The United Nations Disarmament Fellowship Programme is the result of one of the most successful decisions by the First Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to Disarmament. Initiated by Nigeria in order to promote expertise in disarmament in more Member States, particularly in the developing countries, the 40-year old programme has developed into a true institution in the field of disarmament education and capacity-building. To date, it has successfully trained over 1,000 Disarmament Fellows from 170 States, many of whom now hold national or international positions of responsibility in the field of disarmament. Balancing in-depth knowledge with practical experience, the comprehensive 10-week-long annual programme provides the Fellows with the unique opportunity to discuss achievements and challenges in the field of disarmament and arms control with hibakusha, senior diplomats and officials, as well as representatives of academia, think tanks and non-governmental organizations. Fellows also make visits to weapons destruction sites, a nuclear reactor, a nuclear test field and laboratories, and they participate in simulations and other practical exercises. In this publication, Disarmament Fellows representing several generations share their thoughts and feelings about how this programme shaped their professional development, as well as insights on how the disarmament field has changed over time. Their experiences also elucidate the distinct role that the very special community of former Disarmament Fellows still plays today.
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.
