The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the Paris Peace Forum recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding. Through this memorandum, UNIDIR becomes the eighth knowledge partner of the Forum, and the 63rd partner overall, joining esteemed entities such as UNESCO, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the European Commission.
Under the partnership, UNIDIR participates in the Forum’s annual conference and other relevant events. The collaboration extends to joint contributions on thematic initiatives or programmes, including co-authoring research papers, and organizing events focused on shared priorities.
Dr. Robin Geiss, Director of UNIDIR, emphasized the importance of this partnership, “In today’s tense geopolitical situation, collaborative action is the only way forward. UNIDIR will contribute its specialized knowledge on disarmament, arms control, and international security, effectively supporting the Forum’s mission to foster dialogue and innovation in addressing global challenges.”
Amplifying Dr. Geiss’s message, Dr. Justin Vaisse, Director General of the Paris Peace Forum, welcomed the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding, highlighting UNIDIR’s crucial contributions, “UNIDIR’s wealth of expertise has been significant to the Forum’s mission of improving global governance and international security in both traditional and emerging areas, such as cyber security and outer space. Through this partnership, we aim to deepen our collective understanding of key dynamics at stake while building actionable policy solutions to tackle them head-on.”
UNIDIR’s has already actively participated in the past three annual summits of the Paris Peace Forum. These occasions have served as platforms for UNIDIR to showcase its digital tools aimed at enhancing cybersecurity and the artificial intelligence policy landscape, including the UNIDIR Cyber Policy Portal, launched in January 2019, and the UNIDIR Artificial Intelligence Policy Portal, launched in May 2023.
The portals are designed to comprehensively map the cybersecurity and AI policy landscapes across all 193 UN Member States, alongside international organizations and various multistakeholder and other initiatives. By fostering informed participation and promoting trust, transparency, and cooperation, these tools stand as testaments to UNIDIR’s commitment to building confidence in digital spaces.
About UNIDIR
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research is a voluntarily funded autonomous institute within the United Nations. An impartial actor, the Institute generates ideas and promotes action on disarmament and security. Based in Geneva, UNIDIR is centrally positioned to assist the international community in developing the practical, innovative thinking needed to find solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow. UNIDIR brings together states, international organizations, civil society, the private sector and academia so that we may work together—internationally, regionally and locally—to build and implement creative solutions that will benefit all states and peoples.
About the Paris Peace Forum
The Paris Peace Forum continues to act as an incubator for global governance policy initiatives, pioneering new cooperation forms among governments, international organizations, civil society, and the business sector. By delivering concrete results, the Forum establishes itself as a critical platform for advancing global governance and addressing the myriad challenges facing the world today.