As reliance on space-based services continues to grow, cyber and electromagnetic threats such as jamming, spoofing and malicious cyber operations are becoming a significant and pressing challenge for space security. These activities can disrupt space systems that underpin critical services, including navigation, communications, transportation and finance, often with cascading effects, while also creating difficulties in attribution and increasing the risk of misunderstanding and escalation.

To explore this issue further, this side event brings together leading technical and policy experts to foster a shared evidence-based understanding of the evolving threat landscape, examine the challenges of distinguishing legitimate activities from intentional interference, particularly where attribution is uncertain, and examine how these threats affect space systems and their users on Earth.

Discussions will also consider how international law, including international space law, applies to cyber operations targeting space systems, and identify areas where further clarification may be useful. In addition, they will explore lessons from ICT security discussions, including the UN framework for responsible State behaviour in cyberspace, and their potential relevance to space security discussions. The event also seeks to identify practical measures to build confidence, reduce the risk of miscalculation and support the work of the OEWG on PAROS alongside other relevant forums to protect the space services on which modern societies depend.

Agenda

13:15 – 13:25 | Opening remarks

• Representative of Singapore to the UN in Geneva

• Representative of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva

13:25 – 13:45 | Brief remarks by each panellist

13:45 – 14:10 | Moderated discussion among panellists

14:10 – 14:35 | Moderated interactive Q and A with participants

14:35 – 14:45 | Closing remarks by the moderator

Further details will be added in due course.

When and where

Tuesday, 24 November 2026 | 13:15 – 14:45 CET | In person (Room XVI, Building A, Palais des Nations, Geneva) and online

Check your local time here.

Participants

The event is open to all delegates of the OEWG on PAROS (in person) and to all interested parties (virtually).

RSVP

For online participation, please register here.

For in-person participation, please register here.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Jessie Lim at jessie.lim@un.org.

A light lunch will be served prior to the event.

In partnership with

The post Cyber and electromagnetic threats to space systems: Protecting the services societies rely on first appeared on UNIDIR.

The event will bring together members of affected communities, researchers and diplomats to consider guidelines on victim assistance under Article 6 of the TPNW. The guidelines are a result of the work undertaken by Malta, in its capacity as TPNW Gender Focal Point. They recognize the need for victim assistance measures that are inclusive, participatory, age- and gender-responsive.

Key topics for discussion include:

• How States Parties can put the guidelines into practice
• What survivors’ experiences can teach us about the effects of nuclear weapons, including harms felt across generations
• How affected communities can take part in designing and delivering assistance
• What research and evidence are still needed to guide effective support

Agenda

Further details will be added in due course.

When and where

Monday, 30 November 2026 | 13:15 – 14:30 EST | In person (Conference Room 4, UN Headquarters, New York) and online

Check your local time here.

Participants

The event is open to Member States representatives, civil society and academics.

RSVP

The registration link will be added to this page in due course.

Kindly note that UNIDIR is not able to grant access to UN Headquarters for those who are not already in possession of UN accreditation.

Further information

A light lunch will be served before the event at the Vienna Café.

The event will be broadcast on UN Web TV.

In partnership with

The post Advancing age- and gender-responsive assistance under the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons: Perspectives of frontliners first appeared on UNIDIR.

The briefings provided delegations with a clear and balanced understanding of the overall outcomes of the Eleventh Review Conference and the current state of the review process. They also covered the debates that shaped the conference across the treaty’s three pillars: disarmament, non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

The briefings then examined what the outcome – and the process through which it was reached – would mean for the 81^st session of the First Committee and the next review cycle in 2028.

With the Eleventh NPT Review Conference having concluded on 22 May 2026 and the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the Twelfth Review Conference not scheduled until 2028, the First Committee will be the first multilateral setting in which States Parties can take stock of the conference’s outcome and consider its implications for the review cycle ahead.

