National strategies have been recognized as a key pillar for enabling the development and use of AI in security and defence. Recognizing this importance, in 2024, UNIDIR launched a programme of work to develop guidelines for the development, adoption, implementation and review of national strategies on AI in security and defence.

Drawing on national experiences and expertise, this side event organized by UNIDIR’s Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security will bring together representatives of States and the expert community to share and discuss national experiences and best practices.

Speakers will present key observations and reflections and outline the project’s next phase: the development of a dedicated, interactive digital toolbox. Panelists and participants will also be invited to reflect on the value of national strategies and their role in the broader governance of these technologies.

Agenda

13:00-13:15 | Registration and lunch

13:15-13:20 | Welcome remarks and introductions

13:20-13:40 | Launch of the UNIDIR Guidelines for the Development of a National Strategy on AI in Security and Defence

13:40-14:20 | National experiences and best practices for the development of an AI national strategy

14:20-14:40 | Moderated discussion

14:40-14:45 | Wrap-up and closing remarks

Speakers

• Amb Anne Lazar-Sury, Permanent Representative of France, Conference on Disarmament in Geneva
• Prof Michael Horowitz, Director of Perry World House and Richard Perry Professor, University of Pennsylvania
• Dr Robin Geiss, Director, UNIDIR
• Dr Yasmin Afina, Researcher, Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security, UNIDIR
• Jan Hendrik Mannsperger, Graduate Professional, Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security, UNIDIR

When and where

Monday, 19 October 2026 | 13:15 – 14:45 EDT | In person (Conference Room 8, United Nations Headquarters, New York).

Check your local time here.

Participants

The event is open to all.

Registration is mandatory. Please note that participants joining us in person must have a valid visitor pass or long-term badge to enter United Nations Headquarters, as UNIDIR is unable to facilitate entry arrangements.

​RSVP

For in-person participation, please register here.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Dr Yasmin Afina at yasmin.afina@un.org.

The post Developing a national AI strategy in security and defence first appeared on UNIDIR.

The wider international community increasingly recognizes that the private sector plays a critical role in the responsible development and use of military AI. In response, in February 2026 UNIDIR launched a multi-year programme in partnership with OHCHR to develop a Framework of Responsible Industry Behaviour for AI in the Military Domain. The Framework seeks to establish a common baseline by providing industry with credible guidelines for responsible behaviour and giving governments and other stakeholders greater clarity on responsible AI procurement and public-private partnerships.

To map out the Framework’s foundational elements and existing best practices, UNIDIR and OHCHR are circulating three targeted questionnaires for industry, government and civil society. These aim to capture existing instruments for responsible industry behaviour and identify stakeholder expectations regarding compliance and responsibility.

This event, organized by UNIDIR’s Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security, will present the questionnaires, gather initial reactions and feedback from First Committee participants, and encourage engagement and wider dissemination. It will also take stock of existing perspectives and best practices that can support effective public-private partnerships. Participants will gain an overview of State, industry and civil society perspectives on the issues addressed by the Framework, as well as the next steps in its development.

Agenda

08:30-08:35 | Opening​ remarks

08:35-09:10 | Presentation of UNIDIR’s survey and overview of best practices​

​09:10-09:40 | Next steps​

09:40-09:45 | Closing remarks and the way ahead​

Speakers

• Dr Robin Geiss, Director, UNIDIR
• Amb Anne Lazar-Sury, Permanent Representative of France, Conference on Disarmament in Geneva​
• Reto Wollenmann, Senior Advisor on AI and International Security, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland

Moderated by ​Dr Yasmin Afina, Researcher, Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security, UNIDIR​.

​Further details will be added in due course.

When and where

Friday, 23 October 2026 | 08:30 – 09:45 EDT | In person (Microsoft Office, One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, New York).

Check your local time here.

Participants

The event is open to all.

Kindly note that space is limited and participation will be subject to UNIDIR’s final confirmation. Registration to the side event does not guarantee a place in the workshop.

​RSVP

For in-person participation, please register here.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Dr Yasmin Afina at yasmin.afina@un.org.

A light breakfast and refreshments will be served prior to the side event. 

In collaboration with

The post Unpacking the Framework of Responsible Industry Behaviour for AI in the Military Domain first appeared on UNIDIR.

Multilateral discussions on outer space currently follow two separate tracks. Space safety is addressed by the Fourth Committee and the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in Vienna. Space security is addressed by the First Committee, the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva and the Open-ended Working Group on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space in all its aspects. This division has distinct historical roots and continues to serve procedural purposes, including preserving COPUOS as a forum for cooperation rather than contestation.

In practice, however, several issues do not fit neatly within this divide. Space debris, orbital congestion, space situational awareness and the growing interest in lunar activity, among other topics, require technical cooperation to manage safely, even as they are increasingly shaped by strategic competition and security concerns among States. Left unaddressed, such issues risk being handled in duplicate without coordination or being redirected between forums in ways that delay substantive engagement.

Agenda

12:45–13:15 | Light lunch

13:15–14:30 | Moderated discussion

Speakers

• Kazuto Suzuki, Professor of Science and Technology Policy, Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo

• Natália Archinard, Senior Advisor Outer Space, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue

• Samuel Jardine, Senior Policy Lead, Open Lunar Foundation

• David Pusztai, Policy Officer, European External Action Service

Moderator

• Sarah Erickson, Researcher, Space Security Programme, UNIDIR

When and where

Monday, 26 October 2026 | 13:15–14:30 EDT | In person (Conference Room 9, United Nations Headquarters, New York) and online

RSVP

To attend in person or online, please complete the registration form.

