The workshop focused on promoting equality and innovation in international cooperation and capacity building in the nuclear field. It featured expert presentations and open discussions covering a range of approaches to training and technical cooperation.

Citation: UNIDIR and VCDNP, “Promoting equality and innovation in the nuclear field: Workshop report”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025.

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This year, with the agenda turning 25, the factsheet provides ideas around how AI represents an opportunity and an obstacle for its realization. It also presents an analysis of the current state of the integration of emerging technologies like AI within WPS national and regional action plans.

The factsheet concludes by proposing further areas of action to better include AI in the WPS Agenda, making it fit for purpose amidst changing realities around peace and conflict.

Citation: Shimona Mohan (2025) “Factsheet: Artificial Intelligence and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda”, UNIDIR, Geneva.

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The report finds that, despite clear links between the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and CRSV, UN peace operations continue to overlook weapons-related issues in their efforts to address sexual violence. The report offers concrete recommendations to strengthen gender-responsive arms control in support of both immediate protection and long-term prevention.

Citation: Hana Salama. Deploying the Arms Control and Disarmament Toolbox: Strengthening the Role of United Nations Peace Operations to Prevent Sexual Violence. Geneva, Switzerland: UNIDIR, 2025.

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This report provides an overview of recent research on the correlation between harm from exposure to ionizing radiation and biological sex. Additionally, it proposes questions for a future research agenda covering gender, radiation impacts and radiological protection standards.

Citation: Amanda M. Nichols, Mary Olson, ‘Gender and Ionizing Radiation: Towards a New Research Agenda Addressing Disproportionate Harm’, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2024.

*Note: The caption for “Figure 2: Cancer incidence by 100,000 by age at time of exposure” should have stated “Exposure rate (0.1 Gy)” per table 12D-1, NAS, 2006, Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR VII). This report has been updated and corrected as of 29 August 2025.

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This research seeks to fill this gap by exploring the links between the proliferation of weapons, particularly Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and CRSV and by proposing an arms control and disarmament toolbox that can be leveraged to prevent CRSV at all stages of a conflict.

In addition to supporting short-term and long-term prevention of CRSV, a gender-responsive implementation of the proposed toolbox can contribute to changing gender norms and attitudes by promoting women’s participation in decision-making about security issue – including arms control and disarmament, which has traditionally been a male-dominated field – thereby addressing structural gender inequality, a root cause of CRSV.

Citation: Hana Salama (2023) “Addressing Weapons in Conflict Related Sexual Violence: The Arms control and Disarmament Toolbox”, UNIDIR, Geneva, Switzerland.

Sponsor Organizations: Canada, Germany, Ireland, Norway and Sweden.

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This report analyses submissions received by UNIDIR from 40 organisations around the world. It examines practices that are being implemented to support women’s participation and promote gender diversity, equality, and inclusion in conventional arms control. In particular, the report showcases five best practices that are having a positive impact: Equality directives in public administration; Work arrangements to balance family life; SMART goals and indicators; Panel parity pledges; and Gender-sensitive communication.

Citation: Renata H. Dalaqua, Manaved Nambiar and Hana Salama (2023) “Best Practices for Gender
Equality in Conventional Arms Control: Survey Results”, UNIDIR, Geneva, Switzerland.

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El trabajo analiza los vínculos entre los temas prioritarios de MPS – la igualdad de género, la participación de las mujeres en la seguridad internacional, la prevención de la violencia contra las mujeres y su protección y las necesidades diferenciadas por el género – y la ciberseguridad internacional. También identifica las áreas prioritarias que deben abordarse para garantizar un ciberespacio inclusivo en cuanto al género y que proteja los derechos de las mujeres y niñas.

Citation: Lisa Sharland, Netta Goussac, Emilia Currey, Genevieve Feely, and Sarah O’Connor (2023) “Actualización del Sistema: Hacia una Agenda de Mujeres, Paz y Ciberseguridad”, UNIDIR, Geneva, Switzerland.

The post Actualización del Sistema: Hacia una Agenda de Mujeres, Paz y Ciberseguridad first appeared on UNIDIR.

The paper analyses the linkages between WPS priority themes—gender equality, women’s participation in international security, prevention and protection of violence against women, gender-differentiated needs—and international cybersecurity. It identifies priority areas that should be addressed to ensure a gender-inclusive cyberspace that protects the rights of women and girls.

Citation: Lisa Sharland, Netta Goussac, Emilia Currey, Genevieve Feely, Sarah O’Connor (2021) “System Update: Towards a Women, Peace and Cybersecurity Agenda”, UNIDIR, Geneva.

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كما يبين التقرير أن تعزيز التكامل يمكن أن يعود بالنفع على كلا الميدانين؛ ففيما يتعلق بمحال ضبط التسلح ونزع السلاح، تعطي ركائز أجندة المرأة والسلام والأمن هيكلًا وإرشادات للإدماج الشامل للمنظورات الجندرية، وهو لا يزال جهدًا مجتزأ حتى الآن. أما بالنسبة إلى الجهات الفاعلة في مجال سياسات المرأة والسلام والأمن والممارسين لها، فإن المشاركة في ضبط ونزع السلاح تساعد على تفعيل أجندة المرأة والسلام والأمن، مما يعطي جوهرًا ملموسا لكل ركيزة من ركائزها.

