UNIDIR, in collaboration with the Government of Spain, is organizing a side event exploring how arms control and disarmament issues, including the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), have been integrated into National Action Plans (NAPs) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda.
Arms control and disarmament measures are often absent from multilateral discussions concerning the WPS Agenda. However, at the national level, States are increasingly connecting these policy areas through commitments adopted in their action plans on WPS.
UNIDIR’s recent report, Closing Gaps: Strengthening the Women, Peace and Security Agenda through Arms Control and Disarmament, finds that more than 70% of these NAPs reference arms control and disarmament terms. Yet, these references are most often confined to introductory sections rather than the proposed actions.
To support further integration, UNIDIR has compiled concrete examples of actions and indicators that can effectively advance the WPS Agenda and developed a practical toolkit to address weapons-related risks within NAPs. Building on these findings, this side event will explore how stronger operational linkages can be achieved in practice. The discussion will examine how NAPs on WPS can support implementation of the ATT, and how ATT processes can, in turn, advance WPS objectives. It will also consider ways to reinforce the ATT’s role in preventing gender-based violence; share national experiences in drafting WPS NAPs that incorporate ATT-related actions; and highlight regional approaches to addressing weapons-related risks through the WPS framework.
Agenda
13:00-13:15 – Light lunch
13:15-14:45 – Side event
Speakers
- Dr Henri Myrttinen, Gender Associations
- Anastaesia Mondesir, Gender Associations
- Mariana Terreros Lozano, Independent consultant
- Domina Pia Salazar, Philippines
- Rita Akaolo, Togo
- Representative of Spain (TBC)
- Representative of Mexico (TBC)
Moderated by Dr Renata H. Dalaqua, Head of the Integrated Approaches, Gender and Disarmament Programme, UNIDIR
When and where
Wednesday, 18 March 2026 | 13:15 -14:45 CET | Room 3, Centre International de Conférences Genève (CICG), Geneva
Participants
The event is open to State representatives, civil society and experts working on or interested in arms control and disarmament.
Further information
For any questions, please contact gender-unidir@un.org.
In partnership with
