Objective 

Disarmament and non-proliferation education encompasses initiatives and resources aimed at educating and training a broad range of audiences, including the general public, on the role and value of disarmament in the achievement of sustainable peace and security.  

It can be carried out in diverse forms with the overall objective of imparting knowledge and skills to individuals and empowering them to make their contributions, as national and world citizens, to the achievement of concrete disarmament and non-proliferation measures and the ultimate goal of general and complete disarmament under effective international control. As such, it is generally regarded to encompass both education on and for disarmament.  

In his 2018 Disarmament Agenda, Securing Our Common Future, the United Nations Secretary-General underscored disarmament education’s contribution to the creation of a culture of peace and non-violence, conflict resolution, sustainable development, gender equality, economic justice, human rights and tolerance of cultural diversity. 

History of disarmament education in the United Nations system 

The critical role of disarmament education has long been recognized within the United Nations. In 1978, the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, the first devoted to disarmament (known as SSOD I), declared the urgency of disarmament education and emphasized the importance of teaching and research on education. The Final Document of the Session urged governments and governmental and non-governmental international organizations “to take steps to develop programmes of education for disarmament and peace studies at all levels.” 

Two years later, in 1980, the Final Document of the World Congress on Disarmament Education held by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) included numerous recommendations for measures to promote both research and education in disarmament. The conclusions of the Final Document were later endorsed by meetings of education ministers from different regions. 

In 1982, the United Nations World Disarmament Campaign was launched during the Second Special Session on Disarmament (SSOD II) to inform, educate and generate understanding and support for the United Nations’ objectives in arms control and disarmament. The Campaign lasted until 1992, when through resolution 47/53 D it was transformed into the “United Nations Disarmament Information Programme”. 

In 1989, the General Assembly adopted resolution 44/123 entitled “Education for disarmament”, which invited Member States and international governmental and nongovernmental organizations to inform the Secretary-General of their efforts to develop programs of education for disarmament and peace studies at all levels. This was followed by two other General Assembly resolutions, one in 1991 (resolution 46/27) and another in 1993 (resolution 48/64), entitled “Education and information for disarmament”, which reiterated the importance of education, advisory and training programs, and the objectives of the World Disarmament Campaign, as well as encouraged a “redoubling of efforts” by governments and NGOs.  

• United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education 

At the beginning of 2000, the Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters recommended a United Nations study on the issue of disarmament and non-proliferation education. In October 2000, Mexico introduced a draft resolution, and a month later, in November 2000, the General Assembly resolution 55/33 E was adopted, requesting the Secretary-General to prepare a study with the assistance of a group of governmental experts. 

After two years of preparation, in October 2002, the United Nations Study on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education (A/57/124) was submitted to the First Committee of the General Assembly to revitalize past disarmament education efforts. The study found that education is a vital but underutilized tool for peace and disarmament and identified “a pressing need to expand and improve disarmament and non-proliferation education and training”. It provided 34 recommendations for action to be undertaken by governments, regional organizations, the United Nations and other international organizations, municipal and religious leaders. 

The Secretary-General has since submitted biennial reports to the General Assembly to review the results of the implementation of the recommendations made in the Study. These reports, the latest one from July 2024 (A/79/114), contain a compilation of the various disarmament education activities undertaken by Member States, international, regional and non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions. 

The recommendations articulated in the 2002 United Nations Study were reaffirmed in 2017 by the Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters (A/72/185). In its report, the Board called for a reinvigoration of disarmament education activities. Since the issuance of the study, the General Assembly has repeatedly recognized and reaffirmed the critical role of disarmament and non-proliferation education through its resolution on the “United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education”, most recently in resolution 77/52 of 13 December 2022.  

UNODA Disarmament Education Strategy 

UNODA has a rich experience in designing and delivering disarmament education for diverse audiences, providing factual and impartial information on disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control. Seeking to strengthen the sustainability and impact of its disarmament education efforts, the Office launched its first comprehensive Disarmament Education Strategy in December 2022. In addition to outlining important areas of disarmament education and the Office’s general approach, the strategy emphasizes the central role of partnerships and the cultivation of relevant networks in the disarmament education field. UNODA’s disarmament education work is guided by an “inform, engage, educate and empower” approach. 

Disarmament education resources 

A range of educational materials, as well as the biennial reports of the Secretary-General on disarmament and non-proliferation education are available on UNODA’s disarmament education website. The Office’s Disarmament Education Dashboard is a global online learning platform providing free training at various proficiency levels to diverse audiences. It offers interactive self-paced and instructor-led learning on disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control with the ultimate goal of providing impactful and sustainable disarmament education for all.