Further information

For further information or questions, please contact Sarah Erickson at sarah.erickson@un.org.

The post Strengthening coordination in space safety and space security governance first appeared on UNIDIR.

The 2026 report of the Secretary-General on Countering the threat posed by improvised explosive devices highlights the increasing integration of IEDs with commercially available uncrewed aerial systems. The event will examine current and emerging trends in the IED threat and discuss mitigation measures, tools and resources to support efforts to prevent and counter IED threats.

It will also launch the UNIDIR counter-IED compendium, an online resource for voluntary knowledge-sharing on effective national measures and practical approaches. The discussion will bring together Member States, United Nations entities and non-governmental organizations to exchange views on preventing and mitigating IED threats.

Agenda

Welcome remarks

• Jennifer Cavenagh, Deputy Permanent Representative, Australian Delegation to the Conference on Disarmament

Opening remarks

• Ambassador Anne Lazar-Sury, Permanent Representative, French Delegation to the Conference on Disarmament

Panel

• Key observations and recommendations of the 2026 Secretary-General’s report on “Countering the threat posed by improvised explosive devices”
  • Diane Sheinberg, Deputy Chief, Conventional Arms Branch, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
• Mitigating IED threats: Evolving challenges and emerging measures
  • Raymond Kemei, IED Threat Mitigation Advisory Team, United Nations Mine Action Service
• Strengthening knowledge-sharing on countering IED threats: The UNIDIR counter-IED compendium
  • Hardy Giezendanner, Deputy Head, Conventional Weapons Programme, UNIDIR

Interactive discussion

Closing remarks

• Frederick Udobia, Minister Counsellor, Disarmament Affairs, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva

When and where

Friday, 16 October 2026 | 13:15–14:30 EDT | In person (Conference Room D, United Nations Headquarters, New York).

Participants

The event is open to Member State representatives, United Nations entities and non-governmental organizations.

Please note that participants joining us in person must have a valid visitor pass or long-term badge to enter United Nations Headquarters, as UNIDIR is unable to facilitate entry arrangements.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Hardy Giezendanner at giezendanner@un.org.

In partnership with

The post Countering improvised explosive device threats: Emerging trends, tools and resources first appeared on UNIDIR.

In June 2026, UNIDIR launched its Centre of Excellence in response to the rapid transformation that artificial intelligence is bringing to the global peace and security landscape. The Centre is a permanent platform to consolidate knowledge, connect stakeholders, and sustain momentum between high-level summits and multilateral processes.

Designed to ensure continuity and coherence across processes and initiatives, foster inclusive global engagement, and provide practical and evidence-based policy guidance, resources and capacity-building, the Centre is established as global efforts to govern AI in peace and security contexts are at a critical juncture.

This event will mark the launch of the Forum and the opening of expressions of interest to join. The Forum is an inclusive, multistakeholder platform for engagement, exchange, and collaboration. By formalizing participation at the organizational level, it is designed to provide a dedicated, neutral space for an exchange of perspectives, the collection of inputs through consultations, and support dissemination and collaboration across the wider ecosystem.

Agenda

13:00-13:15 | Registration

13:15-13:25 | Welcome and introductions

13:25-13:55| Kick-off remarks: The role and value of the Centre

13:55-14:05 | Invitation for engagement: The Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security’s Forum

14:05-14:35 | Moderated exchange​

14:35-14:45 | Wrap-up​ questions

Speakers

• Oliver Höhne, Deputy Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York​
• Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York
• Izumi Nakamitsu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, UNODA
• Dr Robin Geiss, Director, UNIDIR​​

Moderated by Dr Yasmin Afina, Researcher, Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security, UNIDIR​ 

When and where

Thursday, 22 October 2026 | 13:00 – 14:45 EDT | In person (Conference Room 4, United Nations Headquarters, New York).

Check your local time here.

A light lunch will be served outside Conference Room 4.

Participants

The event is open to all.

Registration is mandatory. Please note that participants joining us in person must have a valid visitor pass or long-term badge to enter United Nations Headquarters, as UNIDIR is unable to facilitate entry arrangements.

​RSVP

For in-person participation, please register here.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Dr Yasmin Afina at yasmin.afina@un.org.

In collaboration with

The post ​UNIDIR’s Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security: Forum launch​ first appeared on UNIDIR.

Information disorders, an umbrella term which encompasses issues driven by disinformation, misinformation and malinformation that affect and pollute information integrity, are not a new issue. However, their scope, scale and impact have grown with advances in information and communication technologies and the democratization of digital tools and platforms, including generative AI.

The risks posed by mis- and disinformation have been recognized as key in the UN’s inaugural 2025 Global Risk Report. The Global Digital Compact, adopted by United Nations Member States in 2024, also recognizes the importance of upholding and strengthening information integrity and addressing mis- and disinformation, as does the Pact for the Future.

While the implications of information disorders for peace and conflict have previously been highlighted, the nexus between information disorders and conventional arms, in particular their flows, acquisition and build-up, has remained anecdotal. However, forthcoming UNIDIR research on the topic shows that information disorders exist around conventional arms flows, acquisition and build-up, and that these manifest themselves in specific ways.

