UNIDIR’s Statute

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Institute’) is an autonomous institution within the framework of the United Nations, established by the General Assembly for the purpose of undertaking independent research on disarmament and related problems, particularly international security issues, and working in close relationship with the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat.

1. The Institute shall work on the basis of the provisions of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, the first special session devoted to disarmament.

2. The work of the Institute shall aim at:

(a) Providing the international community with more diversified and complete data on problems relating to international security, the armaments race and disarmament in all fields, particularly in the nuclear field, so as to facilitate progress, through negotiations, towards greater security for all States and towards the economic and social development of all peoples;

(b) Promoting informed participation by all States in disarmament efforts;

(c) Assisting ongoing negotiations on disarmament and continuing efforts to ensure greater international security at a progressively lower level of armaments, particularly nuclear armaments, by means of objective and factual studies and analyses;

(d) Carrying out more in-depth, forward-looking and long-term research on disarmament, so as to provide a general insight into the problems involved, and stimulating new initiatives for new negotiations.

3. The Institute shall take into account the relevant recommendations of the General Assembly and shall be organized in such a manner as to ensure participation on an equitable political and geographical basis.

1. The Institute and its work shall be governed by a Board of Trustees (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Board’). The Advisory Board on Disarmament Studies, referred to in General Assembly resolution 37/99 K, section III, with the Director of the Institute (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Director’) as an ex officio member, shall function as the Board.

2. The Board shall:

(a) Establish principles and directives to govern the activities and operation of the Institute;

(b) Consider and adopt the annual work programme and the proposed annual budget estimates;

(c) Recommend, if it considers necessary, a subvention from the regular budget of the United Nations in accordance with articles VII and VIII of this statute;

(d) Review the financial situation of the Institute and make appropriate recommendations with a view to ensuring the effectiveness of its operations and their continuity;

(e) Take such other decisions as are deemed necessary for the effective functioning of the Institute;

(f) Undertake the other functions specified in this statute.

3. The Board shall meet at least once a year.

4. Organs of the United Nations, specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency may be represented as appropriate at meetings of the Board upon invitation.

1. The Director shall be appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, after consultations with the Board.

2. The Director shall have overall responsibility for the organization, direction and administration of the Institute, in accordance with general directives formulated by the Board and shall, inter alia:

(a) Prepare and submit the draft work programme of the Institute to the Board;

(b) Prepare and submit a proposed annual budget to the Board in accordance with articles VII and VIII of this statute;

(c) Execute the work programme and make the expenditure authorized in the approved budget;

(d) Appoint and direct the staff of the Institute;

(e) Set up ad hoc consultative bodies as may be necessary;

(f) Negotiate arrangements with Governments and international as well as national, public and private agencies with a view to offering and receiving services related to the activities of the Institute;

(g) Accept, subject to the provisions of article VII, paragraph 4, below, voluntary contributions to the Institute;

(h) Co-ordinate the work of the Institute with that of other international and national programmes in similar fields;

(i) Report to the Board, as appropriate, on the Institute’s activities and the execution of its work programmes;

(j) Submit to the General Assembly reports approved by the Board.

3. The staff of the Institute shall be appointed by the Director under letters of appointment signed by him in the name of the Secretary-General and limited to service with the Institute. The staff shall be responsible to the Director in the exercise of their functions.

4. The terms and conditions of service of the Director and the staff shall be those provided in the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, subject to such arrangements for special rules or terms of appointment as may be proposed by the Director and approved by the Secretary-General.

5. The Director and the staff of the Institute shall not seek or receive instructions from any Government or from any authority external to the United Nations. They shall refrain from any action which might reflect on their position as international officials responsible only to the Organization.

6. The Director and the staff of the Institute are officials of the United Nations and are therefore covered by Article 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and by other international agreements and United Nations resolutions defining the status of such officials.

1. The Director may designate each year, with the approval of the Board and for a period not longer than one year at a time, qualified persons to serve as senior fellows of the Institute. Such persons, who may be invited to participate as lecturers or research scholars, shall be selected on the basis of outstanding contributions they have made in fields germane to the work of the Institute. They may receive honorariums and be paid travel expenses.

2. The Director may also arrange for the services of consultants for the purpose of contributing to the analysis and planning of the activities of the Institute or for special assignments in connection with the Institute’s programmes. Such consultants shall be engaged in accordance with policies established by the Secretary-General.

3. The Director may appoint correspondents in countries or regions to assist in maintaining contacts with national or regional institutions and in carrying out or advising on studies and research.

1. Voluntary contributions from States and public and private organizations shall form the principal source of financing of the Institute.

2. A subvention towards meeting the costs of the Director and the staff of the Institute may be provided from the regular budget of the United Nations. The actual amount of any subvention shall be determined in accordance with article VIII of this statute; it may be less than, but shall not exceed, an amount equivalent to one half of the assured income of the Institute from voluntary sources in respect of the year for which a subvention is being requested. The assured income shall be that which has already been received or which has been pledged in writing by the time the level of any subvention is being considered.

3. Specific activities which the General Assembly may request the Institute to add to its regular work programme shall be paid for from the regular budget of the United Nations in amounts to be determined at the time the activities are requested.

4. The Director may accept voluntary contributions to the Institute that are unrestricted or that are designated for the implementation of an activity approved by the Board. Other voluntary contributions may be accepted only with the approval of the Board, which shall take into account the comments of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

5. Voluntary contributions to the Institute shall be kept in a special account to be established by the Secretary-General in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations.

6. The special account of the Institute shall be held and administered solely for the purposes of the Institute. The Controller of the United Nations shall perform all necessary financial and accounting functions for the Institute, including the custody of its funds, and shall prepare and certify the annual accounts of the Institute.

7. The Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and the financial policies established by the Secretary-General shall apply to the financial operations of the Institute. Funds of the Institute shall be subject to audit by the United Nations Board of Auditors.

1. The proposed annual budget of the Institute shall be based on the proposed draft work programme of the Institute. It shall be prepared by the Director in consultation with the Department for Disarmament Affairs and the Office of Financial Services of the Secretariat.

2. The proposed annual budget, together with the comments and recommendations thereon of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, shall be submitted to the Board for action in accordance with article III, paragraphs 2 (b) and (c) of this statute.

3. A recommendation by the Board, under article III, paragraph 2 (c), for a subvention from the regular budget of the United Nations shall be transmitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly for approval.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the Institute with appropriate administrative and other support in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations. The Institute shall reimburse the United Nations for the costs of such support, as determined by the Controller of the United Nations after consultation with the Director.

The Institute shall have its seat in Geneva.

The Institute, being part of the United Nations, enjoys the status, privileges and immunities provided in Articles 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and other relevant international agreements and United Nations resolutions relating to the status, privileges and immunities of the Organization.

Amendments to this statute may be made by the General Assembly.