The International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, observed every year on 5 March, seeks to promote better awareness and understanding of disarmament issues among the public, especially young people.
Find below the events open to the public, both hybrid and in-person, along with their registration links:
Vienna International Center Interactive Exhibit on Military Expenditure
Monday, 2 March – 1:30PM CET
In-person attendance in the Rotunda of the UN Vienna International Centre*
From 2 to 6 March, the Rotunda of the Vienna International Centre (VIC) will host an interactive “ballot-box” installation inviting visitors to cast their vote on global spending priorities. With global military expenditures having reached a record of $2.7 trillion in 2024, this installation creates a space to reflect on how resources are allocated — and how they could be redirected toward sectors such as education, health and climate action.
The installation will open on 2 March at 1:30OM CET with welcoming remarks by the Permanent Representative of Kyrgyzstan, the Chief of the UNODA Vienna Office and Olamide Samuels (ONN), followed by a performance by the UN Choir and a reception.
Accessing the legacy of the Special Sessions of the General Assembly devoted to Disarmament
Tuesday, 3 March – 9am EST
Hybrid event with in-person attendance on the 15th Floor of the Secretariat Building, Room 1520**.
Registration here!
The UN General Assembly has held three Special Sessions on Disarmament (SSOD), which fundamentally shaped the disarmament architecture and the subsequent discussions within it. Despite repeated calls since 1995, including recently in the Pact for the Future, a fourth special session remains elusive. This event examines the lasting impact of these sessions and explores a critical question: can the international community overcome current divisions to convene SSOD-IV?
Implications of the Secretary-General’s Report on Military Expenditure for Asia and the Pacific
Thursday, 5 March – 10:15am UTC +5:45 (Nepal Time) – Virtual Event
Registration here!
This virtual briefing will discuss the United Nations Secretary-General’s report on military expenditure, “The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future.” Participants will hear key findings from the report and learn from regional experts about what they mean for peace, security, and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific.
This briefing is the first session of UNRCPD’s 2026 regional briefing series and is open to a general audience, including academia, think tanks, civil society and youth, and interested members of the public.
More info: https://www.unrcpd.org/iddnpa1
Launch of UNODA Occasional Paper No. 47 – Revisiting Consensus in Multilateral Disarmament Discussions: Trends, Challenges and the Way Forward
Thursday, 5 March – 3PM EST
In-Person attendance in the First Floor Reading Room of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library*
Registration here!
The Occasional Papers series was developed to give wider dissemination of input from expert panels and seminars, sponsored by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). In this Occasional Paper, Adedeji Ebo (Director and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs) and Katherine Prizeman (Political Affairs Officer in UNODA's Science, Technology and International Security Unit) explore the role that consensus has played in specific, recent disarmament discussions and offer some recommendations on the way forward.
Read Occasional Paper No. 47 here.
Interactive Exhibit on Military Expenditure – Schwedenplatz, Vienna
Thursday, 5 March – Afternoon
In-person attendance at Schwedenplatz
A second edition of the interactive “ballot-box” installation will take place at Schwedenplatz, in the afternoon, bringing the conversation beyond the United Nations and into the public square. Open to all, the exhibit invites participants to cast their ballots on where global spending priorities should lie.
Other events:
We will also be hosting events targeted at the youth:
UN Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) Meets with Students from Togo
On 5 March, the UN Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) will convene with high school students from the Sacré-Coeur Avépozo Institute to discuss small arms and light weapons and autonomous weapons systems. This represents a key moment to mobilize Togolese youth against illicit arms proliferation and towards a safer future!
Follow along on X @odaunrec!
UN Office for Disarmament Affairs Meets with Students from Hiroshima, Japan
On the sideline of the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, on 6 March, UNODA will convene with high school students from Hiroshima to discuss the Office’s work. Youth lead the way in advancing disarmament and peacebuilding efforts!
*A VIC Grounds Pass is required to attend this event.
**A UNHQ Grounds Pass is required to attend this event