Connecting the Dots examines the normative and practical overlaps and connections of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda with the field of arms control and disarmament. Using an original approach to gender-responsive arms control and disarmament measures that is structured around the four WPS pillars of participation, prevention, protection, and relief and recovery, this report identifies current best practices and areas for further action.

The report shows that further integration can bring benefits for both fields. For the arms control and disarmament community, the WPS pillars give structure and guidance to the comprehensive integration of gender perspectives, which thus far has been a piecemeal effort. For WPS policy actors and practitioners, engaging with arms control and disarmament helps to operationalize the WPS agenda, giving concrete substance to each of its pillars.

Citation: Dr. Henri Myrtinnen (2021) “الربط بين النقاط: ضبط التسلح ونزع السلاح وأجندة المرأة والأمن والسلام”, UNIDIR, Geneva, Switzerland.

INFOGRAPHIC

This publication is an overview of findings and recommendations of UNIDIR’s report, Connecting the Dots. The brief is supplementary to the report.

To read the infographic click here.

Teaser: ضبط التسلح ونزع السلاح وأجندة المرأة والأمن والسلام

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Citation: Dr. Henri Myrttinen (2020) “Créer des liens : la maîtrise des armements, le désarmement et le programme Femmes, Paix et Sécurité”, Institut des Nations Unies pour la recherche sur le désarmement, Genève, Suisse: https://doi.org/10.37559/GEN/20/01

Résumé

Ce résumé est un aperçu des conclusions et des recommandations du rapport de l’UNIDIR, « Créer des liens ». Ceci est complémentaire au rapport.

Pour lire le résumé, cliquez ici.

Teaser: La maîtrise des armements, le désarmement et le programme Femmes, Paix et Sécurité

The post Créer des liens first appeared on UNIDIR.

Citation: Dr. Henri Myrttinen (2020) “Conectando Los Puntos: Control de Armas, Desarme y la Agenda sobre Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad”, UNIDIR, Ginebra, Suiza. https://doi.org/10.37559/GEN/20/01

INFOGRAPHIC

Esta infografía es un resumen de las conclusiones y recomendaciones del informe de UNIDIR, Conectando los Puntos. La publicación es complementaria al informe.

Para acceder a la infografía haga clic aquí.

Teaser: Control de armas, Desarme y la Agenda de Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad

The post Conectando los puntos first appeared on UNIDIR.

Citation: Dr Henri Myrttinen (2020) “Connecting the Dots: Arms Control, Disarmament
and the Women Peace and Security Agenda”, UNIDIR, Geneva, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.37559/GEN/20/01

INFOGRAPHIC

This publication is an overview of findings and recommendations of UNIDIR’s report, Connecting the Dots. The brief is supplementary to the report.

To read the infographic click here.

Teaser: Arms Control, Disarmament and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda

The post Connecting the Dots first appeared on UNIDIR.

Arms control and disarmament measures are often absent from multilateral discussions concerning the WPS Agenda. Yet at the national level, States are increasingly connecting these policy areas through their National Action Plans (NAPs) on WPS.

UNIDIR’s recently released Closing Gaps report analyzed 197 NAPs on WPS, revealing that over 70% include at least one mention to arms control and disarmament issues. However, most of these references appear only in introductory sections, rather than under proposed actions. To support States with moving from recognition to implementation, UNIDIR gathered concrete examples of actions and indicators that can advance the WPS Agenda and prepared a practical toolkit for addressing weapons-related risks in NAPs. These resources formed a key foundation for discussions throughout the workshop.

A diverse group of engaged actors

The event brought together more than 30 experts from a dozen European countries – including Albania, Austria, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine. Participants represented a wide range of stakeholders, including officials from ministries, gender equality agencies, military and academic institutions, national cybersecurity authorities, civil society and international organizations.

The workshop opened with high-level remarks from Slovenian officials Neva Grašič, State Secretary, and Darja Bavdaž Kuret, Ambassador-at-Large for Women, Peace and Security. Both highlighted the urgency of addressing evolving security risks — including weapons proliferation, hybrid warfare and emerging technologies — through a gender-responsive lens. They also stressed the importance of full, meaningful and equal participation of women in all areas of international security, which is one of the main pillars of the WPS Agenda.

Gendered dimensions of weapons, technology and security

The programme included thematic sessions outlining how gender-related considerations shape demand for, as well as impacts of, firearms in the region. Participants discussed options to strengthen arms control and disarmament measures that also seek to prevent the occurrence of sexual and gender‑based violence, in line with the WPS Agenda.

Given current developments concerning the use of landmines, the workshop also featured experts working with mine action in a number of contexts. They shared common challenges and good practices to foster inclusive participation in demining, risk education, victim assistance and international cooperation.

Participants also had an opportunity to discuss cybersecurity and military applications of artificial intelligence. They explored how these technologies intersect with the WPS Agenda and how national actors can integrate these topics into their work, including in WPS NAPs. This can help to ensure that the WPS framework remains relevant in the digital age, and efforts around addressing challenges and opportunities created by new technologies are not undertaken in silos.

