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.

The discussion included short presentations by the gender focal points and other CCM States Parties, followed by an interactive discussion with diplomats, cluster munition or unexploded ordnance stakeholders and the broader mine action community. The event brought together representatives of CCM States Parties, operators, civil society and expert organizations for an open conversation on how to ensure the Convention delivers for all groups of society throughout all areas of implementation.

Event recording

Speakers

• Julia Eberl, Convention on Cluster Munitions Gender Focal Point and Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Austria

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

• Lt Rita Khoury, Non-Technical Survey and Quality Assurance/Quality Control Officer, Lebanon Mine Action Centre

• Ambarka Hassane Yacoubou, Convention on Cluster Munitions Victim Assistance Coordinator and Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Niger

• Josephine Dresner, Director of Policy and Strategic Partnerships, Mines Advisory Group

• Silvia Cattaneo, Senior Advisor, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining

Moderator 

• Renata H. Dalaqua, Head of the Integrated Approaches Programme, UNIDIR

When and where

Wednesday, 19 August 2026 | 13:15-14:45 CEST | Online

In partnership with

The post Getting ready for Vientiane: A dialogue with the Convention on Cluster Munitions gender focal points first appeared on UNIDIR.

Over the past six years, the biopharmaceutical sector has evolved significantly in response to growing global demand for biological therapeutic research, development and manufacturing capabilities. This transformation has increased the importance of not only tangible assets and biological materials, but also process innovation, technical expertise, specialized knowledge services and data handling. While these advances have accelerated innovation and strengthened the sector’s responsiveness, they have also introduced new challenges in aligning industry operations with international non-proliferation frameworks.

In this context, the event will provide a platform for dialogue between governments and biotechnology industry stakeholders to demonstrate how collaborative engagement can ensure that non-proliferation safeguards remain both technically feasible and proportionate to genuine security concerns, while remaining responsive to the evolving needs of a dynamic, pandemic-prepared biopharmaceutical sector. Through this partnership, international norms can be strengthened while continuing to support innovation and sustainable sectoral growth under the BWC.

Agenda

Further details will be added in due course.

When and where

Wednesday, 19 August 2026 | 13:15 – 14:45 CEST | Building A, Room IX, Palais des Nations, Geneva.

Participants

The event is open to State representatives, civil society and experts.

RSVP

For in-person attendance, please register here.

The post The evolution of biotech industry in the post-pandemic era and implications for the BWC first appeared on UNIDIR.

In 2013, the Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (GGE) agreed that international law applies to the State use of ICTs. Since then, States have sought to negotiate common understandings on how international law applies to State behaviour in the digital environment and continue doing so at the Global Mechanism on ICT security.

To facilitate these exchanges, the GGE as well as the Open-Ended Working Groups have repeatedly called on Member States to continue to voluntarily share their national statements and State practice on how international law applies in the use of ICTs, and called for “additional efforts, including within the United Nations, to build capacity in the areas of international law”.

Mauritius has recently developed its national position on international law in cyberspace, supported by a capacity-building collaboration with UNIDIR. Mauritius will join 36 States and two regional organizations with published positions, and become the first African Union member to do so following the 2024 Common African Position.

This side event will explore Mauritius’ process, lessons learned, the link between national and regional positions, and the roles of the Global Mechanism and capacity-building in advancing shared understanding.

Agenda

​13:15 – 13:25 | Opening keynote address​

13:25 – 13:45 | The experience of Mauritius in developing its national position: The utility of developing national views and the process of drafting Mauritius’ national position​

13:45 – 13:55 | From national to regional positions: The Common African Position and its relationship with positions in the African Union​​

13:55 – 14:10 | Capacity-building for the development of national positions on the application of international law in cyberspace​

​14:10 – 14:25 | Interactive Q&A with the audience​

14:25 – 14:30 | Closing remarks

Speakers

Opening remarks: ​The Honourable Dr Avinash Ramtohul, Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation of Mauritius​

Speakers

• Dr Kaleem Ahmed Usmani, Computer Emergency Response Team of Mauritius
• Selvana Naiken Gopalla, Computer Emergency Response Team of Mauritius
• Dr Mohamed Helal, African Union Commission on International Law​
• Dominique Steinbrecher, UNIDIR​

Moderated by Andrea Gronke, UNIDIR​

When and where

Monday, 20 July 2026 | 13:15 – 14:30 EST | In person (Conference Room 12, United Nations Headquarters, New York).

