

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB)

The Asian Development Bank's was established for increasing growth and cooperation
among the Asia-Pacific region nations. ADB has 68 members, and most of them are
from the Asia Pacific region. ADB works towards development of its member countries
through equity, grants, credit and technical assistance. United States and Japan are the
two largest shareholders in the ADB.

ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN)

ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand with the purpose of promoting cooperation, peace and
prosperity among its members. Currently ASEAN has 10 members and one observer.
Members
1. Brunei Darussalam, 2. Cambodia 3. Indonesia 4. Laos
5. Malaysia 6. Myanmar, 7. Philippines 8. Singapore
9. Thailand, 10. Vietnam.
Observer―Papua New Guinea.

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO)

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an organisation for implementing the
North Atlantic Treaty of 1949. NATO’s mandate is to safeguard the freedom and security of
its 30 member states through both political and military means. NATO is an
intergovernmental organisation. Funding of NATO comes for member state contributions
based on an agreed cost-sharing formula. The funding of NATO is less than 0.5 percent of the
combined defence budget expenditure of its members.
The majority of assets of NATO are under the command of the contributing nations until they
are required by NATO for a specific purpose. The alliance also has few assets under its direct control. Over the
years NATO has played a significant role in crisis management and UN peacekeeping missions.
ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION
AND DEVELOPMENT (OECD)
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international
organisation established for creating policies for improving quality of lives. OECD works
towards encouraging prosperity, equality, opportunity and well-being.
Member countries
1. Australia 2. Austria 3. Belgium 4. Canada 5. Chile 6. Czech Rep.
7. Denmark 8. Estonia 9. Finland 10. France 11. Germany 12. Greece
13. Hungary 14. Iceland 15. Ireland 16. Israel 17. Italy 18. Japan
19. Korea 20. Latvia 21. Lithuania 22. Luxembourg 23. Mexico 24. Netherlands
25. New Zealand 26. Norway 27. Poland 28. Portugal 29. Slovak Rep 30. Slovenia
31. Spain 32. Sweden 33. Switzerland 34. Turkey 35. UK 36. USA

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO)

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international
organization that deals with rules of trade among nations of the world. WTO
works on the principle of negotiated agreements signed by majority of the
countries involved in international trade. WTO agreements deal with concerns
related to goods, services and intellectual property rights. These agreements also
contain exceptions.

BRICS
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) is an acronym for the combined
economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. BRICS was originally known
as BRIC. the BRIC was based on the proposition that China and India will become the
world’s dominant suppliers of manufactured goods and services while Brazil and Russia
will become the world’s dominant suppliers of raw material. BRIC was changed to Bricks
with inclusion of South Africa in 2010.
SCO
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental
international organisation established on 15 June 2001. Its six member countries include
the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People's Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the
Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan.
SCO has been expanded to include India and Pakistan. SCO also has four observer states
of Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia.
SAARC
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with
the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December 1985 with headquarter at
Kathmandu, Nepal (became operational on 17th January, 1987). Eight member states of
SAARC include: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and
Sri Lanka. SAARC cooperates on number of areas including HRD and tourism,
agriculture and rural development, social affairs, energy, education, culture etc.
SAARC has the following Regional Centres for dealing with specific tasks:
 SAARC Energy Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan
 SAARC Cultural Centre (SCC), Colombo, Sri Lanka
 SAARC Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Centre (STAC), Kathmandu, Nepal
 SAARC Disaster Management Centre, New Delhi, India.

TREATIES AND REGIMES

 BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS
―Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological
(Biological) and Toxin Weapons (BTWC): BTWC deals with banning of development, production, stockpiling,
and acquisition of biological and toxin weapons. BTWC also contains provisions for eliminating the existing
weapons, weapons production material, weapon production systems etc. related to biological and toxic weapons.
―Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous, or Other Gases, and of
Bacteriological Methods of Warfare (Geneva Protocol): The Geneva Protocol deals with banning of
asphyxiating, poisonous, or other gases, and of bacteriological methods of warfare. The Protocol provided the
basis for other treaties and regimes like BTWC and CWC.

 CHEMICAL WEAPONS
―India-Pakistan Agreement on Chemical Weapons: This agreement signed by India and Pakistan deals with the
banning of chemical weapons in India and Pakistan. This agreement bans developing, possessing and usage of
chemical weapons.
―Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons
and on Their Destruction (CWC): The CWC became operational in 1997. It deals with banning of developing,
producing, acquiring, stockpiling, retaining, transferring, using etc. of chemical weapons.
―Mendoza Agreement: The Mendoza Agreement, was signed by Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, but it never
became operational. Under the provision of this agreement the signing members agreed not to develop, produce,
acquire, stockpile or retain, transfer, or use chemical or biological weapons.

 CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS
―Arms Trade Treaty (ATT): The Arms Trade Treaty calls for the member states to regulate their ammunition or
munitions fired, launched, or delivered by enumerated conventional arms, including battle tanks, combat
vehicles, missiles, missile launchers, and small arms. The treaty also calls for regulation of exports of parts and
components that can be used for assembling and building conventional arms.
―Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE): The main purpose of CFE Treaty is to reduce the
possibilities of major armed confrontations in Europe. CFC calls for reduction in both troops and armaments in
the Central Europe region.
―Treaty on Open Skies: The Treaty on Open Skies is an international agreement which allows member states to
conduct unarmed observation flights in the territories of other member states.

