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Parliamentarians from African States not party to the Biological Weapons Convention gather in support of universalisation
On 10 and 11 February, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) welcomed parliamentary delegations from Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt and Somalia, five of the six African States not yet party to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), to Geneva for a high-level seminar in support of universalisation. The seminar focussed on raising awareness about the importance of BWC universalisation and sought to encourage broad regional and international cooperation to that end. Delegates with His Excellency Ambassador Frederico S. Duque…
Call for Papers: The impact of the global increase in military expenditure on the achievement of the sustainable development goals
In the Pact for the Future, adopted by the General Assembly in September 2024, Member States voiced their concern about the potential impact that the global increase in military expenditures could have on investments in sustainable development and sustaining peace. To that end, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to “provide analysis on the impact of the global increase in military expenditure on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by the end of the seventy-ninth session”. With the aim of encouraging engagement and reflection on this subject by Member…
Mauritania strengthens national implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention
From 13 to 14 January 2025 in Nouakchott, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the Radiation Protection, Nuclear Safety and Security Authority (ARSN) of Mauritania jointly organized a national workshop on strengthening the implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). This was the first workshop of its kind in Mauritania since it joined the BWC in 2015. Mauritania has made significant progress towards BWC implementation prior to the event including the nomination a BWC National Contact Point (NCP) in 2023 and the submission of its first…
African Amnesty Month: Djibouti launches activities to ‘Silence the Guns’
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) took part in the launch of the African Amnesty Month (AAM) in Djibouti from 29th to 31st October, along with the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA), which also represented the African Union. During the three-day mission, several activities were held to raise awareness about the fight against the illicit trade and use of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). These included planting trees at Camp Lemonnier;a march from Camp Lemonnier to the National police shooting range; the…
Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan hosts Nuclear Discussion Forum
On 9 December, the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan, with the support of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, hosted a session of the Nuclear Discussion Forum on “Outcomes of the First Session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction”. The panel included Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, His Excellency Mohamed Edrees, the Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations, Her Excellency Sima Sami Bahous, the Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United…
UNRCPD concludes first part of project to support Timor-Leste in implementation of UN PoA and ATT
UNRCPD staff and technical expert discuss physical security and stockpile management with Timorese officials at President Nicolau Lobato International Airport The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) successfully concluded the baseline assessment visit for its project to strengthen the national capacity of Timor-Leste to control transfers of small arms and light weapons (SALW), including other conventional arms, and to prevent their illicit trade and diversion. The project was developed at the request of, and in…
Regional meeting for Asia-Pacific States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
On 3-4 December, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs hosted a regional meeting for Asia-Pacific States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Representatives of 31 regional States Parties, expert presenters and members of the Bureau of the 2020 NPT Review Conference came together at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, to examine the Treaty. Topics discussed include each of the NPT’s three pillars – disarmament, non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy – as well as the procedural aspects of the Review…
Thematic Seminar on Pillar III (the peaceful uses of nuclear energy) of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
On 20-21 November, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs hosted a thematic seminar on pillar III (the peaceful uses of nuclear energy) of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Representatives of all States Parties were invited to take part in this thematic seminar, which took place at the United Nations Office at Vienna. The NPT is widely considered to rest on three pillars – disarmament, non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Delegates listen to the opening of the thematic seminar. At the seminar, delegates discussed the power…
International Women’s Conference on Preventing the Proliferation of WMD to non-State Actors
The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), in partnership with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), will host the “International Women’s Conference on Preventing the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction to Non-State Actors” in Bangkok, Thailand, on 25-27 February 2020. Promotion of the role of women in international peace and security, especially in political decision-making and peace processes, has been embedded in Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and the eight subsequent resolutions that underpin the Women, Peace and…
Youth discuss “Disarmament that Saves Lives”
How can disarmament contribute to saving lives? What are innovative solutions to break the cycle of armed violence? How does disarmament contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals? These questions, and many more, were addressed during the #Youth4Disarmament event that took place at UN Headquarters on 26 November. Youth advocates engaged with officials from the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and civil society representatives on a range of disarmament related-topics, with a focus on the impact of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW) and the…