Citation:Louis Reitmann, “Embedding Fairness: Boosting Efficacy and Innovation in the Nuclear Weapons Space”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025.

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Last updated: July 2024

Citation: International Gender Champions Disarmament Impact Group (2024) “Gender & Disarmament Resource Pack”, International Gender Champions Disarmament.

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Al examinar documentos políticos oficiales, las autoras buscan comprender si los enfoques de género en las políticas exteriores en América Latina y el Caribe abordan vínculos relevantes entre la igualdad de género, el desarme nuclear y el ambiente, y cómo lo hacen.

Las autoras concluyen con propuestas para fortalecer el liderazgo de América Latina y el Caribe en este campo, incluso fomentando el diálogo Sur-Sur sobre desarme nuclear e igualdad de género.

Citation: María Pía Devoto; Mariel R. Lucero Baigorria; Ana Levintan. Política exterior, género, desarme nuclear y ambiente: perspectivas desde el Sur, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2024.

The post Política exterior, género, desarme nuclear y ambiente: Perspectivas desde el Sur first appeared on UNIDIR.

Il repose sur une analyse quantitative et des entretiens avec des praticiens, et offre une vue d’ensemble de la participation des femmes au contrôle technique des armes, y compris les principaux défis ainsi que les bonnes pratiques pour favoriser l’égalité des sexes dans ce domaine.

En fournissant des connaissances et des idées en vue d’améliorer la participation significative des femmes dans la GAM, le rapport cherche à débloquer les opportunités professionnelles pour les femmes dans le domaine et à transformer les relations de pouvoir et de genre non seulement entre les individus, mais également au niveau institutionnel, ce qui constitue un aspect fondamental en vue d’atteindre une véritable égalité des sexes.

Teaser: Perspectives pour accroître la participation significative des femmes en matière de gestion des armes et des munitions

Sponsor Organizations: Gouvernements d’Allemagne, d’Irlande, de Norvège, d’Espagne, de Suède et du Royaume-Uni.

Citation: Hana Salama and Emma Bjertén-Günther (2022) “Gestion des Armes par les Femmes”, UNIDIR, Geneva, Switzerland.

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TRANSLATIONS

• English: Factsheet: Arab Women in International Security and Disarmament

Gender and Disarmament Programme, and Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction-Free Zone Project (2022) “المرأة العربية في مجال الأمن الدولي ونزع السلاح (Arab Women in International Security and Disarmament)”, UNIDIR, Geneva, Switzerland.

The post المرأة العربية في مجال الأمن الدولي ونزع السلاح first appeared on UNIDIR.

Based on discussions organised by UNIDIR, it addresses some of the main obstacles hindering their equal participation in the region, practices that have worked well in the past, as well as ideas on how to bridge the gap going forward.

Citation: Gender and Disarmament Programme, and Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction-Free Zone Project (2022) “Arab Women in International Security and Disarmament”, UNIDIR, Geneva, Switzerland.

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Citation: Hana Salama, Emma Bjertén-Günther (2021) “Women Managing Weapons: Perspectives for Increasing Women’s Participation in Weapons and Ammunition Management”, UNIDIR, Geneva, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.37559/GEN/2021/02

Teaser: Perspectives for Increasing Women’s Participation in Weapons and Ammunition Management

The post Women Managing Weapons first appeared on UNIDIR.

Citation: Gender and Disarmament Programme (2019) “Factsheet – Gender in Cyber Diplomacy”, UNIDIR, Geneva, Switzerland.

The post Factsheet – Gender in Cyber Diplomacy first appeared on UNIDIR.

The programme equipped this year’s Women in AI Fellows with vital knowledge and resources related to AI, particularly on technical, legal, governance and ethical issues within the field of international peace and security.  

AI from every angle 

Through a mix of lecture-style and activity-oriented sessions, the fellows learnt about various facets of AI, including the workings of the technology itself, military applications like lethal autonomous weapons systems, and means of promoting a multistakeholder perspective on AI governance in multilateral settings. 

These conversations were also placed in the broader context of AI in the international defence architecture, strategic foresight around its use, and potential impacts of emerging technologies like quantum, whose importance is only likely to grow in future policy discussions. The fellows were encouraged to brainstorm and critically analyse ideas around who should be responsible for AI governance, as well as where and how.  

The fellowship also brought participants into contact with a plethora of experts, whether from UNIDIR, intergovernmental organizations, academic institutions, big tech companies or humanitarian organizations. Fellows were able to dissect a Netflix documentary on “killer robots” and to discuss questions around gender, security and AI with UN Under-Secretary General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu.

The sessions also covered the broad spectrum of UNIDIR’s work on AI, including the Global Conference on AI, Security and Ethics, digital tools like the AI Policy Portal, and research on the cyber-AI nexus, military AI governance processes, and the intersection of gender and AI. 

In addition to regular sessions, the fellowship included networking and immersive learning opportunities. This year’s participants were able to enjoy a lunch with a number of 2024 Women in AI Fellows and a dinner with the diplomatic community in Geneva, both of which encouraged engagement, networking and exchanges across similar communities of practice.

The final day included a visit to the CERN Science Gateway on the Franco-Swiss border, where Fellows took a guided walking tour of the premises, learnt about emerging technologies in use at CERN and had the chance to witness up close the functioning of a successful, science and technology-focused organization born out of international cooperation.  

Learning from our Women in AI Fellows 

In feedback sessions, fellows shared their appreciation for the general diversity of the fellowship. This was true in terms not only of the range of geographies and experiences represented but also the variety of topics covered, many of which they expect to encounter again in their ongoing work as diplomats and policymakers.

Fellows also underlined the importance of this programme as a means of addressing real knowledge gaps that result from a dual lack of technical capacity and representation, especially in regions of the world where AI is still in the early stages of its development and use.

Since peer-learning and mutual support can also be of great help here, fellows particularly appreciated one final aspect of the programme: the chance to make informal connections and build networks with other women diplomats working on related issues around the world.  