Learning by doing

One of the highlights of the programme was a hands-on simulation, where participants split into two groups, taking on distinct roles in a drafting exercise focused on developing a WPS NAP that included specific arms control and disarmament measures. This exercise aimed at providing national actors with concrete ideas on how to integrate arms control and disarmament into their WPS design, drafting process and implementation, as well as monitoring and evaluation efforts.

The workshop concluded with renewed commitment from participants and new networks that will foster regional cooperation on arms control, disarmament and the WPS Agenda. UNIDIR and its partners will continue supporting States in advancing an inclusive approach to arms control and disarmament – one that ensures that gender equality and the WPS Agenda are not seen as add-on considerations, but rather central elements of international security.

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Displayed during the global campaign for 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, DISARMING SILENCE invites reflections about on the power of visibility and collective voice in confronting gender-based violence.

The art installation will feature large fabric panels made from more than 600 women’s shirts and dupattas collected by the artist and her collaborators in various parts of the world, including Chile, China, Germany, India, Mauritius, the Seychelles, Switzerland and Zimbabwe. Each garment carries handwritten testimonies of gender-based violence, creating a collective record of women’s experiences.

Much like UNIDIR’s research, this artwork exposes the ubiquity of violence against women, which is an issue of concern to the UN and the diplomatic community. We know that weapons are used to facilitate gender-based violence and to commit femicides. Arms control and disarmament must be a part of the solution to this problem.

Renata Hessmann Dalaqua, Head of the Integrated Approaches – Gender and Disarmament Programme at UNIDIR

In connection with the art installation, UNIDIR will host a high-level event on 8 December. In partnership with the Global Survivors Fund, the event will bring together experts and practitioners working with survivors to discuss the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and art in mobilizing action against gender-based violence.

UNIDIR’s Integrated Approaches Programme works to ensure that youth and gender perspectives strengthen arms control, disarmament and peacebuilding efforts. Through its dedicated research and policy engagement, the programme supports practical actions that promote equality, inclusion and human security.

For further information, please contact Claudia Marquina, UNIDIR Head of Communications at claudia.marquina@un.org.

About UNIDIR

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is a voluntarily funded, autonomous institute within the United Nations. One of the few policy institutes worldwide focusing on disarmament, UNIDIR generates knowledge and promotes dialogue and action on disarmament and

security. Based in Geneva, UNIDIR assists the international community to develop the practical, innovative ideas needed to find solutions to critical security problems. For more information, visit unidir.org.

About the artist

Franziska Greber is a Swiss artist and psychotherapist whose work addresses societal and political tensions such as exclusion, participation, silence and resistance. She has worked for over three decades on projects against violence, discrimination and gender stereotypes. Her artistic practice is informed by her experience as a psychotherapist specializing in trauma and the abuse of power.

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The history and progress on the inclusion of women in DDR

Women combatants have historically been excluded from reintegration support and remain grossly underrepresented in DDR programmes. This is due to the assumption that men are the ones carrying the weapons and operating at the frontlines of armed groups. The programmes aim to prevent conflict recurrence by ensuring that weapons and ammunition held by non-state groups are collected and destroyed, command structures of armed groups are dismantled, and combatants transition to civilian lives through economic and social reintegration programmes.

Since the 1980s, DDR programmes have significantly evolved, from a narrow security focus to a broader agenda aimed at reconciling ex-combatants and communities and rebuilding the social and economic fabric of war-torn countries. Most recently, DDR has involved interventions in ongoing violence and the use of DDR tools, such as weapons and ammunition management and community violence reduction which can be deployed when the conditions for a “classic” DDR process are not in place. It is within this ever-changing and responsive agenda that an increased focus on women combatants has evolved over the decades.

Research examining 372 non-state groups between 1946 and 2015 found that 63% of these groups included women in some capacity. Women and girls participate in armed groups in many ways: as combatants, spies, smugglers, porters, translators, sex workers, wives, cooks, nurses, recruiters and communicators. But in 45% of the groups studied, women also held leadership roles. Accordingly, women associated with armed groups have diverse experiences, both in decision-making processes and in the use of violence.

Women’s involvement in conflict and peace processes is consequential. On the one hand, women combatants’ participation is associated with longer civil wars and voluntary participation in combat is associated with increased likelihood of rebel victory. On the other hand, women’s participation in peace negotiations is associated with a higher likelihood that peace agreements will endure. When involved in peace talks, women can help reconfigure the boundaries of negotiations, broadening the scope of what is relevant to security (e.g., issues related to sexual and gender-based violence) and the provision of social services for all affected populations. Lastly, research demonstrates that when women combatants’ are involved in peace processes they make it more likely that marginalized women’s grievances and the post-conflict needs of women ex-combatants are properly addressed.

Five steps for gender-responsive DDR

Several international mechanisms already recognize women’s varied conflict experiences and needs in DDR programmes. The UN Security Council Resolution 1325 explicitly calls on all parties involved in DDR processes to take into account the different needs of men and women ex-combatants. Subsequent resolutions stipulate the need to consult women and protect them from sexual violence.

