The Role of Civil Society in Disarmament

The role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at the United Nations is explicitly recognized in Article 71 of the United Nations Charter. More than 2,500 representatives of various societies and organizations took part in the Organization’s 1945 founding conference in San Francisco, where civil society participants were instrumental in drafting the first seven words of the Charter, “We the peoples of the United Nations…”

Civil society plays a vital role in raising awareness and capturing the public conscience to advance disarmament and non-proliferation. Its involvement has been instrumental in efforts to end atmospheric nuclear weapons testing; ban anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions; and regulate the international trade in conventional arms. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, a network of more than 500 NGOs in 107 countries, received the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its contributions towards the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Its continued advocacy also helped pave the way for the treaty’s entry into force in January 2021.

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs works in close partnership with NGOs to advance the cause of general and complete disarmament under effective international control. To serve this purpose, the Office, in close collaboration with civil society and academic institutions:

NGOs have been key stakeholders in almost all intergovernmental disarmament processes, including the First Committee of the General Assembly as well as meetings for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Programme of Action on small arms and light weapons, and international security issues related to information and telecommunications.

In his 2018 Agenda for Disarmament, the United Nations Secretary-General committed to work with Member States to achieve greater integration of experts, industry and civil society representatives in the meetings of all United Nations disarmament bodies.

The Role of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs works in close partnership with NGOs to advance the cause of general and complete disarmament under effective international control. To serve this purpose, the Office, in close collaboration with civil society and academic institutions:

• Organizes consultative meetings to ensure effective cooperation between the Office and the NGO community
• Facilitates NGO participation in and access to intergovernmental meetings via online accreditation and registration, administered in accordance with consultative arrangements made by the Economic and Social Council
• Makes arrangements for presentations by NGO representatives when they are invited to address intergovernmental and other meetings
• Facilitates NGO side events and exhibits at United Nations Headquarters during disarmament-related meetings
• Organizes seminars, film screenings and exhibitions with NGO sponsors
• Provides a platform for disarmament-related NGO materials through the Office’s Disarmament Education website
• Works on disarmament education and outreach projects with numerous NGOs, including Hibakusha Stories, the International Action Network on Small Arms, Mayors for Peace, Nihon Hidankyo and Peace Boat
• Coordinates production of an NGO publication series, “Civil Society and Disarmament”, as well as ad-hoc publications such as “Disarmament: A Basic Guide”

NGO Coordinators 

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs works with the following coordinators on civil society-related matters, including the facilitation of NGO statements to disarmament-related conferences at the United Nations:

• For meetings concerning weapons of mass destruction or emerging technologies: Ms. Emma Bjertén, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
• For meetings concerning conventional weapons issues: Ms. Amelie Namuroy, International Action Network on Small Arms

Civil Society Participation in Major Disarmament Meetings

• More than 70 organizations from civil society took part in the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (31 July – 11 August 2023)
• Over 80 organizations received accreditation to participate in the Open-ended Working Group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021–2025