Disarmament resolutions and decisions of the seventy-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly

Disarmament Resolutions and Decisions Database (https://resolutions.unoda.org)

The revamped database’s improved features make it simple to pinpoint specific votes and track State voting patterns. Data for previous sessions are forthcoming.

Status of multilateral arms regulation and disarmament agreements

Disarmament Treaties Database (https://treaties.unoda.org)

The redesigned database is easy to search with new filters and a user-friendly interface.

Publications and other information materials in 2023

• United Nations Disarmament Yearbook 2022, vol. 47 (condensed and full versions): (Sales No. E.23.IX.3)
• The Global Reported Arms Trade: Transparency in Armaments Through the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms – A Guide to Assist National Points of Contact in Submitting Their National Reports, Occasional Papers, No. 39 (Sales No. 23.IX.1)
• The United Nations and Disarmament amid COVID-19: Adaptation and Continuity, Occasional Papers, No. 40 (Sales No. E.23.IX.2)
• Celebrating 45 Years of the Secretary-General’s Advisory Board On Disarmament Matters: Creative, Inclusive, and Cooperative Diplomacy at Work, Occasional Papers, No. 41 (Sales No. E.24.IX.1)
• The Historical Impact of Parliamentary Diplomacy on Disarmament, Civil Society and Disarmament 2023 (Sales No. E.24.IX.2)
• Programmes Financed from Voluntary Contributions, 2022–2023
• Guide to Implementing the Biological Weapons Convention (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish and Portuguese)
• Resolution 1540 and the African Continental Free Trade Area: Policy Options to Strengthen Non-proliferation Controls and Secure Trade
• Scientific and Technological Developments: Benefits and Risks for the Biological Weapons Convention (conference report on supporting the full and effective implementation of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) in Africa)
• Report of the Scientific Advisory Group on the Status and Developments Regarding Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Weapon Risks, the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Disarmament and Related Issues (TPNW/MSP/2023/8)
• Supporting the Full and Effective Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) in Africa
• Newsletter for nominated experts and analytical laboratories for the Secretary-General’s mechanism for investigation of alleged use of chemical and biological weapons (No. 5 (February 2023) and No. 6 (September 2023))
• UNODA^[1] Updates (online news updates)

• “Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)” (self-paced)
• “Gender-mainstreaming Small Arms Control Training Course” (self-paced, available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese)
• “Youth Leader Fund for a World Without Nuclear Weapons” (instructor-led)
• “Disarmament Toolkit” (2023 edition)
• “Interdicting Small Arms, Ammunition, Parts and Components Course” (instructor-led; in English and Spanish)
• “Course on Combating Trafficking in Arms and Ammunition (CTAM)” (instructor-led; in Spanish)
• “Specialized Course on Firearms Investigations from a Gender Perspective” (instructor-led)

• “Explosive Weapons In Populated Areas”, Disarmament Today, 21 June
• “Bridging the divide: the role of networks in advancing inclusive disarmament processes”, Vienna Conversation Series, 6 September
• “Not so peaceful technology? What risks may civilian AI pose to peace and security?”, Responsible AI for Peace Podcast (episode 1), 10 October
• “With Emily Bender, on risks of large language models and generative AI”, Responsible AI for Peace Podcast (episode 2), 14 December

• Various video-recorded remarks of Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, available from the Office for Disarmament Affairs YouTube channel
• Highlights of the virtual launch event of International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, 4 March
• Video to mark International Women’s Day 2023: “ODA celebrates the many women contributing to a more secure and peaceful cyberspace”, 8 March
• Video to launch the online self-paced course on gender-mainstreaming small arms control, 8 March
• “International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness | Launch”, 9 March
• Opening remarks of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at the fifth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention, 15 May
• United Nations Messenger of Peace Michael Douglas calls on young people to become changemakers for a world free of nuclear weapons, 18 May
• Video on the adoption of the Global Framework on Through-Life Conventional Ammunition Management, 9 June
• “What is the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs?”, 14 June
• Video featuring United Nations Messenger of Peace Michael Douglas on human rights and disarmament, 27 June
• Video to call for applications to the Youth Leader Fund training programme, 7 July
• Video on civilians as casualties of explosive weapons in populated areas, 18 July
• “What is the Disarmament Yearbook?”, 24 July
• “What is the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons?”, 25 July
• Video on chapter 1 (Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation) of the 2022 Disarmament Yearbook, 26 July
• Video on chapter 2 (Biological and chemical weapons) of the 2022 Disarmament Yearbook, 27 July
• Video on chapter 3 (Conventional weapons) of the 2022 Disarmament Yearbook, 28 July
• “What happens at the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons First Preparatory Committee meeting?”, 30 July
• Video on chapter 4 (Regional disarmament) of the 2022 Disarmament Yearbook, 30 July
• “Young people as contributors to a safer, more secure and equitable world through disarmament”, 12 August
• “Side event on youth insights to first Preparatory Meeting for the 2026 NPT Review Conference”, 24 August
• “Congratulatory message to participants of the #StepUp4Disarmament Youth Campaign 2023”, 30 August
• “Leaders to the Future participate in #StepUp4Disarmament Youth Campaign 2023”, 8 September
• “United Nations Messenger of Peace, Michael Douglas delivers remarks to International Day of Peace Youth Event”, 15 September
• “Michael Douglas, Messenger of Peace, message on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons”, 26 September
• “Michael Douglas, Messenger of Peace - Disarmament Week 2023”, 25 October
• The 2023 Youth for Biosecurity Fellows share their experience of the Fellowship, 31 October
• Naomi Ekpoki, a United Nations Youth Champion for Disarmament 2020-2022, talks about her experience with the 1st edition of the training programme, 2 November
• “Michael Douglas reflects on the Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas”, 18 November
• Video to mark the first anniversary of the adoption of the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, 18 November (created by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and utilized by UNODA and other partner entities)