The 2024 Gender Responsive Peacekeeping Operations Policy states that “DDR initiatives shall adopt gender responsive approaches and develop gender-specific interventions, aimed at supporting the sustainable reintegration of women and men ex combatants and their dependents.” The UN’s Integrated DDR Standards have a separate module on Women, Gender and DDR and provide detailed recommendations regarding inclusion of women who are directly or indirectly involved in armed groups.

Yet, the reality on the ground is different as peace agreements regarding DDR provisions and programmes continue to exclude women in general, and women combatants specifically, or at best tokenize their inclusion. So, how to support gender responsive DDR programmes and processes?

Resolution 1325 encourages parties involved in the planning of DDR to consider the different needs of female and male ex-combatants. Follow-up resolutions reiterate this point and focus on providing protection from sexual violence for women in DDR processes (UN SC 1820, 1880, 2106,2467), to ensure women’s full access to and participation in DDR programs (UN SC 1889, 2122, 2467,2493), to offer trauma and reintegration support to women and girls associated with armed groups (UN SC 2106, 2467), and the integration of gender analysis and training into national DDR processes (UN SC 2467).

Step 1: Include women ex-combatants in peace talks and DDR negotiations

For DDR programmes to be truly gender-inclusive, the first step is to include women combatants in DDR negotiations. The 2016 Colombian peace negotiations demonstrated that women combatants can and should participate in talks about DDR because their input can directly inform programme design.

Women’s inclusion in DDR negotiations is important because they face unique challenges in war-to-peace transitions which should be addressed by DDR programmes. First, women combatants are at high risk of sexual violence and exploitation, both from enemy forces and from their own groups, hence in some cases require protection in camps.

Second, while women combatants may have been trained to handle and use weapons in battle, they often lack a weapon of their own. This is problematic because handing in weapons is often a precondition for accessing reintegration benefits. Such eligibility criteria are usually set during DDR negotiations, where women are severely underrepresented. Furthermore research from UNIDIR’s Gender and Disarmament Programme shows that the same weapons that armed group members use to fight, particularly small arms, are often used to coerce women into sexual acts, injure them or even kill them. This is an often-overlooked consideration which should be taken into account during disarmament negotiations and subsequent weapons collection campaigns.

Third, in many contexts, women’s participation in violence is further stigmatized as a violation of social and cultural gender norms. Research showed that in several armed groups, such as FARC-EP in Colombia or the Maoist rebel group in Nepal, women experienced some form of empowerment and gender equality. Once the conflict is over, some women may not wish to return to the original conditions that they tried to escape, i.e. into societies where traditional gender roles are the norm, leaving them in a difficult position when it comes to post-conflict reintegration.

Step 2: Explicitly mention women combatants in DDR provisions

While references to women in peace agreements have increased over time, most DDR provisions remain silent on women combatants. Research conducted by the DISARM project at the Peace Research Institute Oslo examined 289 peace agreements between 1975 and 2021 and found that:

• 128 peace agreements contained at least one DDR component, and 78 agreements provided for the full DDR package.
• Of the 128 agreements that contained at least one DDR component, only 11 DDR provisions referenced women (8.5%). Even when addressed, DDR provisions for women combatants were often brief and generic, typically offering them only “special attention” as a vulnerable group.

This needs to change. By recognizing women involved in armed groups, including those who served in combat roles, DDR provisions in peace agreements can make women’s experiences visible. In turn, such visibility helps to make conflict parties and DDR practitioners accountable for implementing provisions.

Two good examples of gender specific DDR provision are to be found  in the peace agreements in Darfur and Colombia:

The 2006 Darfur Agreement explicitly calls for an end to recruitment and use of boys and girls under the age of 18; representation of women in the national commission on DDR; specific resources to be set aside for reintegration of women; and inclusion in demobilization of former combatants, specifically including former female combatants. 

The 2016 Colombian peace agreement between the Government and the FARC-EP has been hailed as one of the most gender sensitive peace agreements ever signed. It includes language on ensuring women’s access to land, preventing gender-based violence, access to justice and reparation programmes, and political participation. Furthermore, it is the first peace agreement to explicitly mention LGBTQI+ persons and include specific provisions to protect their rights in the post-conflict period. It is also the only agreement thus far to have explicitly recognized the value of women’s care work and the need to better support it as part of the post-conflict recovery.

Step 3: Involve gender experts in DDR teams

Even when women are involved in peace negotiations, there is no guarantee that women combatants’ interests, experiences and concerns will be represented or addressed. Having a dedicated gender-expert on a DDR team can overcome this challenge.

Historically, DDR efforts have rarely engaged with gender experts, though progress is now being made, illustrated for example by the Gender-Sub Commission of the Havana Peace Negotiations which participated in the DDR talks. A gender expert or advisor’s role is to consider the different interests and needs of women, girls, men, and boy combatants and their associates and integrating these considerations into the DDR planning and implementation.

Gender experts can push for the collection of sex-disaggregated data in the assessment phase, can devise strategies to prevent women combatants’ self-demobilization, and advocate for the presence or representation of women commaobatants in various negotiating tables.

