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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…
UNODA joins global efforts for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
From 25 November to the 10 December, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs joined UN Women, the Secretary-General’s Say NO –UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign and the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign 2020. 16 Days of Activism is an annual, worldwide campaign calling for the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence (GBV). Throughout the campaign period, UNODA published over 40 social media posts in English, French and Spanish, joining…
Disarmament4Educators Kicks Off with Online Roundtable Series
“What is the biggest challenge you see in the next year for building up disarmament education in your organization?” Disarmament experts and educators tackled this and other topics at the recent Disarmament4Educators Roundtable Series, organised by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). The Roundtable Series, which took place from 18 November to 9 December 2020, are part of the ongoing Disarmament4Educators project, supported by generous donations from the Government of the Republic of Korea and Rissho Kosei-kai. By combining online learning…
#Youth4Disarmament awarded Billion Acts of Peace Award for Best Coalition Building Project 2020
The #Youth4Disarmament initiative has been recognized as Best Coalition Building Project of 2020 by a Billion Acts of Peace. The initiative was nominated along with eleven other inspiring projects, chosen from more than eight million Acts for Peace. Billion Acts of Peace, an initiative of the PeaceJam Foundation, is a global movement led by fourteen Nobel Peace Prize Winners and youth around the world with the ambitious goal of creating One Billion Acts of Peace by 2021, and in doing so, inspiring everyday people to change the world – one Act of Peace at a time. Among those who…
UNODA and Peace Boat launch new disarmament education guidebook
The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) joined Peace Boat on 3 November to jointly launch a new guide to the international non-governmental organization’s unique approach to disarmament education. Called “Navigating Disarmament Education: The Peace Boat Model”, the publication was the latest addition to a special series published by UNODA as a platform for civil society to express views on disarmament and related matters. The book introduces pedagogical methods developed by Peace Boat through its 37 years of experience hosting disarmament…
In Southeast Asia, data-science trailblazers train to innovate for the global good
Student finalists in a Southeast Asian data analytics competition trained last month to maximize the positive impact of their future work and reduce risks of accidental harm. The ethical and disarmament implications of new technologies and innovations were at the centre of a remote interactive workshop convened by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foundation and with SAP, a software development company. The event on 19 November 2020 brought together more than 20 science, technology,…
Five things to know about the worldwide effort to eradicate cluster bombs
A decade has now passed since an international treaty took effect banning cluster munitions—shells that can blanket wide areas with miniature explosives and cause devastating harm to civilians, even after the fighting ceases. States that have joined this treaty, called the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), meet every year to discuss their progress towards eliminating these weapons. Clearance in Lebanon. Credit: MAG Lebanon. This November, States parties will begin the treaty’s second Review Conference, held every five years, under the Presidency of Ambassador…