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Representatives from the Middle East and North Africa meet in Doha to strengthen the implementation of Biological Weapons Convention
On 16 and 17 January 2024, 26 National Contact Points (NCPs) and representatives from 14 States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) from the Middle East and North Africa, attended a two-day training course in Doha to share information, knowledge and best practices on strengthening the implementation of the BWC. The Regional Training Course was organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) in cooperation with the National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons (NCPW) of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the State of Qatar. The course was…
Cambodian experts meet to further enhance national CBM reporting practices under the BWC
From 23 to 24 January 2024, the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) for the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) within the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the National Authority for the Prohibition of Chemical, Nuclear, Biological and Radiological Weapons (NACW), jointly organized a national workshop on the Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) under the Convention. The purpose of the workshop was to further deepen understanding of the BWC, to share effective practices on the preparation of CBMs, and to facilitate the implementation of a National Inventory of…
First ever national workshop on the Biological Weapons Convention held in Hanoi, Viet Nam
From 18 to 19 January 2024, the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) for the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) within the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the Ministry of Health of Viet Nam, jointly organized a national workshop on the implementation of the Convention. The purpose of the workshop was to deepen understanding of the BWC, to share effective practices relating to the preparation of Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs), and to inform participants about capacity-building opportunities available to strengthen biosafety and biosecurity. The two-day…
Regional Seminar on “the prevention of violent extremism and the management of conventional weapons in West Africa”, held in Togo
From 5 to 7 December, the United Nations Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) co-organized a “Regional seminar on the prevention of violent extremism and the management of conventional weapons in West Africa” in Lomé, Togo. Family photo at the regional seminar on PVE in West Africa from 5-7 December 2023 in Lomé The seminar brought together more than 60 participants from some fifteen countries, including senior officials in public administrations…
United to prevent gender-based violence through arms control
One in three women experience physical and sexual violence in their lifetime. A situation that is exacerbated by the proliferation and misuse of the over one billion small arms in circulation around the world, said UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu in a video message to mark the 2023 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. To raise awareness about the ways in which disarmament and arms control measures can have real and tangible impacts and prevent gender-based-violence, the UN Office for Disarmament…
The Geneva Disarmament Conversation Series discusses Coordination in Addressing Biorisks
In August 2023, the Geneva Branch of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) launched the Geneva Disarmament Conversation Series (GDCS), thanks to the generous support of Switzerland. The Geneva Conversation Series offers a forum to engage with Geneva based delegates, UN agencies and Geneva based think-tanks, organizations and academic institutions working on human centered-disarmament and the wider peace and security agenda. The most recent Conversation focused on “Coordination in addressing biorisks” and took place on 11 December 2023, on the margins of the 2023…
Experts discuss ODA's pivotal role in supporting African states implementing the Biological Weapons Convention
On 6 December 2023, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) hosted a panel discussion focusing on the challenges encountered by African States Parties in implementing the BWC on the margins of the Third meeting of the Working Group on the Strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC.) The panel focused, in particular, on how ODA’s efforts on the continent are supporting African States Parties in addressing these challenges. The panelists included Lasconi Moungui Medi, Chief of United Nations Political Organs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cameroon…
Erlangen Initiative: Fostering Collaboration Between Academia and Government Regulators for UNSCR 1540 Implementation
From 8 to 9 November, the Government of Germany in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), hosted the inaugural Erlangen Conference in Nuremberg, Germany. The event brought together over 80 representatives from regulatory authorities, export regimes, and academia to explore ways to strengthen the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004). Adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council in April 2004, UNSCR 1540 places obligations on States to prevent non-state actors from attempting to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess…
UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa participates in the West African Region Working Group of the Global Counter Terrorism Forum
From 5 to 7 December, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) participated in the West African Region Working Group of the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF). The regional meeting [MC1] , supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), was held in Banjul, The Gambia. Attendees included senior officials from West African Member States and associated Sahel States, including Chad, Cameroon and the Central African Republic. Global Counter Terrorism Forum Member States included …
Annual Coordination Meeting of the National Commissions on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NATCOMs) held in Dakar
Figure 1/Meeting in session From 13 to 15 December 2023, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) successfully convened the Annual Coordination Meeting of National Commissions on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NATCOMs) in Dakar, Senegal. This gathering was prompted by the escalating menace of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), youth-related gun violence, and the growing specter of violent extremism and terrorism within the ECOWAS Region. The primary objectives of the meeting were to facilitate the exchange of national experiences and to chart the course for the…