Within the policy community, there is consistent and growing interest both in AI and in the UNIDIR Women in AI Fellowship, with applications more than doubling for the 2025 edition. UNIDIR is committed to channelling this growing interest into positive change in the coming years through future editions of the Women in AI Fellowship and its wider offering of capacity-building initiatives in key areas of global security. 

The 2025 Women in AI Fellowship was made possible by the generous support of donors to UNIDIR’s Gender and Disarmament Programe and Security and Technology Programme, specifically Canada, Czechia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Korea and Switzerland. UNIDIR would also like to express its gratitude to Australia and the United Kingdom for dedicated funding for the 2025 Women in AI Fellowship. 

The post Working towards more representative, more effective AI governance with UNIDIR’s Women in AI Fellowship  first appeared on UNIDIR.

As the world continues to grapple with the rapid evolution of AI and related technologies, as well as their implications for global security, the UNIDIR Women in AI Fellowship plays a pivotal role in ensuring that women diplomats are not only participants but also leaders in shaping the future of AI governance. Through this fellowship, UNIDIR promotes capacity-building for women diplomats and paves the way for the inclusion of diverse perspectives in vital decisions around AI governance.

The global picture

Women make up less than a third of the AI workforce globally and are less than a fifth of AI researchers globally – this means that the development and deployment of AI is being conducted in an already gender-biased environment. When it comes to governance of AI, UNIDIR research shows that in most disarmament forums, only a third of the diplomats are women.

The fellowship is a response to this inequality in AI governance and aims to equip women diplomats with the knowledge, skills and resources to engage actively in related multilateral discussions, and specifically for its security applications.

What’s in store for the week

During the week, fellows will gain a comprehensive understanding of AI, spanning from its technical components and military applications to its ethical, legal and governance-related considerations.

The training encompasses sessions led by UNIDIR’s experts and includes distinguished guest speakers, such as the UN Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu. The programme will cover key topics such as basic concepts around AI technology, considerations around ethics and biases, military applications of AI and its governance, and the cyber-AI nexus among others.

UNIDIR is committed to supporting women’s participation and agency across the board, and we are counting on you to break the mould and bring new ideas to international security discussions. 

Robin Geiss, UNIDIR Director (Welcome remarks)

The 2025 fellowship builds on the success of its pilot edition last year and features a unique blend of lecture-style training modules, hands-on exercises, a documentary screening, and ample opportunities for discussion and networking amongst the fellowship cohort and with the diplomatic community in Geneva.

The UNIDIR Women in AI Fellowship is possible thanks to the support of our donors: Australia, Canada, Czechia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Korea, and Switzerland.

The post Empowering women diplomats to shape the future of AI in international security first appeared on UNIDIR.

Q: What inspired you to take part in the peace negotiations in the Philippines?

A: The short answer is the conflict. The conflict in the Mindanao region in the Philippines has been going on for the longest time, and as part of civil society, myself along with others have been campaigning specifically for a meaningful political process to settle it. Every time the government withdrew from a process or violence broke out, we engaged with the parties to come back – to talk again, restore the ceasefire and resume dialogue. When the opportunity came with a new president taking office and a new team being formed, I was asked to join the peace negotiation team. I accepted the job without hesitation.

Q: How would you characterize this conflict?

A: It was a typical ethno-nationalist movement, born out of colonial history, the construct of the state, and center-periphery dynamics. It wasn’t a religious conflict, as some have assumed, although religious identity – specifically Islam – is a significant part of the identity of the Bangsamoro people in Mindanao. So yes, there’s a religious dimension, but at its core, it was really an ethno-nationalist conflict.

Q: What do you think the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda brought to peace negotiations, particularly those you were involved in?

A: The WPS agenda created awareness that there should be additional voices in the room, specifically those of women. Secondly, it raised the issue of responding to women’s needs in conflict and post-conflict situations by including gender-specific provisions in peace agreements. That was very much part of the dynamics when we resumed the peace negotiations in the Philippines in 2010 – the fact that the other side had no women, and that many of us on the government side were women was striking.

When we began negotiating specific provisions – starting with the first document, the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro – it included an iteration of rights. One of those was about women’s rights being guaranteed under the new political arrangement. So from the beginning, the agenda was there, although we faced difficulties in keeping it in the agenda of the negotiations.

Eventually, some of those challenges were overcome. We couldn’t include everything, and that’s why I view it not as a one-time effort but as a continuing process. In this specific case in 2010, what couldn’t be achieved during the political negotiations was addressed in the next phase – through the legislation establishing the new autonomous government.

In that phase, more guarantees were provided for women and also for minority indigenous communities.  In brief, the WPS agenda created awareness, consciousness and even responsibility. I didn’t represent women’s groups – I was appointed by the president and represented the president. But as a woman, there was a responsibility and expectation to carry that agenda into the negotiating room. On the other side, it created some defensiveness if women’ issues weren’t being addressed – and that’s a good thing. It did not always lead to inclusion, but at least the issue remained on the agenda.

Q: Can you expand on the difficulties you faced in the negotiations?

A: Women’s rights and other issues raised by women were often seen as interference – something external, and not essential to the core issues we were negotiating. But over time, it became integrated through specific provisions and actions, such as bringing in, first, one woman, then two, on their side. Eventually, they accepted the idea of a woman chairing the government’s negotiating panel, which was a first.

Women had always been part of the government team, but never in that leadership role. So that was new – especially for them. Initially, it created discomfort, but I think it was something they ultimately overcame.

Q: What do you see as the remaining challenges, particularly in Southeast Asia? And how is the role of women’s civil society groups evolving?

A: When you look at community initiatives and peacebuilding at the grassroots level, women are everywhere in Southeast Asia – especially in conflict-affected areas or regions threatened by violent extremism. Women have taken the lead. They’ve organized and developed creative programmes to address violence and political instability in peaceful, comprehensive ways.

But at the middle and upper levels, as part of governments for example, women are still not very visible. That’s been part of the ongoing campaign. The seeds are there. Leadership changes, and with it, the commitment to gender equality can vary.

It’s a continuous struggle. Sometimes you move one step forward, and then under new leadership, two steps back – but you keep pushing. Once women are organized and realize they have agency – that they can make change – there’s no going back. You can’t just push them aside anymore. So it becomes a cumulative process.