Check your local time here.

Participants

The event is open to everyone. 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 Dominique Steinbrecher​ at ​dominique.steinbrecher@un.org​.

In partnership with

The post Advancing common understandings on the application of international law in cyberspace: Pre-launch of Mauritius’ national position first appeared on UNIDIR.

Over the past year, the two partner organizations convened several virtual workshops with a curated and diverse group of experts and practitioners from governments, international and regional organizations, civil society, academia and industry working on cybersecurity. These workshops helped identify key examples, opportunities and limitations around integrating gender perspectives into cybersecurity policies and practices.

The resulting compendium distils good practices, lessons learned, recommendations and challenges gathered from different communities of practice and is envisaged to be a useful resource for Member States and across the multistakeholder community. Through this side event, the collaborating organizations invite engagement on this project to help foster conversations around integrating gender considerations within the Global Mechanism on ICT security. The event will:

• Explore recommendations on gender mainstreaming into cybersecurity, including on addressing cyber threats and incidents, the application of international law in cyberspace, national cyber policies and practices and cyber capacity-building;
• Share insights and showcase good practices, challenges and lessons learnt included in the compendium;
• Learn from different practical efforts to integrate gender into national cyber policies and practices; and
• Engage Member States, civil society, international organizations and other relevant stakeholders in an interactive discussion.

Speakers

Opening remarks: Alyssa Nunes, Deputy Director, International Cyber and Critical Technology Policy, Global Affairs Canada ​

Member State representatives:

• Ella Hamwaka, Incident Response Officer, MACRA, Malawi
• Monica Andrea Peña Araujo, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombia

Speakers:

• Allison Pytlak, Senior Fellow and Cyber Program Director, Stimson Center
• Dominique Steinbrecher, Researcher, Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR
• Jessica Espinosa Azcarraga, Digital Tools Coordinator, Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR
• Kathleen Scoggin, Research Assistant, Cyber Program, Stimson Center
• Shimona Mohan, Associate Researcher, Security and Technology & Integrated Approaches Programmes, UNIDIR

Moderator: Andrea Gronke, Deputy Head, Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR

When and where

Wednesday, 22 July 2026 | 13:00 – 14:30 EST | In person (Conference Room 8, United Nations Headquarters, New York) and online.

Check your local time here.

Participants

​The event is open to ​all interested stakeholders, including State Representatives, civil society and other experts. 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.

In partnership with

Sponsored by

The post Launching the compendium of good practices on mainstreaming gender in cybersecurity first appeared on UNIDIR.

The electromagnetic spectrum is becoming an increasingly important domain of strategic competition. It is essential to modern military operations and is increasingly acting as a driver of military innovation, through efforts to maintain dominance over it, and overcoming disruptions caused to it. At the same time, growing reliance on the electromagnetic spectrum creates vulnerabilities, with disruptions affecting not only military operations but also civilian services and critical infrastructure.

Launched in 2019, UNIDIR’s Innovations Dialogue serves as a multi-stakeholder forum for examining developments in science and technology with significant implications for international peace and security.

This year’s edition will explore how the electromagnetic spectrum is shaping military innovation and strategic competition, as well as the vulnerabilities created by growing reliance on it. The conference will examine the implications of new and emerging capabilities, alongside the cascading effects that disruptions can have on civilians and critical infrastructure.

Despite its growing importance, the electromagnetic spectrum remains underexplored in arms control and disarmament discussions. The conference will provide a space to explore the evolving role of the disarmament community in managing the multitude of consequences related to the growing centrality of the electromagnetic spectrum in the military domain, and the ways in which the disarmament and arms control architecture can adapt to the realities of conflict in the 21st century.