• Weapons and Ammunition Management Country Insight: Central African Republic (in English and French)
• Strengthening Shared Understanding on the Impact of the ATT in Addressing Risks of Diversion in Arms Transfers: A Compendium of Key Resources and Tools (in English, French and Spanish)
• Weapons and Ammunition Management - Country Insight Series: Togolese Republic (in English and French)
• The Role of Industry in Responsible International Transfers of Conventional Arms
• Uncrewed Aerial, Ground, and Maritime Systems: A Compendium
• Peacekeeping in Hostile Environments: The Impact of Illicit Arms on MINUSMA
• The Role of Industry and Other Private Sector Actors in Efforts To Counter the Diversion of Conventional Arms
• Technologies to Counter the Diversion of Small Arms and Light Weapons, and Components of Conventional Weapons
• Towards a Comprehensive Security Approach to Military Spending
• Weapons and Ammunition Management in Africa Insight: 2023 Update

• “Is it time to reassess national security spending?”, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, April
• “Can arms and ammunition flows data inform conflict early warning and early response?”, Medium, 5 May

• Enfoques de Género en la Ciberseguridad: Diseño, Defensa y Respuesta (in Spanish)
• Actualización del Sistema: Hacia una Agenda de Mujeres, Paz y Ciberseguridad (in Spanish)
• Best Practices for Promoting Gender Equality in Conventional Arms Control: Survey Results
• Addressing Weapons in Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: The Arms Control and Disarmament Toolbox (in English and French)
• Gender and Diversity in the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM)
• Gender and Diversity in the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC)
• Beyond Oslo: Taking Stock of Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming in the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention

• “Taking forward gender mainstreaming efforts in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty”, working paper submitted to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee (NPT/CONF.2026/PC.I/WP.25)

• “5 ways that arms control and disarmament can help to prevent sexual violence in conflict”, Medium, 5 March
• “Sexual violence in conflict and weapons: unpacking the links for better prevention”, International Committee of the Red Cross (blog), 28 September

• Towards Responsible AI in Defence: A Mapping and Comparative Analysis of AI Principles Adopted by States
• Wading Murky Waters: Subsea Communications Cables and Responsible State Behaviour (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish)
• Uncrewed Aerial, Ground, and Maritime Systems: A Compendium
• Towards a More Stable and Secure ICT Environment: Unpacking Inter-State Cooperation
• The 2022 Innovations Dialogue: AI Disruption, Peace and Security (Conference Report)
• Proposals Related to Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems: A Resource Paper (Updated)
• Operationalizing a Directory of Points of Contact for Cyber Confidence-Building Measures
• Unpacking Cyber Capacity-Building Needs: Part I. Mapping the Foundational Cyber Capabilities (in English, Spanish and Portuguese)
• Unpacking Cyber Capacity-Building Needs: Part II. Introducing a Threat-Based Approach (in English, Spanish and Portuguese)
• Use of ICTs by States: Rights and Responsibilities Under the UN Charter
• Drawing Parallels: A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective on the Cyber PoA Scope, Structure and Content
• Artificial Intelligence Beyond Weapons: Application and Impact of AI in the Military Domain
• AI and International Security: Understanding the Risks and Paving the Path for Confidence-Building Measures
• Exploring Synthetic Data for Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems: A Primer

• Preparing for Success at the Fifth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention: A Guide to the Issues (in English, with executive summaries in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish available)
• The Past and Future of Bilateral Nuclear Arms Control
• Menzingen Verification Experiment: Verifying the Absence of Nuclear Weapons in the Field
• Revitalizing the Conference on Disarmament: Workshop Report (in English and French)
• Verifying the BWC: A Primer
• Reflections on Review Conferences: the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Biological Weapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention

• “What’s next? The ninth biological weapons Review Conference and beyond”
• “Consideration of Gender in the GGE on Nuclear Disarmament Verification” (GENDVF/2023/WP.10)
• “What we learned from recent calls for a Russian nuclear attack”, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 20 July
• “Verifying the absence of nuclear weapons – results of a field exercise”, Institute of Nuclear Materials Management
• “Ядерная несдержанность. Что показал спор о превентивном ударе по Западу”, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 11 July (in Russian)
• “An illustrative compendium of proposals submitted to the Conference on Disarmament” (CD/2328, annex II) (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish)
• Strategic Stability in Outer Space After Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, Center for Naval Analyses, October