When and where

Wednesday, 16 – Friday, 18 September 2026 | Online

Times and days varied by regional group. 

Participants

UNIDIR welcomed representatives from all UN regional groups.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Victor Calero at victor.calerogranda@un.org.

The post Regional briefings: the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference and the road ahead to the First Committee first appeared on UNIDIR.

Quantum developments could present both opportunities and risks for disarmament and international security. While future quantum computers could pose significant cybersecurity risks to critical digital systems, quantum communications could offer new ways to protect them.

Beyond cybersecurity, quantum computing could provide powerful tools for modelling molecular interactions, potentially posing new challenges for chemical and biological risk reduction. Quantum sensing, meanwhile, may strengthen chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear detection capabilities, but could also affect strategic stability by improving the ability to detect and track stealth military assets. Finally, the growing convergence between quantum technologies and AI could enable new military capabilities and amplify existing concerns surrounding military AI.

Drawing on UNIDIR’s past and ongoing research, this series of online briefings, organized by the Security and Technology Programme, will provide an accessible introduction to three core quantum fields: quantum computing, quantum communications and quantum sensing. The briefings will examine their underlying principles, current state of development, future trajectories and potential implications for disarmament and international security.

Agenda

Further details will be added in due course.

When and where

Wednesday, 2 and Thursday 3, December 2026 | Online

Times and days vary by regional group. Please see below to identify yours:

• Asia-Pacific States: 2 December 2026, 10:00 – 11:00 CET
• African States: 2 December 2026, 14:00 – 15:00 CET
• Latin America and the Caribbean: 2 December 2026, 16:00 – 17:00 CET
• Eastern Europe: 3 December 2026, 10:00 – 11:00 CET
• Western European and others: 3 December 2026, 15:00 – 16:00 CET

Check your local time here.

Participants

The event is invitation-only. We welcome representatives of diplomatic missions and government officials from relevant ministries whose work focuses on issues pertaining to emerging technologies, disarmament and international security.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Wenting He at wenting.he@un.org.

The post Quantum briefings for disarmament and international security first appeared on UNIDIR.

As armed conflicts proliferate and geopolitical fragmentation challenges traditional approaches to conflict resolution, established norms around mediation and engagement with armed actors are increasingly being reassessed. New mediation actors are emerging, and in some contexts they have shown greater willingness to engage directly with terrorist-designated armed groups that have historically been excluded from formal peace processes.

This shift raises difficult but increasingly urgent questions. Under what conditions can engagement with terrorist-designated armed groups contribute to de-escalation and peace? What are the risks of such approaches, and what opportunities might they create? How are evolving mediation practices reshaping the wider peacemaking landscape?

The session aims to generate actionable insights on feasible and desirable options for engagement, contributing to ongoing debates on conflict prevention, mediation and peacemaking in an increasingly complex international environment.

Further details will be added in due course.

When and where

Wednesday, 4 November 2026 | 11:00–12:30 CET | Münchenbryggeriet, Stockholm, Sweden

Participants

The event is invitation-only.

In partnership with

The post Engaging with terrorist-designated armed groups in the new era of peacemaking? first appeared on UNIDIR.

Cet événement s’inscrit dans la continuité des précédentes collaborations entre l’UNIDIR et GIMUN autour de simulations anglophones, notamment l’édition 2026 sur la régulation de certaines armes conventionnelles dans les environnements urbains et l’édition 2025 sur les femmes, la paix et la sécurité.

Programme

08:30–10:00 | Arrivée et inscription

10:00–10:45 | Cérémonie d’ouverture

• Henri Monceau, Représentant permanent de l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie auprès des Nations Unies à Genève

• Ndongo Niang Ba, Ministre-Conseiller à la Représentation permanente du Sénégal auprès des Nations Unies à Genève

• Mathieu Tasse, Conseiller politique à la Représentation permanente de la France auprès de la Conférence sur le désarmement

• Amelie Vinall, Présidente de Geneva International Model United Nations

11:00–17:00 | Sessions de débats

17:00–17:30 | Cérémonie de clôture

• Robin Geiss, Directeur de l’UNIDIR

• Jonathan Gatti, Vice-président de Geneva International Model United Nations

Quand et où

Lundi 16 novembre 2026 | 08:30–19:00 CET | Salle XII, Palais des Nations, Genève

Participants

L’événement est ouvert aux étudiants universitaires. L’accréditation est gérée par GIMUN.