Q: Do you have any examples – maybe from your region or negotiations you’ve participated in – of women involved in disarmament processes? What were the outcomes and challenges?

A: As usual, very few women are formally acknowledged in disarmament demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) processes as combatants or included in the official rolls for benefits or even the headcounts that were agreed on. That is also true in the Bangsamoro process.

Today things are different. In Myanmar, for example, many women are fighting there – not just in ethnic groups but also in the People’s Defence Forces, which include members of the majority Burman community. Yet women’s involvement in formal disarmament processes has generally been very limited, both in numbers and in actual participation.

The inclusion of women is becoming more common in peace agreements. In our own peace agreement in the Philippines, in the final annex on normalization, we did mention women. We also included them in discussions around economic development and politics. But it was and still is an uphill battle.

The Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) part of the peace agreement in the Philippines, which was responsible for overseeing the decommissioning of MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) combatants and their weapons, is one of the few bodies in our implementation infrastructure with no women. That’s how it turned out. But awareness is growing. There’s now recognition that women should be specifically included in DDR – not only as combatants but also as widows or members of affected communities.

Q: What would you change about how peace is negotiated? What advice would you give to women in the region who are facing different types of conflicts and want to contribute to peace?

A: When women see other women doing peacebuilding – at the community level and in higher-level politics – it becomes real for them. That’s the first step. It starts with the women themselves.

Then they have to overcome the barriers within their own cultures. It’s hard for outsiders to lead that change. We can catalyze, but we can’t sustain it. It must come from within the communities – whether the constraints are cultural, religious, family or clan-based.

So, for those of us outside, it’s about accompaniment – supporting them in ways that are sensitive to their culture and context.

Networking is also essential. Without networks, women remain isolated in their own spaces and never become a collective political force. That’s why we still need women-specific activities. Otherwise, in mixed meetings, women often get sidelined.

We also need to engage men – talk to them about the kind of partnerships that lead to meaningful political outcomes. Because in the end, peace processes should be about meaningful partnerships – for everyone, men and women alike.

The post A conversation with Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer on the continuity of peacebuilding first appeared on UNIDIR.

UNIDIR systematically tracks gender balance in arms control and disarmament and makes the data available through its Gender and Disarmament Online Hub. What changes have you seen since you started in 2018?

The participation of women diplomats in arms control and disarmament forums has slightly increased from 32% in 2018 to 34% in 2022. This is in contrast to other areas of diplomacy, where women and men are equally represented, such as human rights and humanitarian affairs. However, while numerical progress might be slow, awareness and visibility of gender issues have significantly grown. In 2018, discussing gender equality in disarmament was unusual; now, it’s much more common, and the disarmament community is addressing this issue in a more systematic way. This shift reflects a broader recognition of the importance of integrating gender perspectives into all aspects of arms control and disarmament.

Despite some improvements, the field of arms control and disarmament has a persistent gender imbalance. Can you tell us more about the Gender and Disarmament Programme at UNIDIR? What makes it unique?

The Gender and Disarmament Programme is a distinctive initiative that enables UNIDIR to support states and disarmament stakeholders in achieving gender equality and applying a gender lens across all areas of arms control and disarmament. Our work is structured around three interrelated pillars.

The first pillar involves applying gender analysis to international security to understand how gender norms shape the role of weapons in societies and the impacts of weapons and violence. Women and men experience conflict differently and are vulnerable to different kinds of threats. For example, men and boys are often the majority of those killed and injured in conflict, while women and girls are most vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence. Additionally, women and girls usually bear the responsibility of caring for children during crises. It’s important to recognize that it’s not about creating hierarchies or comparing experiences as better or worse; it’s about acknowledging that these experiences are different. Crucially, women’s voices are often missing from decision-making processes.

That’s a vital point. What about the second pillar?

The second pillar focuses on building awareness and generating data on gender equality. We identify patterns, analyze trends, and offer ideas to enhance women’s participation in international security. This is achieved through research and capacity building, which includes initiatives to support women’s professional development. We also encourage everyone to engage with gender as an analytical tool, providing a better understanding of the different needs of various groups in society.

How does the third pillar build on these findings?

The third pillar uses research findings to inform gender-responsive measures in all areas of arms control and disarmament. For instance, we advocate for gender-disaggregated data collection to address the needs of survivors more effectively, as well as gender-sensitive risk education programs. By integrating these insights, we aim to create more inclusive and effective disarmament policies and practices.

You recently concluded the pilot edition of the UNIDIR Women in AI Fellowship. Can you tell us more about that?

The UNIDIR Women in AI Fellowship, inspired by the successful Women in Cyber Fellowship, provides women diplomats with knowledge and resources related to artificial intelligence (AI) and international peace and security. The response to the fellowship was extremely positive and encouraging! We received over 100 applications from 56 countries worldwide, leading us to increase our intake from the originally planned 20 to 31 Fellows.

In the last week of May, the Fellows gathered in Geneva for a one-week training programme. Sessions covered topics such as military applications of AI, implications for international humanitarian law, prospects for multilateral governance, and discussions on bias in AI and mitigation strategies. The Fellows also attended the ITU AI for Good Summit to observe AI technology in action. One notable outcome is the spirit of unity and support among the women diplomats. They are often the minority in their workplaces, so being part of a group of women is certainly a change. This camaraderie helps them share challenges and experiences, creating a supportive environment. This can foster long-term professional relationships, which are important in the field of diplomacy.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we plan to expand the UNIDIR Women in AI Fellowship in 2025.

Finally, what motivates your work in gender and disarmament?

I believe that by injecting issues of justice and equality into arms control and disarmament we can come up with more innovative and sustainable solutions.

This vision drives UNIDIR’s gender and disarmament programme, pushing us to continue our work and expand our impact. We are committed to achieving gender equality and integrating gender perspectives into all areas of disarmament, ensuring that our efforts contribute to a more comprehensive and human-centered approach to international security.

