UNIDIR and the Geneva Branch of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs are pleased to host the seventh edition of the Disarmament Orientation Course. The course is designed to help newly arrived diplomats and officials navigate Geneva’s disarmament and arms control landscape.
Through six thematic modules, participants will gain a practical understanding of the key issues, processes and institutions that underpin multilateral disarmament efforts in an increasingly complex global security environment.
Agenda
Over a two-week period, six course modules will address current disarmament trends and developments across key areas, including the Conference on Disarmament, conventional weapons, the Biological Weapons Convention, outer space security and the prevention of an arms race in outer space, as well as artificial intelligence, lethal autonomous weapons systems and cyber issues. Additionally, the course will provide perspectives on cross-cutting issues, including diversity, gender, civil society engagement, youth, development and human-centred disarmament.
When and where
Monday, 21 September–Wednesday, 30 September 2026 | 08:00–10:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, Geneva.
The course is free of charge and will be delivered in English.
Participants
The course is open to diplomats or officials with responsibilities for disarmament and arms control matters who have recently arrived in Geneva or who are expected to be posted to Geneva within the next six to twelve months. A call for nominations has been sent to Permanent Missions to the United Nations and delegations of international and regional organizations in Geneva.
Please note that registrations for the Disarmament Orientation Course are now closed.
Further information
For any questions, please contact doc@un.org.