 NUCLEAR SAFETY
―Convention on Nuclear Safety: The Convention on Nuclear Safety is an incentive based convention that puts
an onus on the member states to establish and maintain regulatory frameworks for nuclear power installations.
―Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM): The CPPNM is the only legally
binding international agreement in the world that deals with the physical protection of peaceful use nuclear
materials.
―Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste
Management: This is the first international convention that deals with minimizing the effects of hazardous
radiological materials and with encouraging an effective nuclear safety culture.

 NUCLEAR WEAPONS
―India-Pakistan Non-Attack Agreement: The Agreement restricts India and Pakistan from taking or
encouraging actions that damage or harm nuclear installations or facilities in the other nation.
―Joint Declaration of South and North Korea on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula: This was an
agreement under which both South and North Korea agreed not to possess, produce or use nuclear weapons.
This agreement also banned uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing.
―Lahore Declaration: The Lahore Declaration is an agreement between India and Pakistan for reducing the
risk of accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear weapon in these two nations.
―Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I): SALT I is the first round of nuclear control talks between the US
and the USSR. SALT I talks between 1969 and 1972 led to the ABM Treaty.
―Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT II): SALT II is the second round of nuclear control talks between US
and the USSR. SALT II lasted from 1972-1979.
―Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT): The treaty puts an onus on United States and Russia to
decrease and limit strategic nuclear weapons.
―Treaty between The United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further
Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START): New START is an agreement between
United States of America and Russia that deals with reduction in strategic warheads.
―Treaty between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination
of Their Intermediate-range and Shorter-range Missiles (INF Treaty): The INF Treaty is a bilateral agreement
between the United States and the Soviet Union. This was the first treaty between the two nations that actually
called for reduction in nuclear weapons rather than simply establishing the maximum number of nuclear
weapons.
―Treaty between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on Underground
Nuclear Explosions for Peaceful Purposes (PNE Treaty): The PNE Treaty was signed for allowing both United
States and USSR the right to conduct underground peaceful nuclear explosions at any location under their
jurisdiction or control.
―Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems (ABM Treaty): The ABM Treaty was an agreement
between United States and erstwhile USSR for stopping the development of national anti-ballistic missile
systems.
―US-DPRK Agreed Framework: The Agreed Framework was an agreement between the United States and
North Korea. Under the US-DPRK North Korea nuclear reactor was to replaced in exchange for incentives that
included normalised relations.
―Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT): The CTBT is a treaty for prohibiting the nuclear weapon
test explosions by the member states. The treaty has not come into force because three of the 44 required states
have not signed the treaty and other five states have not rectified it.
―International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism: The Convention deals with
number of actions and targets. It criminalises planning, threatening or carrying out of a broad range of actions of
nuclear terrorism on a broad range of targets (including nuclear power plants)
―Treaty Banning Nuclear Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water (Partial Test Ban Treaty)
(PTBT): The PTBT calls on the signing members to stop conducting nuclear explosions in any environment if
there is a risk that the radioactive debris will go outside the physical boundaries of the country conducting the
explosion.
―Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT): The purpose of NPT is to limit the spread of
nuclear weapons. NPT envisions fulfilling of its aim through non-proliferation, disarmament and encouraging of
peaceful usage of nuclear power.
―Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons: The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons bans the
use, possession, development, testing, deployment and transfer of nuclear weapons under international law.
―Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction
on the Seabed and Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof (Seabed Treaty): The treaty banned placement of
weapons of mass destruction on the seabed and ocean floor. The idea behind this treaty to stop the possibility of
starting underwater arms race and encouraging the peaceful exploration of water bodies.
―African Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone (ANWFZ) Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty): The Treaty bans the signatories
from developing, manufacturing, acquiring or possessing nuclear explosive devices. This treaty does not stop
parties from engaging in peaceful nuclear activities as long as they enter into safeguard agreements with IAEA.
―Antarctic Treaty: This treaty restricts the usage of Antarctica region for peaceful purposes. This treaty bans
military activities in the region including testing of weapons, disposal of radioactive waste etc.
―Central Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone (CANWFZ): CANWFZ prohibits its signatories from develop,
acquire, possess, or control any nuclear weapon or nuclear explosive device. CANWFZ also bans nuclear
weapon tests.
―Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty (Bangkok Treaty): This treaty was
established by ASEAN members as a component of the component of ASEAN’s Declaration on a Zone of
Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality. The idea is to ensure that the region will remain free from nuclear weapons.
―South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone (SPNFZ) Treaty of Rarotonga: The treaty bans nuclear explosive devices in
the South pacific.
―Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (LANWFZ) (Tlatelolco
Treaty): The Tlatelolco Treaty bans Latin American countries from acquiring, possessing, developing, testing or
using nuclear weapons. This treaty also disallows these countries to allow other countries to establish nuclear
weapons in their boundaries.
―Internationally Legally-Binding Negative Security Assurances (NSAs): NSAs refer to the commitments made
by the countries with nuclear weapons not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons on the countries that do not
possess nuclear weapons.

 SPACE ARMS CONTROL

―Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (Moon Agreement):
The Moon Agreement was an addition to the already established Outer Space Treaty. The Moon Agreement
calls upon the signatories to ensure that the Moon and other celestial bodies will remain de-militarised.
―Convention on the Registration of Objects Launched in Outer Space (Launch Registration Convention): The
Convention makes it binding on the signatories to register the launching of all objects into the earth orbit or
outer space. The registration has to be done with the appropriate national level space agencies.
―Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including
the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (Outer Space Treaty): The Outer Space Treaty bans placement of nuclear
weapons in orbit, on the moon and on the other celestial bodies.

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