Steps Towards a Voluntary Trust Fund for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

This report examines practical pathways to operationalising a voluntary trust fund to support the implementation of Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, addressing the humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapon testing and use through victim assistance and environmental remediation. These provisions are among the most innovative aspects of the treaty and reflect a broader tradition in humanitarian disarmament.

The report draws on lessons from existing trust fund models, namely the:

• Arms Trade Treaty Voluntary Trust Fund
• United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation
• Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness
• United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking

The aim is to identify key operational and administrative elements and outline three options to inform ongoing discussions among States Parties as they prepare for the First Review Conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in late 2026. 

Citation: David C. Atwood and Luiza Delaflora Cassol, “Steps Towards a Voluntary Trust Fund for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons” (Geneva: UNIDIR, 2026). https://doi.org/10.37559/WMD/26/NDV/01