The post Advancing Gender Equality: Progress in Arms Control and Disarmament first appeared on UNIDIR.

UNIDIR’s research has shown that women are chronically underrepresented in international security processes, with only one in every three diplomats accredited to arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament forums being women. Women’s underrepresentation can reinforce stereotypes that devalue women’s expertise and lead to a vicious cycle where perspectives and knowledge of large segments of the population continue to be excluded.

The consequences of these oversights can be seen in policy and technology development alike. Speaking at UNIDIR’s “Fixing Gender Glitches in Military AI” event, Renata Hessmann Dalaqua, Head of UNIDIR’s Gender and Disarmament Programme, addressed the challenge of bias in artificial intelligence, pointing out that AI applications such as voice recognition, image detection and machine translation currently recognize men at higher rates than women. She added, “To tackle this issue, we need to diversify the people involved and expand the framework of expertise. Increasing women’s participation and valuing gender expertise are important steps in that direction”.

For more information on the fellowship and application process, please refer to the call for applications.

The post UNIDIR Launches Women in AI Fellowship  first appeared on UNIDIR.

Safety and security are imperative in the nuclear business, and having diverse perspectives around the table brings more questioning attitudes, less groupthink and therefore better safety outcomes. Sadly, the nuclear industry in Canada falls short in terms of gender diversity.

In a way, this is a reflection of broader trends. For instance, only about 35% of global university graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines are women. In engineering, the figure in Canada is even lower, standing at about 20%. But the problem starts much sooner, as gender stereotyping begins to tell girls very early on that certain careers are not for them, and studies show that they have internalized this idea as early as the age of six.

Nuclear safeguards inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency carry out their work at URENCO in the Netherlands (© Dean Calma/IAEA)

As if this issue of bias weren’t bad enough, the nuclear industry is also suffering from an ageing workforce. We can, however, implement solutions to this somewhat gloomy picture. With a clearly visible need to attract and retain top talent in our sector, let’s not deprive ourselves of access to half the talent pool through systemic and unconscious bias. We need to encourage girls and young women to pursue STEM studies followed by rewarding, lasting STEM careers.

Nuclear regulators can lead by example with policies and programs they set for their organizations to increase gender equity. Because we have influence, we can also pull levers to encourage similar policies among licensees. At the CNSC we have incorporated in five ways the principle of gender equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) into how we carry out our mandate.

1. Applying a Gender-based Analysis Plus lens to our work by using Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+), which is a tool that applies a gender lens to all of our programmatic activities. It helps us recognize systemic and unconscious biases in our workplace so that we can develop policies to remove them. This encourages those who might have otherwise held back to join, participate and contribute fully to our work. People from broadly varied educational and cultural backgrounds bring new perspectives, which expands our capability to do our work even better.

2. Using gender-specific data to inform strategic policy making to drive informed policy and programming decisions. In 2021, the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) undertook one of the first global efforts to obtain gender-specific data on women’s participation in the nuclear sector by surveying 8,000 women in more than three dozen countries. We have worked closely with the NEA to develop policy recommendations related to gender equity in the nuclear sector in three thematic areas: attract, retain and promote. I am looking forward with great anticipation to OECD countries and others embracing these recommendations.

3. Driving efforts to study the differential effects of ionizing radiation on women. We have initiated research on the differential impact of low-level radiation on women. Animal studies and epidemiological studies on atomic bomb survivors have clearly shown that ionizing radiation affects males and females differently. Data indicates that radiosensitivity in females is higher. Canada recognizes that epidemiological studies on effects of exposure to low-level radiation – typical of most nuclear applications today – have not considered sex differences in past research. Studies have usually looked at groups of men from male-dominated industries – uranium mining or nuclear power – and this leaves big gaps in our knowledge. So, to deliver full protection to everyone we must continue to refine our knowledge of how radiation affects women and men differently. Along with Health Canada, the CNSC has created a partnership called COHERE (the Canadian Organization on Health Effects from Radiation Exposure), where we use a gender lens to assess the impact of low levels of radiation exposure. The International Commission on Radiological Protection is also a contributor to this work.

4. Leading initiatives to increase women’s participation in nuclear. We drive specific initiatives – within the CNSC, the Canadian nuclear sector and at international levels – to improve the participation of women in the nuclear sector. I co-chair the International Gender Champions’ Impact Group on Gender Equality in Nuclear Regulatory Agencies, which consists of more than 30 global nuclear regulators. Key initiatives are to make a public commitment to achieve gender equity, share best practices and collect consistent data on gender in the nuclear workforce. I also co-chair the Driving Advancement of Women in Nuclear initiative – known affectionately as DAWN – for the Canadian nuclear sector. Our priority areas include bridging the confidence gap, the representation gap and the succession gap. In less than three years, we have made remarkable progress.

5. Encouraging girls and women to pursue careers in STEM fields. We have initiatives to encourage young girls and women to consider STEM careers. For many years I’ve been a passionate advocate and champion for STEM careers for young women. While the CNSC has many initiatives in this area, one that’s much anticipated is coming up in Spring 2023: the first in a series of the very successful Mentoring Workshops the NEA conducts, which we will be holding for young Indigenous women in Canada. Mentoring delivers attention and encouragement, and sometimes that’s all you need to spark interest in something which could bring a lifetime of reward and satisfaction.

It’s not just for regulators: everyone in the nuclear field should be committed to striving for gender equity.

Rumina Velshi is the President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), Canada’s nuclear regulator. Rumina has been with the CNSC since 2011 – first as a Commission Member until her appointment as President in 2018. She is currently the Chairperson of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Commission on Safety Standards. She has extensive technical, regulatory and adjudication expertise in the energy industry. Rumina was one of the first female nuclear energy workers in Canada and has worked in various capacities at Ontario Hydro and Ontario Power Generation, the electrical utilities in the province. She also previously served as a Board member of the Ontario Energy Board, the economic regulator of the province’s electricity and natural gas sectors.

The post Gender Equity and the Nuclear Sector: a Canadian Perspective first appeared on UNIDIR.

