ABSTRACT

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is a historic achievement of many years of sustained advocacy and diplomacy by a deft coalition of governments, intergovernmental organizations and civil society. This was done against all odds and in the face of staunch opposition from nuclear weapon states and their allies. The TPNW’s adoption is viewed in some quarters as a revolt or uprising by a majority of nations in the realm of disarmament politics. This majority included the small island states of the English-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) who, despite the constraints of size and its concomitant challenges, were outspoken and active players throughout the TPNW’s negotiating process. These small island states exerted influence beyond their size in helping to deconstruct and reframe the discourse on disarmament politics to reclaim and advance the international agenda to prohibit and stigmatize nuclear weapons. Their participation, empowered by the humanitarian initiative on nuclear weapons, demonstrates that resolute leadership, transparency and inclusive participation are the key determinants of a new pathway to achieve progress on nuclear disarmament. This commentary examines the contribution of the CARICOM small island states, as part of the wider Latin America and Caribbean group, in challenging the status quo in disarmament politics towards the adoption of the TPNW.

摘要

《禁止核武器条约》（TPNW）是由政府、政府间组织和民间社会组成的灵巧联盟多年来持续倡导和外交的历史性成就。这是在面对核武器国家及其盟国的坚决反对的情况下进行的。在某些方面，TPNW 的通过被大多数国家视为裁军政治领域的反抗或起义。大多数人包括讲英语的加勒比共同体 (CARICOM) 的小岛国，尽管它们受到规模限制和随之而来的挑战，但在整个 TPNW 的谈判过程中都是直言不讳和积极的参与者。这些小岛国发挥了超出其规模的影响力，帮助解构和重新构建裁军政治话语，以恢复和推进禁止和污名化核武器的国际议程。在核武器人道主义倡议的支持下，他们的参与表明，坚定的领导、透明度和包容性参与是在核裁军方面取得进展的新途径的关键决定因素。本评论探讨了加共体小岛屿国家作为更广泛的拉丁美洲和加勒比集团的一部分在挑战裁军政治现状以通过 TPNW 方面的贡献。得到核武器人道主义倡议的授权，表明坚定的领导、透明度和包容性参与是在核裁军方面取得进展的新途径的关键决定因素。本评论探讨了加共体小岛屿国家作为更广泛的拉丁美洲和加勒比集团的一部分在挑战裁军政治现状以通过 TPNW 方面的贡献。得到核武器人道主义倡议的授权，表明坚定的领导、透明度和包容性参与是在核裁军方面取得进展的新途径的关键决定因素。本评论探讨了加共体小岛屿国家作为更广泛的拉丁美洲和加勒比集团的一部分在挑战裁军政治现状以通过 TPNW 方面的贡献。