Discussing this issue now is timely: not only do online information disorders risk permeating offline spaces, including multilateral discussions on arms control, but the increase in conflicts worldwide has also stimulated public attention – if not interest – in the normally more covert topic of arms flows.

This event will provide a platform to discuss how to ensure and strengthen information integrity within conventional arms control forums and beyond, leveraging insights from various stakeholders from the arms control space as well as adjacent fields.

Speakers

Opening remarks

• Oļegs Iļģis, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Latvia to the United Nations
• Dr Robin Geiss, Director, UNIDIR

Speakers

• Olga Belogolova, Director of the Emerging Technologies Initiative, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
• Sarah Grand-Clément, Senior Researcher, Security and Technology and Conventional Weapons Programme, UNIDIR
• Elias Yousif, Fellow and Acting Director of the Conventional Defense Program, Stimson Center

Moderated by Ioana Puscas, Senior Researcher, Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR

When and where

Wednesday, 21 October 2026 | 13:30 – 14:45 EDT | In person (Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations, 605 Third Avenue, 35th Floor, New York) and online.

Check your local time here.

Participants

The event is open to representatives from Member State delegations, as well as members of the multi-stakeholder community including industry, civil society, and intergovernmental organizations (ECOSOC status).

RSVP

Registration is mandatory, for in-person and online participation please register here.

Registration closes 24 hours before the event.

In collaboration with

The post False signals and real weapons? Strengthening information integrity about conventional arms control first appeared on UNIDIR.

The risks of AI proliferation, in particular its access and misuse by malicious non-state actors, are recognized to be particularly high and urgent. Yet discussions on how to effectively counter AI’s proliferation have been rather limited.

Existing non-proliferation regimes, expert networks and export control frameworks provide a useful foundation to address some of the proliferation risks of AI, but the challenges introduced by AI technologies extend beyond traditional domains and, in some cases, even beyond dual-use governance. More dedicated efforts are needed to identify gaps and to develop actionable policy recommendations at the national and international levels.

This side event, organized by UNIDIR’s Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security, aims to provide a deep dive into the limitations and gaps of existing non-proliferation efforts, as well as discuss concrete and implementable policy recommendations for the field of AI. The discussion draws on multidisciplinary expertise and lessons, integrating technical depth and policy knowledge.

Agenda

Further details will be added in due course.

When and where

Wednesday, 21 October 2026 | 08:30 – 09:45 EDT | In person (UNCA Room, S-308, United Nations Headquarters, New York).

Check your local time here.

Participants

The event is open to all ​First Committee delegates. Please note that participants joining us in person must have a valid visitor pass or long-term badge to enter United Nations Headquarters, as UNIDIR is unable to facilitate entry arrangements.

RSVP

For in-person participation, please register through UNITAR’s registration page before 16 October.

In collaboration with

The post ​Non-proliferation of AI: A roadmap for action first appeared on UNIDIR.

The need for a lexicon for AI has been discussed on several recent occasions, including in the informal exchanges on AI in the military domain held in June 2026.

While developing a lexicon presents technical and political challenges, many States recognize its practical utility: a lexicon can disambiguate and enhance familiarity with AI security topics across policy communities, thus promoting shared understandings.

In 2026 and 2027, UNIDIR’s Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security will bring together a multidisciplinary and geographically diverse group of experts to develop an AI security lexicon. It will serve as a repository of key terminology, explaining and clarifying fundamental concepts and, where needed, outlining different definitions and interpretations. The aim is to provide a neutral, technical resource that States and the broader international community can draw on in national contexts and international discussions.

This event will consider examples and lessons from other policy domains, as well as technical and terminological challenges in developing an AI security lexicon. These include curating terms and concepts, ensuring technical neutrality across scientific communities, mitigating risks of political bias or definitional capture, and ensuring long-term applicability.​

Agenda

Further details will be added in due course.

When and where

Friday, 23 October 2026 | 13:15 – 14:30 EDT | In person (Conference Room 8, United Nations Headquarters, New York).

Check your local time here.

Participants

The event is open to all ​First Committee delegates. Please note that participants joining us in person must have a valid visitor pass or long-term badge to enter United Nations Headquarters, as UNIDIR is unable to facilitate entry arrangements.

RSVP

For in-person participation please register here.

The post A security lexicon for AI​ first appeared on UNIDIR.

Meet UNIDIR’s Managing Exits from Armed Conflict (MEAC) team at the Peacebuilding Marketplace and explore the project and its evidence on journeys into and out of armed groups. Through research with former armed group associates as well as conflict-affected communities, MEAC generates context-specific insights to help policymakers and practitioners prevent recruitment, strengthen reintegration and interrupt conflict cycles. Its research across Colombia, Iraq and the Lake Chad Basin region sheds light on why people become involved with armed groups, what enables them to leave and what shapes their prospects for rebuilding their lives.

Reflecting the Forum’s theme, “Choose Peace”, the showcase will explore what is needed to make peace a reality for people and communities affected by conflict. Visitors are invited to stop by the MEAC stand, meet the team, explore its latest research and exchange ideas on translating evidence into more effective policy and programming.

When and where

Tuesday, 13 October 2026 | 08:30–18:00 CEST | Espace Ruth Dreifuss, Centre International de Conférences Genève, Geneva, Switzerland

Participants

The event is open to all registered Geneva Peace Forum participants.