Agenda

09:15 – 09:30 | Opening remarks

09:30 – 10:15 | Panel 1: Understanding the electromagnetic spectrum as a strategic domain

10:15 – 12:00 | Panel 2: Electromagnetic spectrum disruptions and battlefield connectivity

12:00 – 13:15 | Lunch break

13:15 – 14:45 | Panel 3: The cascading effects of electromagnetic spectrum disruptions

14:45 – 15:15 | Coffee break

15:15 – 16:45 | Panel 4: Arms control and disarmament in the age of electromagnetic spectrum disruptions

16:45 – 18:00 | Panel 5: Cross-cutting sectoral approaches to addressing electromagnetic spectrum disruptions and adaptations

Further details will be added in due course.

When and where

Wednesday, 11 November 2026 | 09:15 – 18:00 CET | In person (Auditorium Ivan Pictet, A1 B, Geneva Graduate Institute, Geneva) 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.

RSVP

For in-person and online participation, please register here.

Further information

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

The post Innovations Dialogue 2026: Electromagnetic disruption, peace and security first appeared on UNIDIR.

Emerging advances in science and technology are creating practical tools that support the object and purpose of the Convention. As such, technical experts and speakers from research organizations, and international bodies presented insights grounded in operational experience and current technological practice, illustrating how these tools can inform confidence-building and transparency in support of the BWC.

This event is organized as part of UNIDIR’s Science and Technology Watchtower project, and in collaboration with the BWC Implementation Support Unit and its joint series of Technical Briefs on emerging technologies and the Biological Weapons Convention.

Event recording

Speakers

• Dr Mahlaqua Noor, Analyst, RAND Europe.
• Dr Emmanuelle Tuerlings, Technical Officer, Foresight, Leadership and Ethics in Science, WHO.
• Dr Gunnar Jeremias, Postdoctoral Fellow and Head of Research Group INFABRI, University of Hamburg.
• Alberto Muti, Co-Programme Director, Verification and Monitoring Programme, VERTIC.
• O’Neil Hamilton, Deputy Director, IBBIS.

Moderated by Kristoffer Burck, Associate Political Affairs Officer, UNODA.

When and where

Friday, 21 August 2026 | 13:15 – 14:45 CEST | Building A, Room IX, Palais des Nations, Geneva and online.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Clarissa Rios Rojas at clarissa.riosrojas@un.org or Federico Mantellassi at federico.mantellassi@un.org.

Funded by

The post Applied science and technology tools for prevention, risk assessment and biorisk governance under the BWC first appeared on UNIDIR.

The event drew on the experience of comparable bodies to show the benefits of science and technology review mechanisms, highlight their value and inform and support ongoing design processes under the BWC.

Organized as part of UNIDIR’s Science and Technology Watchtower project, and in collaboration with the BWC Implementation Support Unit and its joint series of Technical Briefs on emerging technologies and the Biological Weapons Convention, this event focused particularly on questions surrounding the identification of topics within a scientific advisory body, the dynamics of consensus in such bodies, as well as questions surrounding their composition.

Event recording

Speakers

• Dr Andrea Leisewitz, Director of Integrity, Safety and Ethics in Research, Universidad San Sebastián.
• Madeleine Hamel, Project Lead, Science and Technology, United Nations University Centre for Policy Research.
• Anne-Sophie Stevance, Policy Director, International Science Council.
• Ljupčo Gjorgjinski, BioResilience, North Macedonia.

Moderated by Dr James Revill, Head of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme, UNIDIR.

When and where

Thursday, 20 August 2026 | 13:15 – 14:45 CEST | Building A, Room IX, Palais des Nations, Geneva and online.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Clarisse Bertherat at clarisse.bertherat@un.org or Federico Mantellassi at federico.mantellassi@un.org.

Funded by

The post Designing a science and technology advisory mechanism for the BWC: Insights from other scientific advisory bodies first appeared on UNIDIR.

To support these efforts, UNIDIR, in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of New Zealand, organized an event that provided a forum for policymakers and experts to examine key considerations related to the proposed trust fund ahead of the First TPNW Review Conference in late 2026.

