The United Nations system addresses disarmament issues through three principal bodies: the General Assembly and its First Committee, the United Nations Disarmament Commission, and the Conference on Disarmament. This “disarmament machinery” is complemented by the Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, which provides independent research and analysis. The Security Council engages on disarmament issues in its role of maintaining international peace and security.
Disarmament in the General Assembly
…the General Assembly may consider the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and regulation of armaments…
Disarmament in the Security Council
…the establishment of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world’s human and economic resources…
Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters
The Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters (ABDM) was established in 1978 pursuant to paragraph 124 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, and received its current mandate pursuant to General Assembly decision 54/418 of 1 December 1999.
Conference on Disarmament
The Conference on Disarmament (CD), was recognized by the Tenth Special Session on Disarmament of the United Nations General Assembly (SSOD-I) (1978) as a single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community.
Disarmament Fellowship
Established by the First Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to Disarmament, the United Nations Programme of Fellowships on Disarmament has trained over 1,140 officials from 172 Member States since 1979. The Programme is implemented by the Geneva Branch of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).