The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global challenge with as yet unknown social, economic and political consequences, both short- and long-term. This includes a potential impact on the field of disarmament in general and the conventional ammunition management in particular. This paper offers a preliminary analysis of the effects of COVID-19 on the ammunition management sector in the spring of 2020. It raises key issues related to the risks associated with conventional ammunition through the implementation of relevant control and management measures. The paper argues that shifts in national priorities and reduced resources may affect overall international disarmament efforts by undermining the management of conventional ammunition, and potentially enhance the risks of accidental explosions and diversion. Ammunition management needs to remain a priority during and after COVID-19. Implementing effective and sustainable ammunition management policies and practices will allow states to develop adaptative strategies and methodologies for managing risk in future crisis situations.
This paper examines the evolving role of consensus in multilateral disarmament negotiations from the tenth special session of the General Assembly (1978) to the present day. It aims to support Member States in considering how to balance progress on disarmament with the legitimacy associated with consensus-based outcomes. Rather than offering a legal definition or interpretation of consensus, the authors reflect upon historical examples of its practical application, particularly in the areas of nuclear disarmament and conventional arms.
The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) stands as a landmark achievement in the history of disarmament. For half a century, it has embodied the international community’s collective determination to ensure that advances in life sciences are never turned to destructive uses. As we commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of its entry into force in 2025, the Convention continues to serve as both a moral compass and a legal foundation for global efforts to prevent the development, production, and use of biological weapons.
The objective of this handbook is to compile basic knowledge and means for artificial intelligence (AI) practitioners to understand, evaluate and mitigate, in the research and innovation process, the risks of the diversion and misuse of civilian AI technology by irresponsible actors. The handbook shows why and how decisions around the development and diffusion of research and innovation can impact risks of misuse, and in turn generate risks or even opportunities for international peace and security.
