The primary objectives for establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone are to bar the presence of nuclear weapons in the zonal area and to reduce the risk of it being involved in a nuclear war. The fulfillment of those objectives requires co-operation both among prospective zonal States and between them and nuclear-weapon States and some other extra-zonal States. The attainment of those objectives must also be considered as a process in time. The establishment of the nuclear-weapon-free zones in two densely populated areas has required decades. [1]

 In addition, the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free zone can be considered a contribution to a process towards "the ultimate objective of achieving a world entirely free of nuclear weapons", as set forth by the UN General Assembly in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session. [2]

[1] South Pacific: Treaty of Rarotonga; and Latin America: Treaty of Tlatelolco
[2] Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the UN General Assembly (S/10-2), para. 61.