But women can – and do – contribute to WAM just as well as men. Additionally, gender diversity, and diversity more broadly, are key to cultivating ideas and perspectives that ensure WAM policies and practices adequately respond to the different needs of all groups affected by the proliferation of arms and ammunition. For some activities, such as demining, diverse teams are proven to be more effective than single gender teams.

In recent years, we’ve seen a broadening of the field of WAM, which is no longer a realm reserved for national militaries and security forces, but involves a plethora of organizations that are supporting national actors by providing technical expertise and capacity building. As a result, there is a small but growing number of women working in WAM technical roles.

How can we better understand the opportunities and challenges to increase diversity in this field and make it more gender-responsive? UNIDIR has interviewed over 35 WAM specialists and gathered their views and perspectives on the relevance of gender perspectives and diversity in WAM. Here are some of our preliminary findings.

Working in WAM, Saving Lives

The work of weapons and ammunition storage keepers and managers, ammunition technical officers and explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) specialists, involves a very high level of responsibility and accountability. Storage keepers and managers, for example, are held personally accountable for any weapons or materiel that is not properly secured or stored. For ammunition technicians or EOD specialists, the job of safely disposing explosives – including by detonation – requires tremendous concentration under a great deal of pressure, where one mistake can be deadly.

When asked why she would pursue such risky and dangerous work, Afifa Habbasi an EOD Level III specialist, originally trained in the Tunisian Military, said “Why not? Women are increasingly participating in all sectors of society at all levels including in the military, police and as decision makers in government, so why wouldn’t women also be involved in weapons and ammunition management?”. Afifa’s motivation goes beyond proving that women can do the same jobs as men, “I wanted to pursue a career in ammunition engineering because I wanted to work in the humanitarian field and help save lives.

In fact, WAM has been recognized as a means to reduce armed violence and save lives by curbing the proliferation of weapons and ammunition, whose impact is gendered and affects women and girls, men and boys in different ways. WAM also helps prevent unplanned explosions at munition sites, a phenomenon which can have reverberating and devastating impacts on entire communities. Women working in this field are helping to overcome the limited articulation of women as victims and demonstrating the multiple roles that women can play in international security.

Challenging Harmful Stereotypes and Rigid Institutions

WAM professionals often work in remote military bases, spending significant time away from family and friends. To complicate matters, these postings may lack appropriate working conditions and adequate infrastructure for women, such as separate toilets, showers and dormitories.

Overcoming gender stereotypes, however, is frequently a much bigger hurdle than the working conditions. Women are often made to feel like they don’t belong in this field and have their abilities questioned. In our interviews, they shared experiences of being the only woman in the team and added that they struggled to gain acceptance from their colleagues, especially at the beginning of their careers.

Lina Maria Castillo Mendez, a trained EOD specialist from Colombia is no stranger to this, “I’ve been in meetings where the gentleman in front of me has just decided to say, ‘I’m not meeting with you. I’ll talk to your boss, who is a man.'”

When joining the British military, Fiona Kilpatrick wanted to specialize as an ammunition technician, but she was told by a male military recruiter that “this is a male dominated job and it is too difficult for you.” This only strengthened her resolve and she eventually left the military to join The HALO Trust, an international NGO known for humanitarian demining and WAM. She’s deployed to Cote d’Ivoire, Laos and Sri Lanka, and now heads HALO’s training department preparing more and more women for these technical roles.

Many women we interviewed suggested that more opportunities were available to them abroad than in their own countries. Afifa Habbasi, left her national military to pursue an international career. “I chose an international career because […] back home, you cannot progress so fast. Especially for a woman, your hard work in this challenging area is not really considered by male colleagues.”

Tamara Svircev, a specialist in physical security and stockpile management, has collaborated with military and police officers in the Western Balkans. She’s witnessed “hard-working women that are experts in this area leave their position because they cannot maintain their work-life balance. Because, unfortunately in some working environments and institutions, the mechanisms to retain them and enable their full professional advancement are still not fully implemented. Including flexible arrangements, which would facilitate work-life balance.”

The Road Ahead

So, how can we ensure that women have equal opportunities to pursue a career in WAM?

First, we must make professional women working in WAM more visible, as opposed to those seen in movies and TV shows. Promoting role models in this field is an important way to change perceptions about women in these roles.

Second, we should promote a comprehensive understanding of WAM, which goes beyond the so-called “hard” measures, such as stockpile management. Reframing the field to demonstrate its impact on conflict prevention, protection of civilians and social-economic development will attract more diverse candidates from non-military backgrounds.

Third, it’s crucial to review recruitment policies and working conditions, to ensure that women and men have equal conditions for professional development in the field. This can be done through inclusive recruitment practices that open military career pathways for women and provide job training opportunities. This recruitment effort should be accompanied by adequate physical infrastructure for women in military bases and a work environment free from discrimination and sexual harassment. Equally important are practices that accommodate family life by recognizing that both women and men have family caregiving responsibilities.

Creating a level playing field is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart one, as more diversity in WAM will strengthen its effectiveness and more employment opportunities for women in this area will positively impact their own lives and the quality of life in their communities. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “the world has an opportunity to leave behind generations of entrenched and systemic discrimination.” Our work reveals the social, economic and security benefits of challenging harmful gender norms, transforming perceptions and changing discriminatory policies affecting women in WAM. It’s time to build an equal future, in which women can realize their full potential and play a transformative role in changing gender stereotypes in WAM and in the broader security field.

Hana Salama is a Researcher in the Gender and Disarmament programme. Her areas of expertise include gender analysis, civilian casualty recording, protection of civilians in conflict, small arms control and disarmament.

This piece presents findings from a larger research project. The author is grateful to colleagues from UNIDIR’s Gender and Disarmament Programme, as well as the Conventional Arms Programme, for their contribution and insights.

The post A Man’s Job? Women in Weapons and Ammunition Management first appeared on UNIDIR.

UNIDIR report sheds light on obstacles hindering women’s participation in disarmament negotiations and calls for action to promote gender equality

GENEVA, 26 APRIL 2019 — A UNIDIR report released today finds women are still significantly underrepresented in multilateral forums dealing with weapons, nearly twenty years after the landmark Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. The study finds women comprise only a third of diplomats accredited to arms control and disarmament conferences. In smaller, more specialized forums, the average proportion of women drops to twenty percent.

