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Member States join UNODA briefing on the UN Secretary-General’s Mechanism for Investigation of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (UNSGM) on the margins of the First Committee
On 18 October 2022, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) hosted a side event on the United Nations Secretary-General’s Mechanism for Investigation of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (UNSGM) for Member State representatives participating in the UNGA First Committee meetings. About 60 people attended the event, which aimed to provide Member States with information about the mandate and relevance of the UNSGM, activities related to strengthening the mechanism, and the role of Member States in supporting the UNSGM, in particular, through…
ASEAN States meet to strengthen implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540
The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), in collaboration with the Government of Thailand, hosted the ‘UNSCR 1540 (2004) Workshop for ASEAN states’ at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok from 21- 22 September 2022. The two-day workshop enhanced understanding of the main provisions of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540 (2004) aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery to non-state actors, and to strengthen collaboration on its implementation throughout the sub-region. Over 30…
Capstone Exercise for the United Nations Secretary-General’s Mechanism for the Investigation of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (UNSGM)
From 19-28 September 2022, a Capstone Exercise for the United Nations Secretary-General’s Mechanism for Investigation of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (UNSGM) was organized in Berlin. The ten-day field exercise was hosted by the Robert Koch Institute, in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and supported by the German Federal Foreign Office. The exercise aimed at simulating a possible UNSGM investigation of alleged use of a biological weapon to: (1) to give experts on the UNSGM roster an opportunity to test their skills should they…
Discussing the way forward and new directions for Disarmament & Non-Proliferation Education
As part of the Vienna Conversation Series, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) Vienna Office hosted an event on 9 September 2022, entitled “New directions for Disarmament & Non-Proliferation Education”. The roundtable discussion aimed to bring together the Vienna-based diplomatic community, and the 2022 cohort of United Nations Disarmament Fellows, along with one of ODA’s key partners on disarmament education, the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP). The United Nations Disarmament Fellowship is a three-month programme, created…
The African Union Peace and Security Council and UNODA commemorate the Africa Amnesty Month in Togo
In an effort to continue the “Silencing the Guns” initiative, the African Union Peace and Security Council, in partnership with UNODA, its Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) and the government of Togo commemorated the 2022 Africa Amnesty Month for the surrender and collection of illicit small arms and light weapons in Lomé, Togo on 5-6 September 2022. This commemoration held for the first time outside of the AU’s headquarters in Addis Ababa was an opportunity to highlight the ongoing challenges pertaining to illegal gun ownership, and further promote initiatives to…
College students from the Republic of Korea discuss promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies at the United Nations
On 16 August, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) engaged a group of 49 college students from the Republic of Korea on the topic of “Disarmament and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” The workshop was part of UNODA’s Disarmament and Non-proliferation Education efforts that aim to raise awareness on, and promote measures for, disarmament and non-proliferation education through engaging diverse audiences, including practitioners, educators, civil society organization and students. The session was also part of the World Federation of United Nations Associations’…
“Paper Lanterns” showcases powerful story of atomic bomb survivor in search of reconciliation and friendship
On 16 August 2022, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Government of Japan co-hosted a film screening of the documentary film “Paper Lanterns”, which tells the inspiring story of Shigeaki Mori, a Japanese atomic bomb survivor from Hiroshima, who spent four decades searching for the identities of twelve American prisoners of war killed in the atomic bombing in Hiroshima and reaching out to their families to help them to put closure on their tragedy. “Paper Lanterns” tells a story of reconciliation and friendship between former enemies as it follows Mr. Mori in…
Stepping it up for diversity, equity and inclusion at the NPT Review Conference
During the first week of the tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the United States and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) brought together some hundred diplomats, policymakers and civil society representatives to exchange ideas on the role of diversity, equity and inclusion in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The event, which took place on 3 August, was timely. Despite commitments to women’s equal, full and effective participation in all disarmament and non-proliferation decision-making processes,…
University students and peace advocates conclude Disarmament Toolkit online course
With a view to equipping university students, peace advocates and other practitioners with conceptual, political and technical information on peace and disarmament issues, the United Nations Office for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) and the India-based civil society organization the Prajnya Trust organized an online “Disarmament Toolkit” course from 4 to 8 July 2022. Over one hundred university students and practitioners from civil society organizations, academia, UN agencies, international organizations and governments joined the course,…
Looking back at 2021 edition of Africa Amnesty Month
A total of 1,602 weapons were destroyed in March and April 2022 when three African countries officially marked the end of their “Africa Amnesty Month” project with a public destruction event. Madagascar, Niger and Uganda participated in the joint United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs – African Union project which aims to reduce illegal gun ownership and illicit flows of small arms and light weapons in Africa through encouraging citizens to voluntarily hand over illegally held small arms under the condition of anonymity and immunity from legal prosecution. The project, initiated in…