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Side event shines a light on the benefits of voluntary information sharing on new weapons, means and methods of warfare
Building on an event earlier in the year that explored the importance of legal reviews of new weapons, means and methods of warfare, on 17 October the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) hosted speakers from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) to shine a light on the role that voluntary exchanges of information could play in legal reviews. Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative forDisarmament Affairs addresses the side…
UNODA Vienna Office celebrated Disarmament Week with a photo exhibition – Have a look!
Disarmament Week seeks to promote awareness and better understanding of disarmament issues and their cross-cutting importance. To celebrate this week, the Vienna Office of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) organised an interactive exhibition from 24 to 30 October. The exhibition was housed in the Rotunda of the Vienna International Centre which is home to various international organisations relevant to UNODA’s work, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), the United Nations Office on…
Strengthening the African Network of National Points of Contact on UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004)
Dialogue, cooperation and assistance are integral to promoting and advancing the implementation of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004). National Points of Contact designated pursuant to the resolution (1540 PoCs) play an important role in this regard. While their role and responsibilities are determined by the respective States, PoCs are recognized as facilitators of direct contact between Member States and the 1540 Committee, as conduits for cooperation with international and regional organizations and assistance providers, as well as entry points for fostering the sharing of…
UNSGM experts join training course on Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environments (SSAFE)
From 10-16 November 2024, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) organized a training course in Thailand on ‘Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environments’ (SSAFE) for the United Nations Secretary-General’s Mechanism for Investigations of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (UNSGM). The objective of the course was to provide a group of qualified experts nominated by Member States to the UNSGM roster with a better understanding of the UN Security Management System and the practical skills…
2nd Basic Training Course in 2024 for experts on UNSGM roster just concluded
From 4 to 15 November 2024, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, in cooperation with the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) of Germany, organized a basic training course for the United Nations Secretary-General’s Mechanism for Investigations of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (UNSGM) in Berlin, Germany. The two-week basic course for the UNSGM was the 2nd such course held in 2024, after the basic course held in Johannesburg, South Africa in July. The course was aimed at providing experts nominated by UN Member States to the UNSGM…
Developments in small arms and light weapons manufacturing, technologies and design discussed at United Nations event
Technological advancements are impacting the design, manufacturing, marking, and tracing of small arms and light weapons. To address both the challenges and opportunities that these developments present, States agreed to establish an Open-ended Technical Expert Group dedicated to this issue. This decision, taken at the Fourth Review Conference (RevCon4) of the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and its International Tracing Instrument in June of this year, reflects a commitment to adjust to an evolving arms control landscape. The expert group will convene in 2026…
UNODA, SIPRI, and the EU, Lead Dialogue on Responsible AI at UNGA First Committee Side Event
18 October 2024On October 18, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), in partnership with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the European Union, hosted a UN General Assembly First Committee side event focused on responsible innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for peace and security. The event, titled “Responsible AI for Peace and Security: Meeting the Moment in Tackling the Risks Presented by Misuse of Civilian AI,” convened more than 60 diverse stakeholders from academia, civil society, industry, and international organizations.…
Marking 20 Years of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540
On 9 October, the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the United Nations and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) hosted an event to mark the 20th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540 in New York. The event, held on the margins of the 1540 Open Briefing, brought together over 65 representatives from Member States and International and Regional Organizations (IROs). High-level officials and panellists pose for a photograph Adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council in April 2004, UNSCR 1540 places obligations on States to…
The emerging threats of improvised explosive devices discussed in First Committee side-event at the United Nations
On October 14, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and France, alongside UNMAS and the Conflict Armament Research and Mines Advisory Group, co-hosted a side event entitled “Emerging Threats of IEDs: Insights and Responses”. The event took place during the 79th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in New York and brought together key stakeholders such as Member States, UN entities, and non-governmental organizations, to share insights on the evolving threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and discuss strategies for IED prevention…
China and the Lao PDR co-hosted the First Regional Workshop on Implementing the Biological Weapons Convention and Promoting Biosafety and Biosecurity in Southeast Asia
The Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic co-hosted the Regional Workshop on Implementing the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and Promoting Biosafety and Biosecurity in Southeast Asia from 23 to 25 October 2024 in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China. The workshop was supported by the United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) through the BWC Implementation Support Unit (ISU) and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD). Furthermore, the Sun Yat-Sen…