The paper is a general introduction to the subject of Nuclear Weapon-Free Zones. It first describes the situation in the field of disarmament since the end of the Cold War and lists and discusses both positive developments and significant setbacks. It then deals with the existing nuclear weapon-free zones and what lessons can be learned from their different patterns of development. Lastly, it discusses prospective nuclear weapon-free zones and the chances of implementing them within a shorter or longer time-frame. The paper concludes that, in order to create new zones, the concept will have to be transformed to become much more of an active measure of nuclear arms reduction and abolition and not just a means of non-proliferation.
