The Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme
BASIC’s Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme aims to contribute to international efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and to facilitate their reduction and elimination. The Programme also houses BASIC’s work to advance the peaceful uses of civil nuclear science and technologies, in order to make progress on Pillar III of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Central to the Programme’s work is its ongoing monitoring and support of multilateral nuclear treaties. The Programme is the institutional home of the NPT Monitor, a project that will provide independent analysis and information on the implementation of commitments across all three pillars of the Treaty: disarmament, non-proliferation, and peaceful uses of nuclear technology.
The Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme also houses the Nuclear Transparency Index (NUTRI), a project to establish a standardised framework for analysing the nuclear weapons-related transparency practices of all nuclear-armed states, as well as the Peaceful Nuclear Technologies (PEANUT) portal, which will provide an open access database on how peaceful nuclear technologies can help to meet international development objectives. To this end, the programme cooperates with leading think tanks and organisations in the field, such as the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Another project within the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme centres on helping to address harms caused by nuclear weapons, including mitigating potential future harms. To those ends, this project is developing a holistic framework to identify harms across the full nuclear weapons lifecycle and exploring options to address them.
The Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme has also been an indispensable co-pilot to the Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament, playing a central strategic role in the formation of the grouping and directly shaping its thematic priorities.
Current projects
The Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme currently has four projects under way:
The NPT Monitor, a project being developed in 2025-26, will provide independent analysis and information on the implementation of commitments by NPT members across all three “pillars” of the Treaty: disarmament, non-proliferation, and peaceful uses of nuclear technology.
The Nuclear Transparency Index (NUTRI), also being developed in 2025-26, will establish a rigorous, standardised framework for analysing the nuclear weapons-related transparency practices of all nuclear-armed states.
The Peaceful Nuclear Technologies (PEANUT) portal will provide an open-access database on how peaceful nuclear technologies can help to advance Pillar III of the NPT and meet international development objectives.
The Nuclear Weapons Harm Reduction project aims to help address harms caused across the full nuclear weapons lifecycle, including mitigating potential future harms, by developing a robust framework to help identify and address them.
In addition to projects above, the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme has been an indispensable co-pilot to the Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament, playing a central strategic role in the formation of the grouping and directly shaping its thematic priorities.
Our Funding
We would like to thank the funders (including those who wish to remain anonymous) whose generous support makes the work of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme possible:
Current and Recent Funders:
- Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control Centre, UK Government (Peaceful Nuclear Technologies Portal)
- Global Affairs Canada (NPT Monitor and Nuclear Transparency Index)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of the Netherlands (NPT Monitor and Nuclear Transparency Index)
- Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (Nuclear Weapons Harm Reduction)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Sweden (Stockholm Initiative)
Explore the Work of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme
Announcement: BASIC Launches the NPT Monitor Project
BASIC is pleased to announce the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Monitor, a new project being developed by our Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme.
Announcement: BASIC Launches the Nuclear Transparency Inventory Project
BASIC is pleased to announce the Nuclear Transparency Index, a new project being developed by our Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme.
Ratifying Rarotonga and Pelindaba: A No-Brainer for the Biden Administration
Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh argues that the Biden Administration should use its Democratic Senate majority to ratify the Rarotonga and Pelindaba treaties.
BASIC Co-Director Gives Remarks at the P5 Process
Sebastian Brixey-Williams, BASIC Co-Director, was invited to be a rapporteur at the P5 Process held in Paris.
BASIC Co-Director gives remarks at the Jeju Process
On November 11, 2021 BASIC Co-Director, Sebastian Brixey-Williams, was invited to give his remarks to…
Conventional Arms Control and Nuclear Security: The Challenge of Conventional Prompt Global Strike Weapons
Guest author, Peter Rautenbach, explores the challenges of Conventional Prompt Global Strike (CPGS) weapons, and looks to arms control to mitigate the ensuing risks.
BASIC Co-Director gives remarks at KAS Multilateral Dialogue and Atomic Reporters Study Programme Launch
On 7 July 2021 BASIC Co-Director, Sebastian Brixey Williams, was invited to give his remarks at the launch of the KAS Multilateral Dialogue and Atomic Reporters study programme, ‘A Neglected Story – The Legacy of Splitting the Atom.’
BASIC Co-Director Marion Messmer selected as Arms Control Negotiation Academy (ACONA) Fellow
We are delighted to share that BASIC Co-Director, Marion Messmer, has been selected for the Arms Control Negotiation Academy 2021-22 Fellowship.
Our Programmes
BASIC is developing new approaches to overcome states’ dependency on the doctrine of nuclear deterrence, which blocks global nuclear disarmament and drives proliferation. We engage diverse perspectives, encourage empathy across states, and broaden the context of debate. We have an established reputation for non-partisan, non-judgmental, cross-cultural engagement and for seeking common ground.
