The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons aims at limiting the proliferation of nuclear weapons. It came into force on the 5th of March 1970. The treaty was initially signed by Ireland and Finland and currently comprises 189 states. The treaty recognises five countries as possessors of nuclear weapons: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. These five states have consented, as part of the treaty, not to transmit nuclear weapons to non-nuclear weapon states and not to encourage them to acquire these weapons.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an international organisation promoting the non-violent use of nuclear energy. It is actively engaged in restraining any offensive use.
One other organisation seeking to prevent nuclear terrorism is the World Institute for Nuclear Security. It was founded in 2008. The institute is financed by the Nuclear Threat Initiative, the United States Department of Energy and the Norwegian government.
For more information on nuclear weapons and nuclear terrorism, please contact us using the contact form or check one of the links in the box.