Langue

L’événement se déroulera en français.

RSVP

Pour participer en présentiel, veuillez compléter ce formulaire et vous inscrire sur la page d’inscription.

Informations complémentaires

Pour toute question, veuillez contacter Jonathan Gatti sur jonathan.gatti@gimun.org

En partenariat avec

The post Simulation ONU : L’utilisation et régulation de l’intelligence artificielle dans le domaine militaire first appeared on UNIDIR.

Since 2008, States have adopted regional action plans and other regional frameworks to coordinate policies that advance women’s participation in peace and security and address the gendered impacts of armed conflict. UNIDIR researchers have reviewed 22 regional WPS frameworks adopted by 13 regional organizations and analysed the extent to which they address weapons-related risks.

The briefings will allow UNIDIR to share insights from this research and gather feedback on effective ways to improve regional cooperation and cross-regional learning. Key discussion points include:

• The distinct contribution of regional action plans on WPS

• How regional and national action plans on WPS complement each other

• Progress and shortcomings in integrating arms control and disarmament into regional WPS frameworks

Agenda

Speakers

• Henri Myrttinen, Fellow, Integrated Approaches Programme, UNIDIR

• Anastaesia Mondesir, Project Associate, Gender Associations

Further details will be added in due course.

When and where

2–4 November 2026 | Online

• African States: Monday, 2 November | 14:00–15:00 CET | Register

• Asia-Pacific States: Tuesday, 3 November | 08:00–09:00 CET | Register

• Eastern European States: Tuesday, 3 November | 15:00–16:00 CET | Register

• Latin American and Caribbean States: Tuesday, 3 November | 17:00–18:00 CET | Register

• Western European and other States: Wednesday, 4 November | 15:00–16:00 CET | Register

Check your local time here.

Participants

UNIDIR encourages the participation of representatives from permanent missions in New York and Geneva, experts in national capitals, regional organizations, and other stakeholders interested in gender equality, arms control and disarmament. 

Language

All regional briefings will be delivered in English. Interpretation into French will be available for the regional briefing for African States and interpretation into Spanish will be available for the regional briefing for Latin American and Caribbean States. 

The post Regional action on women, peace and security: Exploring synergies with arms control and disarmament first appeared on UNIDIR.

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
• Maria Hana Dooling, Associate Fellow, AI Security & Stability, Center for a New American Security
• 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 (served on the right side of the Vienna Cafe)

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​
• Amb Usman Jadoon, Acting 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
• H.E. Bart De Wolf, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Belgium to the United Nations
• Anna Huovila, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations

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

Closing remarks

• Dr Robin Geiss, Director, 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.

A light lunch will be offered from 13:15.

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

Opening remarks

• Dr Robin Geiss, Director, UNIDIR

Welcome remarks

• Frank Meeussen, Chair of the Conventional arms exports council working party, EEAS

Introduction and session framing

• Federico Mantellassi, Researcher, Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR

Presentation of UNIDIR’s Science and Technology Watchtower horizon scanning findings

• Conventional arms and ammunitions
  • Sarah Grand-Clement, Senior Researcher, Security and Technology and Conventional Weapons Programme, UNIDIR
• Nuclear weapons
  • Sarah Ruth Opatowski, Associate Researcher, Security and Technology and Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme, UNIDIR
• Chemical and biological weapons
  • Clarisse Bertherat, Researcher, Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme, UNIDIR

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

Q&A session

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.