Discussions on the fund’s purpose, structure and feasibility have been ongoing since 2022, notably within the informal working group on victim assistance, environmental remediation, and international cooperation and assistance. At the Third Meeting of States Parties, the Co-Chairs of this informal working group were mandated to develop a stand-alone report containing recommendations on possible guidelines, technical provisions and terms of reference for a TPNW trust fund.

To inform this process, UNIDIR has produced a report on Steps Towards a Voluntary Trust Fund for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The report examines pathways for establishing a voluntary fund, identifies key operational elements and outlines three options informed by existing trust fund models.

Event recording

Agenda

Opening remarks

• Ambassador Deborah Geels, Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations Office at Geneva

Panel discussion

• Renata Hessmann Dalaqua, Head of Integrated Approaches Programme, UNIDIR
• David Atwood, Independent Consultant
• Luiza Delaflora Cassol, Research Assistant, Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme, UNIDIR

Moderator

• James Revill, Head of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme, UNIDIR

Closing remarks

• Azamat Kairolda, First Deputy Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan (Minister-Counsellor) to the United Nations

When and where

Thursday, 16 July 2026 | 14:00–15:30 CEST | Online

Further information

For any questions, please contact Vhaire Gudgeon at vhaire.gudgeon@un.org.

In partnership with

The post Steps towards a voluntary trust fund for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons first appeared on UNIDIR.

Evidence from cases such as Colombia, Burkina Faso, Haiti and Nigeria highlights both the value of these forces in filling protection gaps and the risks they pose, particularly with regard to human rights, criminal activity, conflict escalation and the creation of parallel power structures. As engagement with these groups becomes more common, governments and international actors need clear legal frameworks, strong oversight and context-specific risk-mitigation and transition strategies to protect civilians and support sustainable security outcomes.

Hosted by the United Nations Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office, the webinar will seek to facilitate knowledge exchange and comparative analysis of non-State security actors—including their operational logic, relationships with the State and impact on conflict dynamics—to inform actionable recommendations for governments, regional organizations and UN actors working in the same operational environments.

Speakers

• Daniel Herrera Kelly, Associate Analysis Manager, Armed Conflict Location and Event Data
• Siobhan O’Neil, Head of the Managing Exits from Armed Conflict Project, UNIDIR
• Oyewole Oginni, Senior Researcher, the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies
• Stefan Åstrom, Senior Adviser on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) and Transitional Security Arrangements, Folke Bernadotte Academy
• Pedro Braum, Human Security Coordinator, Via Rio

When and where

Tuesday, 7 July 2026 | 15:30–17:00 CET | Online

Check your local time here.

Participants

The event is open to the public. Access the event here.

Further information

For further information, please contact Mario Nascimento, DDR Team Leader, at nascimentom@un.org.

In partnership with

The post The surge of non-State security actors: Dealing with vigilantes, militias, paramilitary and auxiliary groups first appeared on UNIDIR.

This side event will examine the links between SALW proliferation, terrorism and organized crime, share lessons learned, and promote cooperation, capacity-building and strengthened measures to prevent and disrupt illicit arms trafficking in the region.

Agenda

8:00–8:15 | Opening remarks

• H.E. Brian Christopher Manley Wallace, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations
• H.E. Marcelo Eliseo Scappini Ricciardi, Permanent Representative of Paraguay to the United Nations
• Gabriela Gonzalez, Deputy Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the United Nations
• Carmen G. Cantor, Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED)

8:15–8:35 | Panel discussion: Key trends and challenges pertaining to addressing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean in a counter-terrorism context

Moderator: CTED

Panelists

• Callixtus Joseph, Assistant Director, Policy, Strategy and Innovation, CARICOM IMPACS, International Criminal Police Organization
• Adam Baird, Researcher, UNIDIR
• Katja Boettcher, Political Affairs Officer, United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean

8:40–9:10 | Panel discussion: Mapping of lessons and experiences in addressing the proliferation of SALW within Latin America and the Caribbean and in other contexts

Moderator: United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT)/United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)

Panelists from

• Trinidad and Tobago
• Uruguay
• Republic of Kazakhstan
• CTED and UNCCT/UNOCT
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Questions and answers

Moderator: UNCCT/UNOCT

Closing remarks

• Steven Siqueira, Deputy Director, UNCCT/UNOCT

When and where

Thursday, 2 July 2026 | 8:00–9:30 EDT | Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations, 300 East 42nd Street, Third Floor, New York and online.

