New York, 10 September 1996
Objectives
The Treaty has the purpose of attracting the adherence of all States and
the objective of contributing effectively to the prevention of the proliferation
of nuclear weapons in all its aspects, to the process of nuclear disarmament
and therefore to the enhancement of international peace and security.
Key Provisions
Each State party undertakes not to carry out any nuclear-weapon-test explosion
or any other nuclear explosion and to prohibit and prevent any such nuclear
explosion at any place under its jurisdiction or control. Each party also
undertakes "to refrain from causing, encouraging, or in any way participating
in the carrying out of any nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other
nuclear explosion".
The States parties establish the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
Organization (CTBTO), with its seat in Vienna, to ensure the implementation
of the Treaty's provisions, including verification of compliance, and to
provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States parties.
The CTBTO's organs are the Conference of the States parties, the Executive
Council and the Technical Secretariat, which includes the International
Data Centre.
Other key articles deal with national implementation measures; verification
(including the International Monitoring System comprising facilities for
seismological, radionuclide, hydroacoustic and infrasound monitoring);
measures to redress a situation and to ensure compliance, and settlement
of disputes.
A three-part Protocol deals with the International Monitoring System and
International Data Centre functions; on-site inspections; and confidence-building
measures, with two annexes.