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Building the global norm against biological weapons: the 1925 Geneva Protocol and the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention
From 24 to 28 February 2025, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) Geneva Branch and the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) hosted a commemorative exhibition at the Palais des Nations. Marking the centenary of the 1925 Geneva Protocol and the fiftieth anniversary of the entry into force of the BWC, the exhibition highlighted the efforts of multiple stakeholders to build the global norm against the use of biological weapons and emphasized the continued relevance of these two milestone agreements in maintaining global…
Sustaining the fight against the illicit proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in The Gambia
A delegation of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) travelled to Banjul from 27 to 31 January. The main objective of their Mission was threefold: i) assess the institutional capacities of the recently established National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW); ii) support for the development of a national action plan on SALW; and iii) foster stronger collaboration among national stakeholders and with the United Nations Country Team. The mission took place in the context of the implementation of the EU funded project, entitled “United…
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 cooperation with,…
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…