“…the establishment of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world’s human and economic resources…”

– Article 26 of the UN Charter

The 1540 Committee

In 2004, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1540 under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, obliging States to refrain from supporting non-State actors from developing, acquiring, manufacturing, possessing, transporting, transferring or using nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their delivery systems

Small Arms: Report of the Secretary-General

Report of the Secretary-General

• 2011: S/2011/255
• 2008: S/2008/258

The present report builds on the previous one and brings the Security Council up to date on a number of topics that require its particular attention. These include trade and brokering, marking, record-keeping and tracing of weapons, stockpile management, armed violence and the use and misuse of small arms. Special attention is given to the trade in ammunition, problems connected with storage and the importance of tracing ammunition found in conflict settings

Thematic Debate on strengthening collective security through general regulation and reduction of armaments

On 19 November 2008, the Security Council held an open thematic debate on strengthening collective security through general regulation and reduction of armaments.

Ministerial Debate on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation

On 18 March 2024, the Security Council held a Ministerial Briefing on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation chaired by Japan. UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered opening remarks.

Summit-level meeting chaired by United States President

On 24 September 2009 the Security Council affirmed its commitment to the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons and established a broad framework for reducing global nuclear dangers, in an historic summit-level meeting chaired by United States President Barack Obama.