Step 4: Adopt gender-responsive budgeting and track its implementation

To ensure that DDR programmes promote equal opportunities for women and men, it is important to adopt gender-responsive budgeting. The IDDRS indicates “DDR programme budgets, including those of agencies, funds and programmes, should include an allotment of a minimum of 20% of the budget to gender-related activities and female-specific interventions, including expertise and programmes to address sexual and gender-based violence.” Gender-responsive budgeting ensures that resources are allocated in an efficient way and promote gender equality.

However, evidence on how gender-responsive budgeting for DDR operates is limited. For example, a 2022 report found that while the International Security and Stabilization Support Strategy in the Democratic Republic of Congo included a WPS pillar and required that 15% of the budget should be allocated to gender equality per activity, a system to track financial allocations by pillar was missing. Better data and tracking system on how gender-responsive budgeting works at the program and project level are crucial steps moving forward.

Step 5: Address masculinities in DDR programmes

Gender-responsive DDR processes should adopt a transformative agenda encompassing power relations between women and men. This includes addressing violent masculinities, which to date has been largely absent from DDR programmes. This is in part due to the lack of guidance for DDR practitioners on how to integrate masculinities. A recent research report found that the first concrete step in addressing this issue is to make DDR practitioners aware of how DDR processes can reinforce militarized masculinities because of these programmes’ focus on combatants with arms. Such an approach not only overlooks women but also the specific needs of men who serve in support roles in armed groups.

Integrating curricula on masculinities into existing psychosocial support programmes or mentoring activities for combatants can be another concrete step.  Given the important role that women play in constructing and reinforcing norms of masculinity, they are also an important target for programming in this area.

The way forward

Next year’s much anticipated 25th anniversary of the WPS Agenda offers the international community a key opportunity to strengthen the inclusion of women, especially women combatants, in DDR processes. As highlighted in the 2024 Secretary-General’s Report on WPS, “much more can and must be done to coordinate principled action on women’s meaningful participation, adoption of minimum requirements, and monitoring of results”. The five steps are just the beginning of a more comprehensive effort to redress gender inequalities and ensure women’s meaningful involvement in DDR and in wider peace and security initiatives.

An earlier version of this article was originally published in the Global Observatory.

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As Norway nears the end of its Security Council term, Ambassador Mona Juul reflects on efforts to connect the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda with work towards the implementation of Resolution 1540 (2004) on preventing non-state actors from obtaining access to weapons of mass destruction. 

From the very first day of our term on the Security Council, 1 January 2021, Norway has made a top priority of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, which promotes women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation and calls for the mainstreaming of gender perspectives in peace and security issues. We have partnered with 13 fellow Council members on a Statement of Shared Commitments to prioritise WPS implementation within the Council. Together, we are determined to advance the WPS agenda and ensure that the Council approaches WPS in a systematic way to help close the persistent gap between the rhetoric and the reality of women’s participation in peace and security, especially on the ground.

This approach is in line with the UN Secretary-General’s Agenda for Disarmament, in which he affirms that “empowering women and ensuring their equal and meaningful participation in disarmament and arms control decision-making processes can lead to more inclusive, effective and sustainable policy outcomes.” This is why we make the case that the international community should also seek out ways to bridge the gap between WPS and non-proliferation efforts. Women have a right to participate fully, equally, and meaningfully in all matters and at all levels of peace and security. This includes direct participation and influence on issues fundamental to their security and on decisions affecting their future. Inclusive processes also produce more sustainable solutions.

A Sri Lankan Scientific Officer inspects a shipping container to check for radioactive material (© IAEA, 2019).

We have worked collaboratively to ensure that Security Council mandates include language on WPS that is more detailed, more specific, and more comprehensive than ever before. One particularly important area here is work on implementation of Resolution 1540 (2004). This Resolution, with the help of the accompanying Security Council Committee (the 1540 Committee), aims to prevent non-state actors from obtaining access to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and encourages enhanced international cooperation in this regard. The resolution also affirms that the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and their means of delivery constitute a threat to international peace and security.

During the 1540 Committee’s Open Consultations, carried out in June 2022, Norway encouraged all delegates and participants to consider practical ways to enhance women’s participation and incorporate gender perspectives into the work of the 1540 Committee. Member States rose to the challenge, with several raising the issue in their national inputs to the upcoming mandate renewal, underlining that gender perspectives and considerations are an intrinsic and valuable element in the implementation of 1540. 

On 30 November 2022, the Committee’s current ten-year mandate will come to an end. This critical moment in the future of the 1540 regime provides an opportunity to integrate the WPS Agenda into the work of the 1540 regime to a degree never seen before. We cannot afford to wait another ten years to promote women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation or the integration of gender perspectives into peace and security issues, including the non-proliferation of WMD to non-state actors.

Based on a recent non-paper developed in collaboration with Mexico, we propose the following issues for consideration: 

1.    Closing the gender gap in the work of the 1540 Committee

During the 1540 Committee’s Open Consultations, carried out in June, only 23 of 86 speakers in the general debate were women. This shows us that there is a clear lack of gender diversity in 1540-related processes.

Ensuring the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women at decision-making levels is central to harnessing diverse expertise, sharpening technical assistance, and building new areas for cooperation, capacity building, and training.