Check your local time here.

Participants

The event organizers encourage the participation of representatives of States, the United Nations, international and regional organizations, academia, research institutes and civil society.

RSVP

For online participation, please register here.

Due to limited capacity, in-person seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be confirmed prior to the event.

Funded by

In partnership with

The post Addressing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean as a key component of counter-terrorism first appeared on UNIDIR.

This tool seeks to support informed participation by relevant stakeholders in activities designed to advance space security and promote transparency, information sharing, confidence and capacity building in outer space governance.

To mark progress on the Space Security Portal, this UNIDIR side event will explore new features, impacts and future plans for the portal and its ongoing role as a tool to enhance transparency and confidence, as well as increase global literacy in the field of space security.

Agenda

13:00–13:15 | Exploring the Space Security Portal

13:15–13:20 | Opening remarks

• Peter Martinez, Executive Director, Secure World Foundation

13:20–14:20 | Space Security Portal presentation and interactive demonstration

• Sarah Erickson, Researcher, Space Security Programme, UNIDIR
• Thando Mathe, Graduate Professional, Space Security Programme, UNIDIR

14:20–14:35 | Questions and answers

14:35–14:45 | Closing remarks

• James Revill, Head of Space Security and Weapons of Mass Destruction Programmes, UNIDIR

Lunch will be served from 13:00.

When and where

Wednesday, 8 July 2026 | 13:00–14:45 CEST | Room VII, Palais des Nations, Geneva

Participation

We welcome participants of the open-ended working group on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects.

The post Enhancing transparency for outer space: Exploring the Space Security Portal first appeared on UNIDIR.

Between 2021 and 2025, the United Nations Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on security of and in the use of ICTs operated under an extended mandate and delivered outcomes that will shape how the international community addresses ICT issues in the context of international security. OEWG discussions and negotiations generated a substantial record of how Member States approached, assessed and prioritized a wide range of topics.

UNIDIR launched a publication providing a comprehensive account of these substantive exchanges during the years of negotiation. The study traced how negotiations evolved over time, identified emerging trends and themes, mapped which issues were reflected in consensus reports and which were omitted, and drew lessons relevant to the Global Permanent Mechanism on ICT and International Security.

The side event provided an opportunity for States to learn more about the publication, including its main findings, ask questions of experts and engage in discussions on lessons learned and the legacy of the OEWG.

Event recording

Speakers

• Julia Rodriguez, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the United Nations
• Katherine Prizeman, Political Affairs Officer, UNODA
• Dr Samuele Dominioni, Senior Researcher, Security and Technology Programme, Co-editor of the publication, UNIDIR
• Dr Giacomo Persi Paoli, Head of the Security and Technology Programme, Co-editor of the publication, UNIDIR

When and where

Tuesday, 21 July 2026 | 13:15 – 14:30 EST | In person (Conference Room 8, United Nations Headquarters, New York) and online.

Further information

For any questions, please contact UNIDIR’s Security and Technology Programme at sectec-unidir@un.org. 

The post Launching UNIDIR’s report on the Open-Ended Working Group on ICT (2021-2025) first appeared on UNIDIR.

Policy and practice responses have evolved over time, both across and within the four countries of the Lake Chad region. Responses have struggled to keep pace with the mass exits and meet the needs on the ground. Research led by Daniel Agbiboa through the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) programme and by UNIDIR’s Managing Exits from Armed Conflict (MEAC) Project shows that exits from armed groups are not a single event but a long and complex process shaped by insecurity, trust, stigma, livelihoods, gender norms and local authority structures. 

Sustainable transitions out of armed groups in the region will require approaches grounded in local realities and lived experiences, while drawing on global lessons learned and foregrounding the voices of those directly affected.

