On 27 April 2023, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) convened a panel comprised of UN Youth Champions for Disarmament, Member State representatives, researchers and civil society as part of its event entitled “Disarmament for Development: Rebalancing Military Expenditure with Development Priorities.”
The hybrid event, an official side event of the 2023 Youth Forum of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), showcased the latest data on military expenditures, engaged young people on the topic of global military spending, and provided an opportunity to discuss the relationship between disarmament and sustainable development. The event also aimed to facilitate intergenerational and interdisciplinary alliance-building and identify practical ways in which young people can participate in the ongoing debate about rebalancing military spending.