The report, Still Behind the Curve: Gender Balance in Arms Control, Non-proliferation and Disarmament Diplomacy, surveyed participants from 84 multilateral meetings held during the last four decades. It shows progress towards gender balance has been slower in disarmament fora than in other areas of diplomacy, such as humanitarian, social and cultural affairs.

“More needs to be done to improve not only the numerical representation of women, but their substantive role in the field of disarmament,” said Dr. Renata Dwan, Director of UNIDIR. “Although Member States have acknowledged the importance of including the voices of women in international security deliberations, the report demonstrates that statements and resolutions have yet to translate into meaningful action.”

The report analyses obstacles hindering the full and equal participation of women in the field of disarmament and international security drawing on views gathered from diplomats and others. It calls for concerted action and identifies practical options to promote gender equality in disarmament diplomacy and argues that security discussions benefit from women’s participation.

ABOUT UNIDIR

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is an autonomous institution within the United Nations that conducts independent research on disarmament and related problems, particularly international security issues. UNIDIR supports Member States, the United Nations and policy and research communities in advancing ideas and actions that contribute to a more sustainable and peaceful world. For more information about UNIDIR, visit: www.unidir.org. Follow UNIDIR on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

MEDIA CONTACT

The post Still Behind the Curve: Gender Balance in Arms Control, Non-proliferation and Disarmament Diplomacy first appeared on UNIDIR.

The event, held in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the UN in New York, will serve to amplify the leadership of women as essential to effective, inclusive and sustainable non-proliferation and disarmament efforts.

It will also help inspire the next generation, particularly young women and professionals, who aspire to contribute to this critical field.

Key questions for discussion include:

• How can women’s leadership strengthen global efforts in WMD non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control?
• What systemic barriers still limit women’s participation, and what practical steps are needed to overcome them?
• How can research and evidence, such as UNIDIR’s findings, help shape more inclusive policies and institutional processes?
• What actions today will help secure a more gender-inclusive, diverse and representative next generation of leaders in WMD non-proliferation and disarmament?
• Sharing of personal journeys: What challenges have you faced, and how do you fulfil your multiple roles both at work and at home? What advice would you give to women peers or aspirant women leaders in this field?

Agenda

Opening remarks

• Adedeji Ebo, Director and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs

Expert presentation

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

Panel conversation

• Ambassador Maritza Chan Valverde, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN in New York
• Irina Albrecht, WMD non-proliferation expert
• Peihan Li, WMD non-proliferation expert

Moderated by: Ambassador Ondina Blokar-Drobič, Deputy Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the UN in New York

When and where

Wednesday, 29 October, 13:15-14:30 EDT, Conference Room 8, UN Headquarters, New York, and online.

Participants

The event is open to Member States representatives, civil society and academics. Kindly note that UNIDIR is not able to grant access to the UN Headquarters for those who are not already in possession of the UN accreditation.

RSVP

To participate, kindly register here.

In collaboration with

The post Empowering change: The role of Women in WMD non-proliferation and disarmament first appeared on UNIDIR.

At the CSP 10 ATT, States Parties reaffirmed this commitment as well as stressed the importance of women’s involvement in all decision making and implementation processes relating to the ATT. As part of the fourth phase of the European Union’s Partner to Partner Arms Trade Treaty Outreach Programme, Expertise France will be supporting this commitment by sponsoring female delegates to attend CSP11. The ATT Secretariat has also been striving to ensure gender balance through its sponsorship programme.

Bringing women to the ATT, however, is just the first step and analysis demonstrates that this alone will not make women’s participation impactful. It is important that they also have opportunities for training, confidence building, agenda setting and coalition building. This event, aimed primarily at women delegates, seeks to provide opportunities for networking and information sharing on key ATT related activities. It also aims to showcase the formal and informal support available to first time delegates from civil society organizations, the ATT Secretariat and more experienced delegates.

The event will follow an interactive format, with opportunities for interaction in English, French and Spanish.

Agenda

Welcome remarks

• Emily Hall, Assistant Secretary of Defence Export Controls, Australian Department of Defence
• Honny Choua, Project Manager, Expertise France

*Full agenda and speakers to be announced soon.

When and where

Tuesday, 26 August, 08:15- 09:45 CEST, Cafeteria – Espace Violeta Parra, 1st floor, Centre International de Conférences restauraunt, Geneva, Switzerland.

Participants

Please note that this event is aimed at women who are registered to the Arms Trade Treaty 11th Conference of State Parties.

Further information

For further information please contact Hana Salama at hana.salama@un.org.

In partnership with

The post Women as a force at the Arms Trade Treaty first appeared on UNIDIR.

Women have historically been underrepresented in conventional ammunition management, particularly in technical roles. In response, Objective 14 of the GFA seeks to promote the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in this field. The GFA also references the Women, Peace and Security Agenda – which advocates for women’s participation, leadership and empowerment – and marks its 25th anniversary in 2025.

The Women Managing Ammunition Network (WoMA-Network), created under the UN SaferGuard programme, supports equality and diversity in ammunition management. It highlights the role of women in technical positions and encourages their participation in global discussions. Its flagship activity is an annual training course for women technical experts on the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines, which brings together 15 participants from around the world. The activity, organized since 2023, will be hosted again in July 2025. It will be organized by the Permanent Mission of Austria to the United Nations in New York, UNODA, and the Ammunition Management Advisory Team, with support from the Golden West Humanitarian Foundation and the SAS.

This year, the WoMA+ initiative was launched to involve eight WoMA-Network members in the Preparatory meeting and in contributing to the GFA’s follow-up discussions. The event will provide a unique opportunity to discuss the challenges women face in this field and how States can implement Objective 14 of the GFA by promoting women’s meaningful participation in ammunition management.

The event will feature an interactive discussion focusing on key questions, including the barriers to becoming a technical expert in ammunition management, lessons learned from the WoMA-Network’s activities to address these challenges, ways for member States to ensure women’s meaningful participation in national institutions and the role of the GFA in promoting international cooperation to support this objective.