This workshop aims to bring together policymakers, practitioners, researchers and community‑focused actors to reflect on what current evidence tells us about conflict exits and the contours of reintegration in the Lake Chad Basin. It will also explore how responses can be strengthened to improve security and development outcomes for affected populations.

Agenda

10:30–11:45 CEST | Afterlives: Conflict exits and reintegration in the Lake Chad Basin

This session explores how people leave armed groups and what enables them to stay out. It will examine why individuals disengage, what support prevents their return, and where current exit pathways fall short. Drawing on XCEPT and MEAC research, it will look at how communities negotiate and accept returnees, and how responses can better reflect lived realities to support more sustainable transitions out of violence.

Speakers

• Daniel Agbiboa, Associate Professor of African and African American Studies, Harvard University
• Saibou Issa, Professor of History and Security Studies, University of Maroua, Cameroon, and Co-Director of the Observatory on Organized Crime and Violence in Central Africa
• Siobhan O’Neil, Head of the MEAC Project, UNIDIR

12:15–13:30 CEST | Gendering exit: Barriers faced by women and girls returning to civilian life

This session explores the distinct, often overlooked challenges faced by women and girls exiting Boko Haram and reintegrating into civilian life, including barriers to leaving forced marriages, limited access to tailored reintegration support and ongoing stigma and insecurity. It highlights how these gendered obstacles affect their ability to rebuild their lives and identifies practical, context-sensitive responses to strengthen protection, agency and reintegration outcomes across the Lake Chad Basin.

Speakers

• Francesca Batault, Associate Researcher, MEAC Project, UNIDIR
• Fatima Yetcha Ajimi Badu, Senior Researcher, Mobukar Consultancy Services

When and where

Wednesday, 17 June 2026 | 10:30–13:30 CEST | Online

Check your local time here.

Participants

The event is open to the public.

RSVP

For participation, please register here.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Francesca Batault at francesca.batault@un.org.

In partnership with

The post Supporting sustainable transitions out of conflict: Policy, practice and “afterlives” in the Lake Chad Basin first appeared on UNIDIR.

As of mid-2026, 33 States have outstanding Article 5 obligations related to the clearance of mined areas and the destruction of anti-personnel mines. Sixteen of them are from the African region, and several are relatively close to becoming “mine-free” – despite receiving the lowest levels of international cooperation and assistance. The Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan 2025–2029 therefore seeks to foster cooperation and assistance in Africa as an enabler across all APMBC obligations.

This event will launch a new multi-year project titled “Working towards a mine-free Africa: Building African capacity to remove threats posed by anti-personnel landmines to peace, security and development.” Supported by the European Union, the project seeks to enable African States Parties to fulfil outstanding Article 5 obligations. The event will raise awareness of the initiative’s approach and objectives, encouraging collaboration and renewed, shared commitments by all stakeholders and partners in working towards a mine-free Africa.

Agenda

Opening remarks

• Ambassador Michele Cervone d’Urso, Deputy Head of EU Delegation to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, European Union 

Panel

• Juan Carlos Ruan, Director, Implementation Support Unit, APMBC
• Hardy Giezendanner, Senior Researcher, Conventional Weapons Programme, UNIDIR
• Clément Meynier, Global Policy and Partnerships Lead, Mines Advisory Group 

Closing remarks

• Mulima Lisimba, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Zambia to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva

Coffee/tea and light sandwiches will be served outside the room from 13:00.

When and where

Thursday, 18 June 2026 | 13:15–14:45 CET | In-person at Room B, International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG), Rue de Varembé 17, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, and online.

Check your local time here.

Participants

The co-organizers encourage the participation of representatives and experts from States, the United Nations, African sub-/regional organizations, NGOs, civil society, and academia who are engaged in or following humanitarian disarmament deliberations and issues related to the effective implementation of the APMBC, including in Africa.

RSVP

For online participation, please register here by 16 June.

Connection details will be shared with registered participants prior to the event.

Further information

For any questions, please contact Mae Ballena at mae.ballena@un.org

In partnership with

The post Working towards an African continent free from threats posed by anti-personnel mines  first appeared on UNIDIR.