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Global launch of the “Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons” innovative learning programme
In December 2023, the first-ever iteration of the “Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons” initiative got underway. The new innovative learning programme, coordinated by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and funded by the Government of Japan, aims to equip aspiring leaders of the future with the knowledge, skills, and network essential to join global efforts for the elimination of nuclear weapons, the most dangerous weapons on earth. The programme is designed around two main elements: a foundational online learning component, and a five-day study…
UNODA, Portugal, Costa Rica, and Cabo Verde instigate discussions on armed drones
26 January 2024 — United Nations Headquarters On 26 January 2024, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Permanent Missions of Portugal, Costa Rica, and Cabo Verde to the United Nations held an event to reflect on the role of the United Nations in discussions on armed uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs, also referred to as armed drones). With the participation of experts and Member State representatives, the discussion raised awareness of developments in the field of armed UAVs, assessed their impact on international peace and security, and stimulated dialogue on identifying avenues…
Non-proliferation, disarmament & global governance: The role of the Vienna community in the preparations for the Summit of the Future and beyond
On 30 January 2024, UNODA Vienna Office organized another Vienna Conversation Series (VCS) Event on “Non-proliferation, disarmament & global governance: The role of the Vienna Community in the preparations for the Summit of the Future and beyond”. The event aimed at raising awareness of the Summit of the Future, to be held on 22 and 23 September 2024 in New York. Specifically, the Summit seeks to accelerate efforts to meet our existing international commitments and take concrete steps to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities, to be achieved through an action-…
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…