On 20 September, the treaty banning nuclear weapons opened for signature in New York after a record time of only three weeks of negotiations. The treaty gives rise to high emotions and may call into question the current disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. The Netherlands was the only NATO ally that participated. Marjolijn van Deelen will discuss why and how the Netherlands took its decisions regarding the treaty and comment on the significance of this process.

Ms. Marjolijn van Deelen heads the Non-proliferation, Disarmament and Nuclear Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands since 2015. Her responsibilities include all CBRN-related Dutch foreign policy with priorities in nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security.

She previously served as head of the Europe Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for bilateral relations with over 20 countries. She was posted as Deputy Permanent Representative to the Mission of the Netherlands to the UN Organizations in Vienna from 2009 to 2013 where her focus was on IAEA non-proliferation issues and nuclear security.

Previously, Ms. van Deelen was posted at the Netherlands Embassy in Bucharest as Head of Economic and Trade Affairs. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, she held functions in the Middle East department, the UN department and in Environmental issues. She was also posted in Costa Rica with accreditation to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. She entered the Dutch Foreign Service in 1994.

Ms. Van Deelen holds a BA in Economics from the American University in Washington DC and a Masters in Geophysics from the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands. She speaks Dutch, English, French, German and Spanish.

She is married and has 2 children.