Working Group 1: Monitoring and Verification Objectives

Working Group 1, in close coordination with Working Groups 2 and 3, examined and
assessed:

• Key terms and definitions, and the framework for analyzing monitoring and verification activities building on work already done.
• Monitoring and verification objectives for key aspects of the warhead dismantlement process,  along with the types of information needed to meet them;
• Evaluation criteria for assessing monitoring and verification regimes and considering potential trade-offs; and
• The skills, areas of expertise and resources needed to support future work in each of these areas.

Working Group 1 produced:

• A framework document with terms and definitions, principles, and good practices, and a broad flowchart showing possible monitoring and verification activities for key disarmament steps across the nuclear weapons lifecycle.
• A detailed assessment of potential monitoring and verification requirements for monitoring the dismantlement of nuclear warheads, including what information might be needed to satisfy those requirements, and an assessment of the kind of assurance that states would likely seek from verification;
• A capacity mapping document that outlines existing skills and areas of expertise applicable to key monitoring and verification activities, and identifies possible gaps; and a needs and planning document to fill gaps and identify priorities for future collaborative efforts.

During the course of its work, WG1, as it deemed necessary, had the ability to expand on the tasks listed above.

Piet de Klerk from the Netherlands and David Chambers from the United Kingdom* served as co-chairs for WG1.

*The United Kingdom replaced Italy as co-chair of WG1 in 2016.

The initial program of work will took place over the course of approximately 18 months. Completed work was briefed to the IPNDV Plenary in November 2017.