UNIDIR — UN Institute for Disarmament Research

We are thrilled to announce the publication of "Unlocking the UNIDIR Cyber Policy Portal: A Comprehensive User Guide" authored by Giacomo Persi Paoli and Lenka Filipová. Since its launch in 2019, the UNIDIR Cyber Policy Portal has provided a detailed overview of the cyber policy landscape for all 193 United Nations Member States, alongside selected intergovernmental organizations, multistakeholder initiatives, and other key efforts. What's New? 🔹 Availability in all UN official languages  🔹 Enhanced content search and filtering functions This user guide is designed to help you navigate the wealth of information available on this tool. Discover more and stay ahead in the ever-evolving field of cyber policy! 📘 unidir.org/UserGuide

#Event | Nuclear Risk Reduction: From Ideas to Action Join us for a side event at the #NPTPrepCom! UNIDIR and Switzerland are coming together to host “Nuclear Risk Reduction: From Ideas to Action”, addressing growing concerns about nuclear risks. As highlighted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “humanity is just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation.” This event will explore various approaches to mitigating these risks, review existing measures, and discuss actionable solutions. Register today to gain insights into strategies for nuclear risk reduction and network with key stakeholders in the field  👉 unidir.org/NuclearRisks

Earlier this month, we welcomed another 22 delegates to Geneva for our Training on Norms, International Law & Cyberspace. The course helps participants like Charlotte Skerten from New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade boost their understanding of concepts central to the Framework for Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace. Find out more about our latest cohort at: unidir.org/developing

#Update | Next week sees the opening of the Second Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference (22 July-2 August). The #NPTPrepCom will give stakeholders a chance to prepare for the Review Conference in terms both of procedural matters and of substantive issues related to nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. UNIDIR and its partners will be hosting a number of key side events to help them in this task. ⬇️ 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 - 23 July 2024, 13:00-14:45 CEST, In Person (Room XXV, Palais des Nations, Geneva) 🔗 unidir.org/PaperLanterns Paper Lanterns tells the inspiring story of Shigeaki Mori, a Japanese atomic bomb survivor from Hiroshima who spent four decades searching for the identities of twelve American prisoners of war killed in the atomic bombing in Hiroshima, ultimately reaching out to their families to help them achieve some kind of closure to their family tragedies. 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚 𝐖𝐌𝐃-𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐌𝐃-𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬 - 24 July, 13:15-14:30 CEST, Hybrid (Online and Room XXV, Palais des Nations, Geneva) 🔗 unidir.org/CompassLaunch This event, hosted by UNIDIR and the European Union, will see the launch of the Middle East WMD-Free Zone Project’s new online tool, The Middle East WMD-Free Zone Compass: Mapping Official Statements. 𝐍𝐮𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 29 July, 13:15-14:45 CEST, Hybrid (Online and Rm. XXIV, Palais des Nations, Geneva) 🔗 unidir.org/NuclearRisks Many states and regional groups have expressed increasing concern over nuclear risks. While some steps to decrease nuclear risks have been taken, much more needs to be done. This event, hosted by UNIDIR and Switzerland, will present different approaches to reducing nuclear risks inside and outside of the NPT review process; take stock of proposed and implemented risk reduction measures; and discuss practical solutions for moving forward. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐧-𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐮𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬 - 30 July, 13:15-14:30 CEST, In Person (Room XXV, Palais des Nations, Geneva) 🔗 unidir.org/TimeIsNow Building on the strong cross-regional engagement witnessed in previous NPT meetings, this event will discuss initiatives to further develop gender analysis in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Welcome to UNIDIR, Beatrice Fihn! 👏 Having served as Executive Director of Campaña Internacional para la Abolitión de las Armas Nucleares (ICAN), on whose behalf she accepted the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, Beatrice brings great expertise in international law, weapons governance and civil-society mobilization. Learn more  👉  https://lnkd.in/dmR9uv5T

#Event | Forging a Path Towards a WMD-Free Middle East: The WMD-Free Zone Compass Join us for the launch of the Middle East WMDFZ Project’s new online tool: The Middle East WMD-Free Zone Compass: Mapping Official Statements. The event, hosted by #UNIDIR and the European External Action Service will take place at the 2nd Session of the #NPTPrepCom. 🗣️ Panellists Include: 👤 M. Almuntaser Albalawi, Researcher, Middle East WMD-Free Zone Project, UNIDIR 👤 M. Mohamed Gamal Ahmed Elghitany, Counsellor, ‎Permanent Mission of Egypt, Geneva 👤 Ambassador Adam Scheinman, Special Representative of the President for Nuclear Nonproliferation, United States of America We look forward to your participation and insights! Register today 👉 unidir.org/CompassLaunch

We're thrilled to announce the extension of the submission deadline for the Outer Space Security Conference 2024 Youth Video Competition! Now you have until 21 July 21, 2024, to share your voice on why space security matters to you. Hosted by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and in partnership with the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), this competition invites individuals aged 18-25 worldwide to create a 1-3 minute video on the theme: "Why does space security matter to you? – Keeping outer space secure and sustainable." Selected finalists will have the incredible opportunity to attend the Outer Space Security Conference in Geneva (#OS24) 🇺🇳 For submission details and more information, visit 👉 unidir.org/OS24-youth-vid

Update | Helping Geneva’s newly arrived disarmament diplomats get their bearings Every year, a new cohort of diplomats arrive in Geneva to take up postings that cover key disarmament and arms control issues. For some, it may be the first time that disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation form part of their portfolio. Others take on these issues alongside a wide range of other multilateral topics, which can be particularly challenging for Member States with less capacity and without a dedicated mission to the Conference on Disarmament. The many and various disarmament-related fora in Geneva also follow particular rules and practices that can be difficult to decipher for newcomers. And on top of all this, diplomats need immediately to get up to speed on the latest developments and to build up expert knowledge in areas as diverse and technical as space security, conventional arms control and biological weapons. Since 2019, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the Geneva branch of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) have been conducting an annual Disarmament Orientation Course precisely to meet these needs – and to help level the playing field. This year’s edition will take place from 16 to 26 September 2024 at the Palais des Nations, and if you're a Geneva-based diplomat covering disarmament, you are invited! How how will it help you in your work? See what our 2023 participants Angel V. Horna (Peru), Sherina Saran (South Africa) and Husham Ahmed (Pakistan) had to say below. Get all the information at: unidir.org/DOC2024 📆 16, 17, 19, 24 and 26 September 2024 🕒 8:00-10:00 am (CEST)  🏛️ In person, Palais des Nations, Geneva ✍🏽 Please consult your mission to register

Join us for a discussion on uncrewed systems! Uncrewed systems – including aerial, ground, and maritime – are rapidly evolving and being deployed by various actors worldwide. While these technologies offer remarkable benefits, their potential misuse poses significant risks to regional and international security. Join our webinar to delve into: 🔹 The dual nature of uncrewed systems: opportunities vs. threats 🔹 The impact of UAV proliferation on international peace and security 🔹 Regulatory measures and countermeasures to mitigate misuse RSVP today! 👇 🗓️  18 July 2024 🕒  15:00-16:30 CEST / 09:00-10:30 EST 📍 Online 🔗 unidir.org/Uncrewed2Sides