The Committee held its 91st Meeting from 31 May to 2 June 2022 at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Increasing the diversity of experiences and perspectives in multilateral discussions and national implementation on Resolution 1540 is the smart thing to do, as research has shown that diversity triggers a more careful form of information processing that is often absent in homogenous groups.

For example, the activities of the 1540 Committee’s four working groups (monitoring and national implementation; technical assistance; international cooperation; and transparency and media outreach) offer robust opportunities to enhance interaction between the Committee, its Group of Experts, women practitioners and women’s organisations when developing strategies and policies to prevent the proliferation of WMDs and their means of delivery to non-state actors. 

2.    Applying a ‘WPS lens’ to the implementation of Resolution 1540

Applying a WPS lens to the implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004) could be useful to assess if and how gender roles shape issues such as: exposure to risk; engagement with weapons; access to information and capacity-building; and the ability to access medical attention following a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident. Additionally, a WPS perspective could enable a better understanding of differentiated impacts on women and girls stemming from the use of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. It could also shed light on connections between harmful masculinities and the acquisition, possession, or use of weapons of mass destruction.

There may be existing synergies between national action plans on WPS, Resolution 1540, and counter-terrorism that could be strengthened through adoption of this approach.

There are many ways for Member States who do not sit on the 1540 Committee to continue efforts to gender-mainstream work related to Resolution 1540. In national contexts, Member States can promote women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation on issues relevant to non-proliferation, including though increasing education and training opportunities for women working in 1540-related policy-making, planning, and implementation processes. 

At the end of 2022, Norway‘s term on the Security Council will come to a close, and with it our time on the 1540 Committee. However, our commitment to the WPS agenda and to furthering effective non-proliferation will endure. We hope and trust that integrating gender perspectives and the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women into the broader work of the 1540 regime is something that Security Council members, Committee members, and Member States will continue to prioritise. 

For our part, Norway will continue its efforts to promote gender equality and diverse participation in disarmament and non-proliferation processes right to the last day of our Security Council term – and certainly beyond. 
 

Ambassador Mona Juul is Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations in New York. Previously, she served as Ambassador to the United Kingdom (2014-2018), Director General for Security Policy and the High North in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2011-2014), Ambassador/Deputy Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission to the UN in New York (2005-2010), Chair of the 1st Committee of the 61st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (2006), among other roles. 

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The gender gap is even wider at the leadership levels, as attested by the so-called law of increasing disproportion, according to which the proportion of women drops for every upward step on the status ladder. This became evident during the General Assembly’s 2021 high-level segment: out of 191 leaders that addressed the forum, only 18 were women.

In view of this gender disparity, statements calling for “full and equal participation” are increasingly common in the First Committee. This is a welcome development. But it is also important to go beyond catch phrases, take stock and reflect about women in arms control and disarmament diplomacy.

In 2019, UNIDIR published a study called Still Behind the Curve. Surveying more than 80 multilateral meetings on arms control and disarmament, spanning four decades, the report presents patterns and trends on gender balance in forums dealing with weapons.

• Women comprise only a third of diplomats accredited to arms control and disarmament forums.

• In smaller, more specialized forums, the average proportion of women drops to twenty percent. 

• The correlation between group size and gender composition may be explained by the fact that when States can only send a single representative, they almost always send a man. Women are typically included as the second or, more often, third or fourth member of their respective delegations.

• When it comes to leadership positions, gender imbalance is even more pronounced. Men are overrepresented as heads of delegations to the First Committee, the NPT and the Conference on Disarmament, to an even greater degree than would be expected given the overall proportion of men in a meeting. In 2018, for instance, 76 per cent of heads of delegations at those meetings were men – above the 66 per cent overall proportion of men delegates.

To put these numbers in context, one has to look at the institutional culture of arms control and disarmament diplomacy. As part of its research, UNIDIR conducted focus group discussions with diplomats in New York, Vienna and Geneva. In total, 50 individuals attended the discussions, including diplomats from 28 Member States, professionals from five international organizations, and four representatives of civil society and academia.

During those meetings, participants shared their perception that arms control and disarmament as a field has rewarded characteristics, expertise, and experience that are more commonly associated with men such as toughness, seriousness, risk-taking, and military training. This has made it more difficult for women to pursue a career in this field.

The ideas about who and what makes “good” policy seem very much linked with masculinized norms. This can alienate diversity, and prevent innovation from happening. And innovation is precisely what the field needs more of now.

Women, as well as men, have the right to participate in international security discussions and shape the outcomes of decisions that will affect their lives. Moreover, studies have indicated that diverse teams tend to be more innovative and effective in anticipating problems and finding sustainable solutions.

As new challenges threaten the international security architecture, women’s continued marginalization in negotiations related to arms control and disarmament is a loss for the entire world. As Secretary-General António Guterres stated in his Agenda for Disarmament, involving more women can revitalize talks and advance our collective effort to create a safer and more secure future.

It should be noted that this is not a new idea. In 2000, the UN Security Council approved resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which called for increased participation of women in formal peace negotiations, in the military, in peacekeeping, in post-conflict governance bodies and in all centers of power where decisions are made. But twenty years later, women are still underrepresented in the First Committee and in other forums that deal with international security. We must change this now.