Agenda

Welcoming remarks

• HE Gregor W Koessler, Permanent Representative of Austria to the UN

Moderated discussion with WoMA-Network members

Conclusions and closing remarks

• Deborah Warren Smith, Manager – Elsie Initiative Fund for Uniformed Women in Peace Operations, UN Women

When and where

24 June 2025, 13:15 – 14:30 EDT, Conference Room 12, UN Headquarters, New York (for those who have access to the UN Secretariat building).

In partnership with

With the support of

The post Technically transformative – Overcoming barriers to women’s meaningful participation in ammunition management first appeared on UNIDIR.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which recognizes the disproportionate impact of war on women and girls, as well as the critical need for their full, equal and meaningful participation in all areas of international security.

The event will include an opening panel and debate sessions, where participants will discuss and deliberate on ways to strengthen the implementation of the WPS agenda. Particular consideration will be paid to the role or arms control and disarmament in realizing key goals of the agenda: women’s participation; conflict prevention; protection from violence against women and girls; humanitarian relief and recovery. 

This year’s event follows on from previous collaborations between UNIDIR and GIMUN for the 2024 edition preventing non-state armed groups from acquiring weapons and the 2023 edition on lethal autonomous weapons. 

Speakers

• Ambassador Song Si-jin, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the Conference on Disarmament
• Dr Renata Hessmann Dalaqua, Head of Programme, UNIDIR
• Sofia Calltorp, Director of the Geneva Office and Chief of Humanitarian Action UN Women

When and where

Tuesday, 13 May 2025, 10:00 – 17:00 CET, Palais des Nations, Geneva

Participants

The event is open to university students. Accreditation is managed by the GIMUN.

Further information

For queries, please contact renata.hessmanndalaqua@un.org or shavonne.mcdonald@gimun.org.

In collaboration with

The post Model UN 2025: Women, Peace and Security first appeared on UNIDIR.

En 2024, 108 pays (environ 56 % des États membres de l’ONU) ont adopté au moins un PAN. Cependant, une grande majorité d’entre eux ne prennent pas encore en compte les considérations liées aux technologies émergentes. Cela, malgré de nombreux exemples récents de harcèlement en ligne des femmes et des minorités de genre ; des risques cybernétiques ayant des dimensions genrées, comme l’utilisation croissante de logiciels espions ; ou les effets négatifs des systèmes d’intelligence artificielle (IA) biaisés en fonction du genre et de la race, etc. Actuellement, seuls quelques pays mentionnent la sécurité numérique, la cybersécurité, l’IA et/ou les violences sexistes facilitées par la technologie dans leurs PAN.

Cela montre un certain niveau de prise de conscience et de progrès dans ces pays concernant le discours sur les technologies émergentes en général et leurs liens avec l’agenda « Femmes, Paix et Sécurité » en particulier, mais il reste beaucoup à faire. La technologie dépasse souvent la régulation, il est donc essentiel pour les États membres de garder une longueur d’avance et de planifier des mesures pour atténuer les vulnérabilités liées aux genre existantes et émergentes découlant des nouvelles technologies. Cette discussion est particulièrement pertinente en 2025, alors que nous commémorons le 25e anniversaire de l’agenda « Femmes, Paix et Sécurité », et que les pays s’apprêtent à intensifier leurs travaux autour de cet axe.

Cet événement de l’UNIDIR, organisé en partenariat avec l’Organisation internationale de la francophonie et la Représentation permanente de la France, a exploré le potentiel pour les pays d’inclure des considérations sur la sécurité numérique, la cybersécurité et l’IA dans leurs PAN pour l’agenda « Femmes, Paix et Sécurité ». Cet événement s’est concentré sur les questions suivantes : Pourquoi est-il important de refléter les considérations liées aux technologies émergentes dans les PAN en ce qui concerne les femmes, la paix et la sécurité ? Quels aspects sont particulièrement importants ? Quelles leçons peut-on tirer des États ayant déjà inclus ces considérations ? Comment pouvons-nous améliorer les PAN dans le contexte des considérations technologiques liées au genre pour mieux les préparer à l’avenir ?

Enregistrement d’événements

Intervenants

Modération 

• S.E. M. Henri Monceau, Représentant permanent de l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie auprès des Nations Unies à Genève

Propos introductifs 

• Robin Geiss, Directeur de l’UNIDIR

Discours d’ouverture

• Mme. Bineta Diop, Envoyée spéciale de la Commission de l’Union africaine sur les femmes, la paix et la sécurité, présidente et fondatrice de l’ONG Femmes Africa Solidarité, et Senior Fellow à l’UNIDIR

L’importance des technologies émergentes dans les Plans d’Action Nationaux « Femmes, Paix et Sécurité »

• Mme. Shimona Mohan, Chercheuse associée, UNIDIR
• Mme. Hélène Molinier, Conseillère principale, Coopération sur l’égalité numérique des sexes, ONU Femmes

Discussion modérée : Leçons tirées et recommandations concernant les considérations technologiques dans les Plans d’Action Nationaux « Femmes, Paix et Sécurité »

• Mme. Jelena Pia-Comella, Consultante et professeure assistante en matière de la justice de genre et experte indépendante, membre du Comité pour l’élimination de la discrimination à l´égard des femmes
• Mme. Michele Koundouno, Présidente, Centre Femmes, Citoyenneté et Paix
• Mme. Artida Minga, Attachée de programme, Direction des Affaires politiques et de la gouvernance démocratique, OIF 

Propos conclusifs

• S.E. Mme Camille Petit, Ambassadrice, Représentante permanente de la France auprès de la Conférence du désarmement à Genève

Quand et où

Lundi 3 février, 15h – 16h45 CET, Salle XXV, Bâtiment E, Palais des Nations, Genève, et en ligne.

Langue

Cet événement s’est déroulé en français.

En collaboration avec

The post Considérations technologiques dans les cadres pour les femmes, la paix et la sécurité first appeared on UNIDIR.