RSVP

To participate, please register on the Geneva Peace Forum 2026 registration page.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Jessica Caus at jessica.caus@un.org.

The post UNIDIR at the Geneva Peace Forum’s Peacebuilding Marketplace first appeared on UNIDIR.

Keeping abreast of today’s fast pace of innovation requires the systematic identification of relevant developments, as well as the timely analysis of their potential positive and negative impacts on disarmament and international security. The three-year horizon scanning effort of UNIDIR’s Watchtower seeks to identify key scientific and technological innovations with relevance to selected disarmament domains.

The event will highlight scientific and technological developments identified over the past year in the areas of conventional arms and ammunition, nuclear weapons, and chemical and biological weapons. It will provide the diplomatic community with a succinct, accessible bird’s-eye view of emerging trends impacting their domain.

Agenda

• Welcome remarks
• Introduction and session framing
• Presentation of UNIDIR’s Science and Technology Watchtower horizon scanning findings
  • Conventional arms and ammunition
  • Nuclear weapons
  • Chemical and biological weapons
• Q&A session

Speakers

• Sarah Grand-Clement, Senior Researcher, Security and Technology and Conventional Weapons Programme, UNIDIR
• Sarah Ruth Opatowski, Associate Researcher, Security and Technology and Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme, UNIDIR
• Clarisse Bertherat, Researcher, Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme, UNIDIR

Moderated by Federico Mantellassi, Researcher, Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR

When and where

Tuesday, 20 October 2026 | 13:15 – 14:30 EDT | In person (Conference Room 8, United Nations Headquarters, New York) and online.

Check your local time here.

Participants

The event is open to State representatives, civil society, academics and industry experts working on, or interested in, science and technology issues pertaining to international peace and security, and disarmament and arms control.

Please note that participants joining us in person must have a valid visitor pass or long-term badge to enter United Nations Headquarters, as UNIDIR is unable to facilitate entry arrangements.

RSVP

For in-person and online participation please register here.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Federico Mantellassi at unidir-stwatchtower@un.org.

In collaboration with

The post Science and technology developments across the disarmament spectrum first appeared on UNIDIR.

Climate and environmental change are reshaping the contexts in which violent extremist and terrorist groups operate. While climate-related pressures rarely drive conflict directly, they can exacerbate governance challenges, deepen livelihood insecurity and intensify competition over resources, creating conditions that armed groups can exploit. Recent research points to increasingly complex and context-specific ways in which these groups adapt their recruitment strategies, governance practices and operational tactics in response to environmental and climate-related stresses.

As understanding of this nexus evolves, a pressing challenge remains: how can governments, practitioners and local communities translate emerging evidence into effective policy and programming?

Participants will explore what climate-informed approaches to preventing and countering violent extremism can look like in practice, how climate adaptation interventions may inadvertently create new security risks and what concrete steps organizations can take to better account for these dynamics in their work.

Speakers

• Lukas Rüttinger, Senior Advisor, adelphi

• Andre Alves dos Reis, Head of Performance and Impact, Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund

• Siobhan O’Neil, Head of the Managing Exits from Armed Conflict Project, UNIDIR

• Aisha Omar, Field Manager, Horn of Africa Peace Network

• Tendai Kasinganeti, Climate, Peace and Security Advisor, United Nations Office to the African Union

When and where

Tuesday, 6 October 2026 | 11:00–12:30 CEST | Breakout room 1, German Federal Foreign Office, Berlin, Germany

Participants

The event is invitation-only.

In partnership with

The post Climate-induced fragility in areas affected by violent extremism and terrorism first appeared on UNIDIR.

In the currently fragmented and complex security environment, securitized approaches to armed violence and arms control, focused on curtailing illicit weapons supply, risk falling short of preventing violence durably. The choice to pursue sustainable peace requires moving towards preventive responses that also tackle the underlying drivers of demand for weapons and of engagement in armed violence. In the Pact for the Future, States recognized the need for such a shift.

Integrating small arms control within multisectoral and preventive public health approaches, armed violence reduction strategies and community engagement initiatives can offer more sustainable pathways to peace. Doing so helps combine and coordinate law enforcement interventions and arms control with community safety, reintegration and other efforts to tackle the drivers of violence. It also fosters inclusive engagement with young people, social services and digital platforms, with a view to addressing radicalization.

Through interactive dialogue between practitioners and policymakers, the panel promotes cross-regional learning, demonstrating that choosing peace is not merely a high-level commitment but also an operational necessity.

Agenda

Opening remarks

• Dr Adam Bonaa, Executive Secretary, National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Ghana

• Dagmar Schmidt Tartagli, Deputy Head, Peace and Human Rights Division, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland

Panel discussion

Speakers

• Viktoriia Voronina, Executive Director, Center for Security Studies “CENSS”, Ukraine

• Nils Duquet, Director, Flemish Peace Institute

• Dr Nicolas Florquin, Head of Data and Analytics, Small Arms Survey

• Nakmak Douti, Senior Expert, Security Sector Governance, Togo

• Anselme Nahmtante Yabouri, Director, United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa

Moderator

• Ursign Hofmann, Senior Researcher, UNIDIR

Contributions from the floor / Q and A

Closing remarks

• Katrien De Pauw, General Representative of the Delegation of Flanders, Permanent Mission of Belgium to the United Nations in Geneva

When and where

Wednesday, 14 October 2026 | 11:00–12:30 CEST | In person (Plenary B, CICG, Rue de Varembé 17, 1211 Geneva) and online

Check your local time here.

