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United Nations Youth4Disarmament Forum Hosts Side Event: The Future Won’t Wait – Youth Policy Pathways on Nuclear Weapons and Emerging Technology
On 17 October, the United Nations Youth4Disarmament Forum concluded with a youth-led Side Event titled “The Future Won’t Wait: Youth Policy Pathways on Nuclear Weapons and Emerging Technology.” The event brought together youth participants, experts, and diplomats to mark the culmination of the first-ever United Nations Youth4Disarmament Forum, made possible by the strong political and generous financial support from the Government of the Republic of Korea. This side event gave an opportunity for the youth participants to present a draft of their outcome document, an outline of…
United Nations Youth4Disarmament Forum hosts Expert Panel on the “Destabilizing Effects of Artificial Intelligence and Information and Communications Technology on Nuclear Stability."
On 16 October, as part of the inaugural United Nations Youth4Disarmament Forum supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea, young leaders joined nuclear experts and diplomats for an in-depth expert panel on the “Destabilizing Effects of Artificial Intelligence and Information and Communications Technology on Nuclear Stability.” The Expert Panel provided youth participants with an interactive opportunity to meaningfully engage with experts on the nexus of nuclear weapons and emerging technologies. The experts helped the participants to refine their draft outcome document with…
UNODA commences the first-ever United Nations Youth 4 Disarmament Forum with a High-Level Opening Ceremony
On 16 and 17 October 2025, The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) Youth4Disarmament Programme convened the first-ever youth-led UN Youth4Disarmament Forum. The UN Youth4Disarmament Forum brought together 26 young leaders and experts to advance global peace and security in the context of nuclear weapons and emerging technologies. With generous support from the Republic of Korea, youth from the around the world were able to strengthen their global networks, learn from experts, and produce an outcome document with policy recommendations to be circulated with the United…
UNIDIR launches ‘Science and Technology Watchtower’ project
On 27 October, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) launched its new Science and Technology Watchtower project on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly First Committee. Supported by the European Union, the three-year initiative aims to monitor disarmament-related scientific and technological (S&T) developments across three domains — weapons of mass destruction, conventional arms, and information and communication technologies — with dedicated experts in each domain expected to assess trends and disseminate findings. Opening remarks Kicking…
SSAFE training course organized for UNSGM experts
From 12-18 October 2025, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) organized the fifth training course on ‘Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environments’ (SSAFE) for experts on the roster for the United Nations Secretary-General’s Mechanism for Investigations of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (UNSGM). A group of 12 experts from 12 countries joined the course in Cha Am, Thailand. UNODA opened the course with a refresher on the context and potential field activities during a UNSGM…
Side event on “Advancing NPT Article VI Goals as New START Expires”
On 9 October, Austria, the Arms Control Association and DeepCuts held a side event on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly First Committee to discuss advancing the goals of Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), particularly in light of the anticipated expiration of the New START Treaty in February 2026. Austria, together with other States, recently circulated a joint statement calling for “the urgent commencement of negotiations for a successor agreement” to New START, formally called the Treaty on Measures for the Further…
UNREC Convenes Webinar on “Rebalancing Security for Sustainable Development”
Lomé, 10 October 2025: The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) hosted a regional webinar on “Rebalancing Security for Sustainable Development,” bringing together African Member States, regional organizations, and civil society actors to discuss the UN Secretary-General’s report, “The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future.” The webinar explored the impact of rising military spending on social investment and human security in Africa. Participants emphasized the need to align national security budgets…
UNODA organizes Basic Training ‘Refresher’ for UNSGM Experts
From 5 to 11 October 2025, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs organized a Basic Training ‘Refresher’ course for the United Nations Secretary-General’s Mechanism for Investigations of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (UNSGM) in Cha Am, Thailand. Basic training courses for the UNSGM are aimed at providing experts nominated by UN Member States to the UNSGM roster with a better understanding of their role in carrying out investigations of alleged use of biological weapons should they be deployed as part of a UNSGM mission. This includes key information about the…
UN Secretary-General’s report on “Rebalancing Military Spending for Sustainable Peace and Development” is the subject of Vienna Conversation Series event
In the 2024 Pact for the Future, Member States requested the Secretary-General “to provide analysis on the impact of the global increase in military expenditure on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals”. The report The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future was published in September 2025 and highlighted at a press conference with the Secretary-General, as well as two events on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the General Assembly: an interview between the High Representative and the Acting Administrator of the UN…
1540 TechHorizon Launched: Exploring Future Opportunities
A consortium of experts from universities across the United Kingdom (UK) and government officials gathered in London on 18 September 2025 to launch the 1540 TechHorizon initiative, in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. The initiative aims to explore how UK-based academic, technical, and policy communities can contribute collaboratively to the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1540, especially in the face of the threat from emerging technologies, as well as the opportunities presented by new technology. Convened by the…