What can be done to improve women’s participation and promote gender equality in international security?

1. Promoting gender perspectives in First Committee resolutions

There has been a significant increase in the number of First Committee resolutions that acknowledge and address the gender equality and international security nexus. Over the past four years, this number has doubled, going from nine in 2016 to 18 resolutions in 2020.

As gender mainstreaming in international security gains momentum, there is an opportunity to expand attention to the incorporation of gender perspectives into the work of the First Committee. Going beyond cursory references in the preamble and including operational commitments in the resolutions, e.g. mandating the collection of sex- and age-disaggregated data on the impact of armed violence, gender-based violence and conflict. First Committee resolutions could be instrumental to strengthening gender equality mandates throughout the work of the United Nations and its Member States.

2. Making multilateral meetings more inclusive

Together with Ireland and Namibia, UNIDIR is a co-chair of the International Gender Champions Disarmament Impact Group. This initiative seeks to promote dialogue, shared knowledge and the pursuit of concrete opportunities to advance gender-responsive action within multilateral disarmament processes.

The Impact Group published a Resource Pack on Gender and Disarmament, with information that can support diplomats in applying a gender lens to their work and offer practical guidance to improve multilateral meetings, including the UN General Assembly and its Main Committees.

States Parties can include gender criteria in the sponsorship program for delegations; and they can request the secretariat to collect, track, and publish sex-disaggregated data and statistics on gender balance in delegations, bodies, and panels.

States Parties could agree on including gender as a criterion when electing presidents or chairpersons. This would help ensure a gender-balanced organization, featuring both women and men at the highest level.

3. Encouraging diplomats to develop gender expertise

A gender analysis examines the relationships between women, men, girls and boys, including their access to and control of resources and the constraints they face relative to each other. This type of analysis can be integrated into policy development, implementation and review, so as to ensure that different needs are equally addressed, and that greater equality and justice in gender relations are promoted.

With regards to international security issues, a gender analysis can be usefully applied to understand how socially constructed attributes, opportunities, and relationships associated with a gender identity may affect issues, such as the likelihood of being targeted by weapons systems, prospects of becoming a victim/survivor of armed violence, the ability to access medical attention in the aftermath of armed conflict, and the long-lasting biological and physiological impacts of weapons on individuals.

Diplomats should be equipped with the relevant knowledge and tools that can allow them to consider and respond to the gendered dimensions of international security problems. From the many disciplines covered in diplomatic trainings, gender studies are strikingly absent. To make diplomatic action more effective, it is important to change that and build up gender expertise within foreign services.

Promoting gender perspectives in First Committee resolutions, making multilateral meetings more inclusive, and encouraging diplomats to develop gender expertise would help overcome fragmentation and ensure further integration between gender equality and other multilateral agendas. As such, they would represent an important step towards the implementation of Our Common Agenda, an agenda of action launched by the Secretary-General to strengthen and accelerate multilateral agreements and make a tangible difference in people’s lives. As the Secretary-General has said, “our world needs more, and better, multilateralism, based on deeper solidarity, to deal with the crises we face, and to reverse today’s dangerous trends”. This will not happen if 50% of the population are excluded from discussions about our collective future.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Renata is the Programme Lead for Gender and Disarmament at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR). She holds a PhD in History and Politics from the Vargas Foundation, Brazil, and a master’s in International Politics and Security from University College London, UK.

The post As the United Nations First Committee Meets in New York, Is There Hope for More Gender Breakthroughs? first appeared on UNIDIR.

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

Opening remarks

• Amb María Bassols Delgado, Permanent Representative of Spain to the Conference on Disarmament

Panellists

• Dr Henri Myrttinen, Gender Associations
• Anastaesia Mondesir, Gender Associations
• Mariana Terreros Lozano, Independent consultant
• Domina Pia Salazar, Assistant Director, Philippines
• Rita Akaolo, Head of Division, Directorate of Defence and Security Affairs, Togo
• Callum Watson, Gender Coordinator, Small Arms Survey

Closing remarks

• Amb Francisca E. Méndez Escobar, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the UN in Geneva

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

The post Strengthening the Women, Peace and Security Agenda through Arms Trade Treaty implementation first appeared on UNIDIR.

This workshop focused on entry points to strengthen gender and diversity considerations in the upcoming CCM Review Conference. Participants shared ideas to strengthen gender considerations and the diversity of populations in the next CCM Action Plan, as well as explored opportunities for collaboration in the lead up to the CCM Review Conference.

Call for input

Ahead of the workshop, participants are encouraged to provide reflections through an online form here.

Agenda

12:30-13:15 – Light lunch

13:15-14:45 – Workshop

Opening Remarks

• H.E. Daovy Vongxay, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva

Speakers

• Julia Eberl, Permanent Mission of Austria and CCM Gender Focal Point
• Paul Serges Ntamack, Permanent Mission of Cameroon and CCM Gender Focal Point
• Renata H. Dalaqua, Head of the Integrated Approaches, Gender and Disarmament Programme, UNIDIR
• Hana Salama, Researcher with the Integrated Approaches, Gender and Disarmament Programme, UNIDIR

Moderated by Pamela Moraga, Director, CCM Implementation Support Unit.