Participants

The event is open to ​anyone​.

RSVP

For online or in-person participation, please register through the Geneva Peace Forum 2026 registration page.

In partnership with

The post Beyond security: Multisectoral responses to armed violence and weapons proliferation first appeared on UNIDIR.

UNIDIR, UNLIREC y la Oficina Regional de ONU Mujeres para América Latina y el Caribe organizan conjuntamente un curso para funcionarios nacionales de la Republica Dominicana.

Los objetivos principales son:

• Introducir a funcionarios/as nacionales en la convergencia de la agenda 1325 sobre Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad y la agenda de control de armas pequeñas.

• Presentar los lineamientos básicos necesarios para iniciar el proceso de diseño del primer Plan Nacional de Acción 1325 que incluya el impacto de la violencia armada en la vida de las mujeres y la importancia de garantizar su participación significativa en el control de armas pequeñas.

• Realizar ejercicios de identificación de oportunidades de colaboración interinstitucional, iniciativas e indicadores. 

Participantes

El curso es direccionado a puntos focales de la Resolución 1325, representantes de instituciones nacionales con competencias en igualdad de género, seguridad, defensa y control de armas.

Fecha y lugar

29 y 30 de setiembre de 2026, Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana.

Más información

Por favor, contacte con renata.hessmanndalaqua@un.org.

En colaboración con

The post Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad: Introducción al diseño de un Plan de Acción Nacional 1325 con enfoque en el control de armas pequeñas first appeared on UNIDIR.

This event will bring together young professionals who will share insights and offer policy recommendations addressing the AI-nuclear nexus. The discussion will build on educational initiatives carried out throughout the year by the Republic of Korea, UNIDIR and others to equip the next generation with relevant knowledge and empower them to participate actively in arms control and disarmament discussions. The overall goal of these efforts is to ensure the long-term resilience of the arms control and disarmament architecture in light of ongoing technological changes.

Potential topics to be addressed include:

• What are the main risks and opportunities that AI poses for the global nuclear order?

• What measures are needed to prevent and/or mitigate these risks?

• What are key aspects of an ethical approach to the use of AI? Is it possible to apply this approach to AI in the military domain?

• What can be done to avoid the risk that AI and technology development will increase geopolitical gaps and augment existing disparities among nations?

• What role can AI and other emerging technologies play as tools for improving monitoring and international cooperation to reduce nuclear risk?

• What role should human judgement and control play in nuclear decision-making as AI technologies become increasingly integrated into the military domain?

Agenda

Opening remarks

• Felipe Paullier Olivera, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs

• Ambassador Jong Kwon Youn, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations

Youth experts forum

Speakers

• Jan Hendrik Mannsperger, Graduate Professional, Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR

• Lee Yongjae, Representative, Youth Envoys for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Programme

• Jo Yeonwoo, Representative, Youth Envoys for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Programme

• Bwalya Chisanga, Independent Expert on Tech, Gender and Governance

Moderator

• Fanny Sebban, New York Liaison Officer, UNIDIR

When and where

Friday, 16 October 2026 | 13:15 – 14:30 EDT | Room A, United Nations Headquarters, New York.

Participants

The event is open to Member States representatives, civil society and academics. Kindly note that UNIDIR is not able to grant access to the UN Headquarters for those who are not already in possession of the the UN accreditation.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Renata Hessmann Dalaqua at renata.hessmanndalaqua@un.org.

In partnership with

The post Preparing for tomorrow: Youth Experts Forum on the cross-cutting implications of AI for disarmament and nonproliferation first appeared on UNIDIR.

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.

The post Disarmament Orientation Course 2026 first appeared on UNIDIR.

Ouangolodougou, northern Côte d’Ivoire, sits within an important cross-border corridor connecting Côte d’Ivoire with neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali. The movement of people, goods and informal commerce across this area is an important part of local livelihoods, but the same dynamics can also create opportunities for the movement of illicit arms and ammunition. For communities living along these routes, changes in trafficking patterns, unusual movements and emerging security concerns may become visible before they reach formal security and early warning systems.

Strengthening the ability of local actors to recognize and responsibly communicate these signals is therefore an important part of preventing ammunition diversion and trafficking. The challenge is not simply identifying risks, but ensuring that community observations can be appropriately assessed, documented and connected to relevant prevention and response mechanisms without placing community monitors or sources at unnecessary risk.

The training will place particular emphasis on the realities of border communities in northern Côte d’Ivoire and on strengthening constructive links between community monitors, civil society organizations and relevant authorities. It will also provide an opportunity to test and further refine UNIDIR’s emerging community-led arms control approach, including locally appropriate options for prevention, information sharing and response.

