New technologies offer tremendous benefits, including for the attainment of shared objectives like the Sustainable Development Goals. However, these technologies also present new risks for international peace and security. States are working to strengthen normative and governance frameworks and develop new approaches to manage these evolving risks while harnessing technology's benefits for humanity.
Science and Technology
This issue was first added to the agenda of the First Committee in 1988, with India as the main sponsor. In introducing a draft resolution, the delegate recalled that increasing amounts of resources were being devoted to developing new weapon systems, which caused uncertainty and insecurity.
Artificial Intelligence in the military domain
There is no universally agreed definition of artificial intelligence (AI), but broadly speaking, it relates to systems designed and trained with the ability to learn, solve problems, make predictions, take decisions and perform tasks that are considered to require a level of intelligence comparable to that of a human.
Armed uncrewed systems
Uncrewed systems – often colloquially referred to as “drones” – can be deployed in a variety of domains, including in the aerial, ground and maritime domains.
Autonomous weapons
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International ICT Security
Few technologies have been as powerful as information and communications technologies (ICTs) in reshaping economies, societies and international relations. Cyberspace touches every aspect of our lives. The benefits are enormous, but they do not come without risk.
Outer Space
Efforts in the United Nations to maintain outer space for peaceful purposes began in 1957, months prior to the launch of the first artificial satellite into Earth’s orbit. Early proposals for prohibiting the use of space for military purposes and the placement of weapons of mass destruction in outer space were considered in the late 1950s and early 1960s by the United Nations.
Missiles
The use of missiles is increasingly becoming commonplace in armed conflict. missiles can be differentiated by their launch location (i.e. land, sea, and air platforms), their target (i.e., air, ground, ship etc.), their payload (e.g., conventional or nuclear armed) and their propulsion/flight mode (e.g., ballistic or cruise missiles)
Civil society and Disarmament
Civil society plays a vital role in intergovernmental deliberations, and the United Nations fully acknowledges the contributions of non-governmental actors to disarmament and non-proliferation. The role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at the United Nations is explicitly recognized in Article 71 of the United Nations Charter.