In today’s digital landscape, there is a growing acknowledgment of the gender dimension of cyber threats as well as the persistent digital and cyber gender divide with women representing only 25% of the global cybersecurity workforce. However, specific gender-differentiated impacts of cyber threats and strategies to increase women participation in cybersecurity remain underexplored, hindering multistakeholder efforts to enhance cyber resilience and promote inclusive international peace and security governance models.  

This roundtable will explore gendered impacts of cyberattacks and practical steps for mainstreaming gender into global cybersecurity policy. It will also aim to identify concrete strategies to enhance women’s participation in cyber diplomacy and the cybersecurity workforce. This session is part of a series of events convened jointly by UNIDIR and the Stimson Center to collect insights and recommendations from across the multistakeholder community for a ‘Compendium of Good Practices for Mainstreaming Gender into Global Cybersecurity Policy.’ The resulting discussions and recommendations from this roundtable will inform the compendium of good practices, which will be published in 2025. 

Speakers

• Aaryn Yunwei Zhou, Deputy Director, International Cyber and Emerging Technology Policy Division, Global Affairs Canada [on-site] 

• Hoda Al Khzaimi, Director of Centre for Cybersecurity, New York University Abu Dhabi, and Founder and Director of Emerging Advanced Research Acceleration for Technologies, Security and Cryptology Research Lab and Center [on-site] 

• Yasmine Idrissi Azzouzi, Cybersecurity Programme Officer, International Telecommunication Union [on-site] 

• Allison Pytlak, Program Lead of the Cyber Programme, Stimson Center [online] 

• Luanda Domi, Gender Mainstreaming and Cyber Skills Development Manager, Global Forum on Cyber Expertise [online] 

• Catalina Vera Toro, Alternate Representative, Permanent Mission of Chile to the OAS, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile [online] 

Moderated by Shimona Mohan, Associate Researcher, Gender and Disarmament and Security and Technology Programmes, UNIDIR 

Rapporteur Pavel Mraz, Cybersecurity Researcher, Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR 

When and where 

Sunday, 15 December, 16:30-18:00 AST (14:30-16:00 CET), Workshop Room 7, King Abdulaziz International Conference Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Participants

Open to all registered participants to the Internet Governance Forum, both on-site and online. 

RSVP

Please register online here.

Further information

For more information, please contact igf@un.org.

The post From policy to practice: Gender, diversity and cybersecurity  first appeared on UNIDIR.

Agenda

The event will bring together experts, policymakers, scholars and diplomats to discuss ways through which to improve women’s representation in diplomacy, especially at the more senior levels. Through a moderated panel discussion, speakers will focus on the following topics:

• Common challenges and concerns that may hinder women’s advancement to more senior roles in diplomacy and foreign policy.
• Lessons learned and best practices in recruitment, promotion and retention policies that could help women advance to senior positions within ministries of foreign affairs.
• The role that diplomatic academies and think tanks can play in advancing visibility and empowering women to pursue careers in diplomacy.
• Aligning the need for more representation of women in diplomacy with the WPS agenda and other frameworks, such as feminist foreign policy and feminist humanitarian aid.

Opening remarks

• Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the UN Office, Geneva

Speakers

• Amb. Nadia Theodore, Permanent Representative of Canada to Permanent Representative to the WTO, UNCTAD, ITC and WIPO
• Amb. Claudia Julio Fuentes, Permanent Representative of Chile to the UN, Geneva
• Shahad Matar, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the UN, Geneva
• Dr Mohamed AlDhaheri, Deputy Director General, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy
• Dr Sara Chehab, Senior Research Fellow, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy

Moderated by Dr Renata H Dalaqua, Head, Gender and Disarmament Programme, UNIDIR

When and where

Wednesday, 4 December, 9:00-10:15, Room XXV, Palais des Nations, Geneva.

*A light breakfast will be served outside the room at 8:45.

** No registration is required to attend this event.

Participants

We welcome representatives from Member State delegations, civil society, academia and intergovernmental organizations.

In collaboration with

The post Where are the women ambassadors? Insights from the 2024 Women in Diplomacy Index first appeared on UNIDIR.

This will be a moderated conversation featuring diplomats who participated in the inaugural edition of the Women in AI Fellowship, a knowledge- and capacity- building initiative developed by UNIDIR directed towards women diplomats who are working on AI in the international security domain.

The discussion will address the challenges that AI poses to international peace and security, and will also highlight the opportunities that it presents. Members of the 2024 cohort of the UNIDIR Women in AI Fellowship will share insights that are relevant to the work of UNGA’s First Committee, as well as UNSC work on the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Questions for discussion include:

• What are the main risks and challenges that AI pose for international peace and security?
• How are these risks and challenges being addressed in multilateral discussions?
• What measures are needed to prevent and/or mitigate AI-related risks in international peace and security?
• What are the opportunities that AI can bring for international peace and security?
• What can be done to avoid the risk that AI and technology development will increase geopolitical gaps and augment existing disparities among nations?
• What are effective ways to ensure women’s meaningful participation in AI career paths, including leadership positions in policy and technical domains?
• What are key opportunities to bring AI discussions to the Women, Peace and Security agenda?

Speakers

• Amb. Gesa Bräutigam, Special Envoy for Feminist Foreign Policy and Director for Human Rights, Germany

• Berenice Low, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Singapore to the United Nations, New York; UNIDIR Women in AI Fellow

• Miysaa Al Shibli, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Oman to the United Nations, New York; UNIDIR Women in AI Fellow

• Szilvia Balázs, Head of Unit, Disarmament and Non-proliferation, Export Control, and Emerging Security Challenges, Hungary; UNIDIR Women in AI Fellow

Moderated by Dr Renata H Dalaqua, Head, Gender and Disarmament Programme, UNIDIR

When and where

Wednesday, 23 October, 13:15-14:30 EDT, CR.D, UNHQ, New York.

Participants

This event is open to Member States representatives, civil society and academics.

The post Challenges and opportunities posed by AI in international peace and security: A conversation with the UNIDIR Women in AI Fellows first appeared on UNIDIR.