Agenda

Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | Day 1 | Understanding the local risk environment

Opening and participant expectations

Sessions

• A: Security dynamics and emerging threats in northern Côte d’Ivoire

• B: Understanding ammunition diversion and trafficking pathways

• C: Legal and policy frameworks for countering ammunition diversion and trafficking

• D: Diversion risks in border communities

Group exercise: Mapping local risks, actors and vulnerabilities

Wednesday, 23 September 2026 | Day 2 | Identifying and reporting diversion risks

Sessions

• E: Identifying indicators of ammunition diversion and trafficking

• F: Recording, verifying and documenting diversion indicators

• G: Assessing and prioritising diversion risks

Practical exercise: From community observation to incident report

Thursday 24 September 2026 | Day 3 | From early warning to prevention

Sessions

• H: From community observations to early warning

• I: Information sharing, coordination and engagement with authorities

• J: Community-based prevention and response options

Participatory exercise: Developing community monitoring and prevention plans

Closing, reflections and next steps

When and where

Tuesday 22 September to Thursday, 24 September 2026 | 09:00–16:30 GMT | Ouangolodougou

Participants

The event is invitation-only and will bring together community-level civil society monitors, peacebuilding actors, women and youth representatives, local community actors and other relevant stakeholders working in communities affected by cross-border security and trafficking risks in northern Côte d’Ivoire.

Language

This event will be held in English, with interpretation in French.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Fiifi Edu-Afful at fiifi.eduafful@un.org.

In partnership with

The post Strengthening community-based approaches to prevent ammunition diversion and trafficking in northern Côte d’Ivoire first appeared on UNIDIR.

During the Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, UNIDIR is co-organizing a side event exploring how multilateral commitments to promote inclusivity and gender equality in the implementation of the Convention translate into positive impacts at various levels: operational, normative and political. The objectives are to exchange cross-regional experiences from international and local organisations and to foster collective learning on the transformative potential of inclusive and gender-responsive mine action.

Key topics for discussion include:

• What do age-, gender- and diversity-related commitments in the Vientiane Action Plan mean for operators and governments?

• How can localisation be a driver for gender equality and inclusion in mine action?

• What are examples of best practices to integrate age, gender, disability and diversity considerations in mine action?

• How to consolidate progress on gender equality and women’s participation in the Convention?

• How to overcome challenges and politicisation regarding gender equality?

• Overview of recent developments to improve standards and make them gender-responsive.

Agenda

12:15 – 12:20 | Welcome

• Renata H. Dalaqua, Head of Programme, UNIDIR

12:20 – 12:30 | Opening remarks

• Amb. Alexander Kmentt, Permanent Representative of Austria

12:30 – 13:15 | Moderated discussion

Speakers

• Tuqa Mohamed Hneadi, Diversity Inclusion Coordinator, Norwegian People’s Aid Iraq

• Oleluck Somoulay, Acting Chief of Human Resources, Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme

• Dominic Wolsey, Advisor, Gender and Diversity, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining

Moderator

• Renata H. Dalaqua, Head of Programme, UNIDIR

13:15 – 13:40 | Q and A with participants

13:40 – 13:45 | Closing remarks

• Paul Serges Ntamack, Convention on Cluster Munitions Gender Focal Point and Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Cameroon

When and where

Tuesday, 15 September 2026 | 12:15–13:45 ICT | Room 6, Lao National Convention Centre, Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Participants

The event is open to State representatives and stakeholders attending the Third Review Conference.

In partnership with

The post Inclusion and gender equality in the Convention on Cluster Munitions: Connecting local action with global ambition first appeared on UNIDIR.

Cluster munitions are weapons that disperse dozens or even hundreds of submunitions over a wide area. Their use can have devastating immediate consequences, particularly in populated areas. Unexploded submunitions can continue to pose a life-threatening risk to civilians long after a conflict ends. The Convention on Cluster Munitions, adopted in 2008, bans the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions for States Parties. The Convention currently has 112 States Parties and 12 signatories.

The launch event takes place ahead of the Convention’s Third Review Conference in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, where States Parties will assess progress and adopt a new five-year action plan. The annual Cluster Munition Monitor provides an important evidence base for this discussion, highlighting both positive developments and persistent challenges, including recent use, production and transfers of cluster munitions, as well as their continuing humanitarian impact.

Speakers

• Loren Persi Vicentic, Research Lead, Cluster Munition Monitor

• Jillian Rafferty, Ban Policy Lead, Cluster Munition Monitor

• Katrin Atkins, Mine Action Lead, Cluster Munition Monitor

• Ruth Bottomley, Mine Action Funding Research Lead, Cluster Munition Monitor

Moderator

• Fiifi Edu-Afful, Senior Researcher, UNIDIR

When and where

Tuesday, 8 September 2026 | 15:00 – 16:00 CEST | Online

Check your local time here.

Participants

The event is open to the public. Join the event via Zoom.

In partnership with

The post Cluster Munition Monitor 2026 global launch first appeared on UNIDIR.

The Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management (GFA), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2023, provides the first internationally agreed framework dedicated to the sustainable, safe and secure management of conventional ammunition throughout its life cycle. Addressing the dual risks of unplanned explosions at munition sites and illicit diversion, the GFA’s first Meeting of States is scheduled for 2027 and represents a critical opportunity for States to review implementation and adopt action-oriented recommendations.

To support preparations for this milestone, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and UNIDIR’s Conventional Weapons Programme are co-organizing a series of four closed-door thematic expert webinars. This initiative is funded by the European Union under Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2565.

Discussions will be grounded in operational and national implementation experiences. The webinars will bring together multistakeholder technical audiences to share concrete practices, lessons learned and priority support needs across the core thematic areas of the GFA. Key findings and recommendations from all four sessions will be consolidated into a single analytical report, translated into French and Spanish, to directly inform substantive preparations for the 2027 Meeting of States.