*Additional speakers to be announced

When and where

Thursday, 12 March 2026 | 13:00 – 14:45 CET | GICHD Conference Room, 6th Floor, Petal 3, Maison de la Paix, Geneva, and online.

Check your local time here. 

Participants

The event is open to State representatives, civil society and experts working on or interested in arms control and disarmament.

RSVP

For virtual participation, please register here.

Further information

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

In partnership with

The post What’s next after the Lausanne Action Plan? Strengthening gender considerations and the diversity of populations in CCM implementation first appeared on UNIDIR.

UNIDIR and Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs are co-organizing a regional workshop on integrating arms control and disarmament into National Action Plans on UNSCR 1325. The event will include interactive discussions and simulations of drafting processes. It aims to:

• Offer capacity-building opportunities for WPS practitioners on how to address international security risks, including weapons proliferation and hybrid warfare.
• Enhance knowledge and expertise of the convergences between the WPS Agenda and arms control and disarmament among officials.
• Identify and test practical options to operationalize UNIDIR research on how to integrate arms control and disarmament measures into National Action Plans on UNSCR 1325.
• Strengthen networks, fostering knowledge exchange and cooperation among WPS and arms control practitioners.

When and where

Tuesday, 10 February and Wednesday, 11 February | Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Participants

The regional workshop will bring together representatives from national governments, civil society, academia and international entities working on the WPS agenda, as well as specialized organizations focusing on arms control, mine action and disarmament.

Further information

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

In partnership with

The post Regional workshop: Integrating arms control and disarmament into National Action Plans on UNSCR 1325 first appeared on UNIDIR.

Connecting to the immersive art installation, DISARMING SILENCE, by Franziska Greber, the event will be an opportunity to discuss how art, advocacy and research are levers of action against GBV. The reception will bring together survivors, civil society organizations, experts and policy communities for informal exchanges and interactions with the artist.

Women and girls represent the majority of victims and survivors of GBV, often involving the use or threat of a weapon. In times of conflict, gender-based violence often escalates into more egregious, widespread, and weaponized forms, manifesting as conflict-related sexual violence.

Survivors of these crimes are not only left with physical and psychological scars, but they also frequently face intense stigma, and systemic barriers to justice.

Yet against all odds, survivors of GBV and conflict-related sexual violence are reclaiming their voices and reshaping the narrative. Through art, advocacy, and research, they are transforming trauma into agency — challenging stigma, demanding accountability, and driving systemic change. Their leadership not only disrupts cycles of violence but also reimagines justice, healing, and prevention in ways that center dignity, resilience, and survivor expertise.

Programme

• Ambassador Erica Schouten, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations
• Dr Denis Mukwege, Founder and Chair of Global Survivors Fund, Nobel Peace Price 2018 Laureate, Gynaecologist and Human Rights Activist
• Iryna Dovgan, Head of SEMA Ukraine
• Franziska Greber, Artist and Psychotherapist
• Hana Salama, Researcher, Integrated Approaches Programme, UNIDIR

The event will include a cocktail and networking opportunities.

When and where

Monday, 8 December, 17:00-18:45 CET, Delegates’ Bar/Salon Suisse, 3^rd Floor Building A, Palais des Nations.

RSVP

Members of the public can gain access to visit the Palais des Nations by registering online.

Please note that participants without a UN Badge should register and enter via the Pregny gate before 17:00 CET.

In partnership with

The post Reception: Art and advocacy against gender-based violence  first appeared on UNIDIR.

Women and girls make up the majority of victims and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), which takes many forms and often involves the use or threat of weapons. Yet, such violence remains severely underreported, limiting efforts to prevent it. During conflict, GBV frequently escalates into more severe, widespread, and weaponized forms, manifesting as conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).

Such considerations have informed multilateral arms control and disarmament frameworks, accompanied by growing calls for consistent and holistic integration of gender perspective in small arms and light weapons control.

This event offers an opportunity to explore new research and tools on gender-responsive approaches to arms control aimed at preventing GBV in both conflict and non-conflict settings. Focusing on experiences from the Western Balkans and Haiti, it seeks to facilitate cross-geographical learning. Experts and practitioners will share and discuss emerging initiatives and good practices for integrating gender-responsive arms control measures into broader efforts to prevent GBV and CRSV.

Speakers

Opening remarks

• Andrei Nicolenco, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Moldova to the UN
• H.E. Natasha Meli, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Malta to the UN

Panelists

• Letitia Anderson, UN Action Coordinator
• Hana Salama, Researcher, Integrated Approaches Programme, UNIDIR
• Catherine Moore, United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti
• Dragan Bozanic, UNDP South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC)
• Lara Wilkinson, UNODA

Moderated by: Bojana Balon, Head of UNDP SEESAC

Closing remarks

• Diane Tisdall, Permanant Mission of Canada to the United Nations in New York

When and where

Monday, 24 November 2025, 9:00 – 10:30 EST, online via Microsoft Teams.

RSVP

Please register to participate online and receive the detail for the Microsoft Teams link.

In collaboration with

The post New pathways for prevention of sexual and gender-based violence: The role of arms control first appeared on UNIDIR.