When and where

The consultations will be held virtually via Zoom. Discussions will follow a closed-door expert format with facilitated breakout groups and report-backs. The sessions are scheduled for:

• Webinar 1: Ensuring sustainability in through-life conventional ammunition management – Tuesday, 8 September 2026 | 09:00–12:00 EDT | Online

• Webinar 2: Preventing unplanned explosions at munition sites (safety) – Wednesday, 30 September 2026 | 09:00–12:00 EDT | Online

• Webinar 3: Preventing and investigating ammunition diversion (security) – Tuesday, 13 October 2026 | 09:00–12:00 EDT | Online

• Webinar 4: Prioritising and structuring future technical work under the Global Framework for Through-Life Conventional Ammunition Management – Wednesday, 28 October 2026 | 09:00–12:00 EDT | Online

Check your local time here.

Participation

UNIDIR and UNODA welcome the engagement of technical experts, national authorities, international and regional organizations, civil society, industry representatives and researchers working within the field of conventional ammunition management.

Please note that participation in this series is by invitation only. However, if you are an expert or institutional representative interested in contributing to one or more of these consultations, you are welcome to reach out directly to the project focal point, Dr Theò Bajon, at theo.bajon@un.org.

The post Supporting substantive preparations for the First Meeting of States on the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management first appeared on UNIDIR.

A milestone anniversary can be an important moment to reflect, take stock of achievements and obstacles overcome and consider new challenges and opportunities ahead. Since 2021, several African subregional small arms and light weapons (SALW) control instruments have marked their 20th anniversaries by reviewing implementation and updating their key provisions.

The 20th anniversaries of the adoption of the SADC Firearms Protocol in 2021 and the Nairobi Protocol on SALW in 2024 prompted reviews of these subregional arms control instruments. The ECOWAS Convention on SALW marked its 20th anniversary in June 2026. This makes it a timely moment to consider progress, common challenges and new and emerging threats and opportunities in addressing the illicit proliferation and misuse of arms and ammunition as part of African efforts to foster peace, security and sustainable development.

During the event, experts will share lessons learned from the reviews of the SADC Firearms Protocol and Nairobi Protocol on SALW and consider priorities for a review of the ECOWAS Convention on SALW. The event will highlight implementation progress and examine longstanding SALW control challenges and new and emerging arms-related threats.

Speakers

• Thanyani Gumede, Senior Officer for Police, Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation

• Jean-Pierre Betindji, Executive Secretary, Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons

• Abayomi Adeomi, Programme Officer, Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Economic Community of West African States Commission

Moderator

• Dr Paul Holtom, Head of the Conventional Weapons Programme, UNIDIR

When and where

Tuesday, 15 September 2026 | 15:00 – 16:30 CEST | Online

Check your local time here.

Participants

The co-organizers encourage the participation of representatives and experts from States, the United Nations, regional organizations, civil society and academia who are interested in strengthening arms and ammunition control in Africa.

Language

This event will be held in English, with interpretation in French.

RSVP

For participation, please register here.

Further information

For any questions, please contact cap-unidir@un.org.

In partnership with

The post Small arms and ammunition control in Africa: Challenges, opportunities and ways forward for subregional approaches first appeared on UNIDIR.

To maximize the impact of this milestone during the International Day against Nuclear Tests, this four-part event combines high-level political advocacy with targeted diplomatic capacity-building. In partnership with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and UNIDIR, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) will host a specialized diplomatic seminar designed to deepen delegates’ understanding of the Treaty ahead of the UN General Assembly First Committee session.

Agenda

Friday, 28 August 2026 | Day 1

Part I | Diplomatic seminar on the CTBT

10:00 – 12:00

Location: Conference Room 8, United Nations Headquarters

10:00 – 10:15 | Welcome and opening remarks

• Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs

• Dr Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization

10:15 – 10:40 | Module 1 – Legal and political framework and entry into force

• The history, evolution and political architecture of the Treaty
  • Representative of the CTBTO

• Discussion of the Article XIV process and strategic pathways towards universalization
  • Representative of the CTBTO

10:40 – 10:55 | Coffee break

10:55 – 11:25 | Module 2 – The science of verification

• A comprehensive briefing on the IMS across all four monitoring technologies: seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclide
  • Representative of the CTBTO

• An overview of the International Data Centre and On-Site Inspections
  • Representative of the CTBTO

11:25 – 11:40 | Module 3 – Navigating the First Committee

• Past CTBT resolutions and expectations for the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly
  • H.E. Porfirio Thierry Muñoz Ledo Chevannier, Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico

11:45 – 12:00 | Closing remarks

• Dr Robin Geiss, Director, UNIDIR

Part II | Exhibit launch and ribbon-cutting ceremony

12:00 – 12:30

Location: 1B Neck Exhibition Area, United Nations Headquarters

12:00 – 12:30 | Inauguration of the dedicated retrospective exhibit by the UN Secretary-General, CTBTO Executive Secretary Dr Robert Floyd, Friends of the CTBT, Article XIV co-chairs and Permanent Representatives, including the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan.

12:00 – 12:30 | Lunch break

Part III | High-level 30th anniversary celebratory event

12:30 – 13:30

Location: Conference Room 8, United Nations Headquarters

High-level remarks

• H.E. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General

• Dr Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization – Reflecting on 30 years of the verification regime and outlining the path forward

Audiovisual presentation

• “The Road to Zero” – a short film featuring the voices of negotiators, scientists, station operators and diplomats tracing three decades of ensuring no nuclear test goes undetected

Goodwill messages and statements

• Statements by partner Member States reinforcing national and regional commitments to the CTBT as a core pillar of the international non-proliferation regime

• A statement will be delivered on behalf of the co-presidency of the Article XIV process 

• A statement will be delivered on behalf of the Friends of the CTBT

Closing remarks

• Permanent Representative of Latvia to the United Nations

Saturday, 29 August 2026 | Day 2

Part IV | International Day against Nuclear Tests tree-planting ceremony

10:00 – 11:00

Location: Secretariat Circle, United Nations Headquarters

The ceremony will mark three decades of the global norm against nuclear testing with the planting of a commemorative tree. The event is co-hosted by the Friends of the CTBT, in partnership with the CTBTO and UNODA.

Further details will be added in due course.

When and where

Friday, 28 August and Saturday, 29 August 2026 | United Nations Headquarters, New York.

Participants

Participation is upon invitation only. 

Further information

For any questions, please contact Fanny Sebban at fanny.sebban@un.org.

In partnership with

The post The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty at 30 first appeared on UNIDIR.

This side event will launch the initiative with an interactive discussion on key elements for the first comprehensive review of the ATT’s influence on national transfer control systems, processes for countering diversion and international cooperation and assistance for peace, security and reducing human suffering.

Opening remarks

• Ambassador David Riley, Ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament, United Kingdom

Speakers

• Rob Hunter-Perkins, Head of Research, Conflict Armament Research

• Rachel Stohl, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer, Stimson Center

• Paula Soumaya Domit, Associate Researcher, UNIDIR

Moderator

• Paul Holtom, Head of Conventional Weapons Programme, UNIDIR

When and where

Thursday, 27 August 2026 | 13:15 – 14:30 CEST | Room E, Centre International de Conférences de Genève, Geneva.

Participants

This side event is open to all registered participants of the ATT Conference of States Parties (CSP). UNIDIR encourages the participation of all ATT CSP Participants, including State representatives, representatives of international and regional organizations, and civil society interested in this issue.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Paula Soumaya Domit at paula.domit@un.org.

Funded by

In partnership with

The post Evaluating the impact of the Arms Trade Treaty first appeared on UNIDIR.

Organized as part of UNIDIR’s Science and Technology Watchtower project, this event provided a platform for experts to discuss what thermobaric weapons are, what threats they pose to civilians, the existing regulations regarding their development and deployment, their transfer and use and their future trajectory. It provided trusted expert information that will benefit the diplomatic and arms control community, as well as public audiences.

Event recording

Speakers

• Arthur van Coller, Senior Research Academic, STADIO Higher Education
• Trevor Ball, Weapons Technical Analyst, Armament Research Services
• Dr Sabrina Wahler, Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate, Caltech

Moderator

• Tanya Gill, Graduate Professional, Conventional Weapons Programme, UNIDIR

When and where

Monday, 7 September 2026 | 15:00–16:15 CEST | Online

Further information

For any questions, please contact Tanya Gill at tanya.gill@un.org.

Funded by

The post Understanding thermobaric weapons: Technological capacities and governance frameworks first appeared on UNIDIR.

In response, UNIDIR’s Conventional Weapons Programme, in partnership with the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding and with support from the Government of Japan, is organizing a three-day capacity-building workshop for community-level civil society monitors in Navrongo, Ghana. This workshop will equip participants with the knowledge, skills and practical tools needed to identify, document and report ammunition diversion and trafficking risks while strengthening collaboration between communities, civil society organizations and relevant authorities. This will also serve as a pilot to iteratively develop, test and refine UNIDIR’s emerging community-led arms control framework and a progressively built menu of response options.

Agenda

Day 1: Understanding ammunition diversion and trafficking in West Africa

• Opening ceremony
• Session A: Regional security dynamics and emerging threats
• Session B: Understanding ammunition diversion and trafficking pathways
• Session C: Legal and policy frameworks for countering ammunition diversion and trafficking
• Session D: Diversion risks in border communities
• Group exercise: Mapping local risks, actors and trafficking vulnerabilities

Day 2: Community-based monitoring, documentation and reporting

• Session E: Identifying indicators of ammunition diversion and trafficking
• Session F: Recording, verifying and documenting diversion indicators: Community monitoring methodologies, data collection techniques, ethics, confidentiality and personal security
• Practical exercise: Incident documentation and reporting simulation

Day 3: Prevention, coordination and early warning

• Session G: From community observations to early warning: Information sharing, reporting pathways and coordination with national and regional mechanisms
• Session H: Working with security actors, border authorities and civil society: Building trust while maintaining community monitor roles
• Participatory exercise: Developing community monitoring and information-sharing plans 

When and where

Tuesday, 18 August, to Thursday, 20 August 2026 | Navrongo, Ghana

Participants

The event is invitation-only. This workshop will bring together representatives of community-based organizations, peacebuilding actors, youth and women’s groups, local monitors, and other civil society stakeholders operating in high-risk border communities.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Fiifi Edu Afful at fiifi.eduafful@un.org and Mae Ballena at mae.ballena@un.org.

In partnership with

Sponsor

The post Strengthening community-based approaches to prevent ammunition diversion and trafficking workshop first appeared on UNIDIR.