• “Biological Weapons Convention negotiations”https://www.genevapolicyoutlook.ch/biological-weapons-convention-negotiations/, Geneva Policy Outlook, 30 January
• “Developing a plan B for the Chemical Weapons Convention 5th Review Conference”, European Leadership Network, 9 May
• “Preparing for success at the fifth Chemical Weapons Convention Review Conference”, 28 April

• 2022 Outer Space Security Conference Report
• Commercial Actors and Civil Society Consultation Report: How Can Non-Governmental Entities Contribute to Reducing Threats to Outer Space Systems?
• African Perspectives for Advancing Space Security Through Norms, Rules and Principles of Responsible Behaviours: Workshop Summary Report
• Constant Vigilance? Verification and Monitoring for Space Security (Space Dossier 8)
• A Lexicon for Outer Space Security (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish)
• To Space Security and Beyond: Exploring Space Security, Safety, and Sustainability Governance and Implementation Efforts, Space Dossier 9
• 2023 Outer Space Security Conference Report

• “The role of norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviour for space security”, working paper summitted by UNIDIR (A/AC.294/2023/WP.3)
• “Commercial Space Operators on the Digital Battlefield”, Centre for International Governance Innovation
• “The Cyber Phantom Menace to Space Security”, Centre for International Governance Innovation
• “Not a rose by any other name: Dual-use and dual-purpose space systems”, Lawfare, 5 June
• “Current trends and developments in outer space”, working paper for the Group of Governmental Experts on Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space
• “Security, including vectors of threats”
• “The open-ended working group on reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours: The Journey so far, and the road ahead”, Air and Space Law, vol. 48, special issue

• Examining Modalities for Nuclear Disarmament in the Middle East WMD-Free Zone Treaty
• The Consultations in Glion and Geneva: A View from the Negotiating Table (editions by Jeremy Issacharoff, Wael Al Assad, Jaakko Laajava, Angela Kane, Mikhail Ulyanov and Thomas Countryman)
• Development and Cooperation on Nuclear Research and Energy in the Middle East: Workshop Report
• Middle East WMD Free Zone Project: Final Report
• Addressing Chemical and Biological Weapons Challenges Through the Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction-Free Zone: Workshop Report
• Narratives of the Middle East WMD-Free Zone: Drivers, Themes and Historical Accounts

• How Rank Affects the Transition to Civilian Life: Lessons from the Reintegration Process in Colombia, Findings Report 27
• Coming Home: The Return and Reintegration of Families with Perceived ISIL Affiliation in Iraq, Findings Report 28
• The Prospects for Remote Assessment: A Comparison of Phone vs In-Person Interviews in Nigeria, Findings Report 29
• Understanding Receptivity to Returning Former Boko Haram Associates Through a Gender Lens, Findings Report 30
• Child Exits from Armed Groups in the Lake Chad Basin, Findings Report 31
• Return and Reintegration Prospects for Iraqis Coming Back From Al Hol, Findings Report 32
• Partners in Research: Participatory Research Training Pilot with Young People in Mosul, Iraq
• An Unfiltered View of Struggling to Find Peace: Photography Programme Pilot with Young People in Mosul, Iraq
• Factors Influencing Community Receptivity of Former Fighters in Somalia
• MEAC Conflict Exits Assessment Framework
• Understanding Factors Driving Weapons Holding in the North East of Nigeria

Events held on the margins of the 2023 session of the First Committee

2 October

• Responsible artificial intelligence in the military domain (organized by the permanent missions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea)

5 October

• Creating an environment for nuclear disarmament (organized by the Permanent Mission of the United States)

10 October

• A declaration to prevent harm: strengthening the protection of civilians from explosive weapons in populated areas (organized by the permanent missions of Ireland and Norway, with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs)
• Mapping and addressing the security risks arising from military uses of artificial intelligence (organized by the Permanent Mission of Pakistan)
• IEDs - What lessons can be learnt from other mass explosive incidents and be applied to hotspots where IEDs are prevalent? (organized by the Permanent Mission of France)

11 October

• The International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (organized by the Permanent Mission of the United States)
• Explosive weapons and the Arms Trade Treaty (organized by the United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, and Action on Armed Violence)

13 October

• Preparing for the future of international peace and security (organized by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research)

16 October

• 10 years on from Syria’s accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention (organized by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom)
• Publication launch: The Application and Impact of Artificial Intelligence Beyond Weapons (organized by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research)

17 October

• Addressing the threat posed by nuclear terrorism to international peace and security: EU support to the UN for the universalization and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (organized by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre)
• Autonomous weapons systems and human control – What are the challenges and how to overcome them? (organized by the Permanent Mission of Austria)
• Establishing an international agency for biological safety and security (organized by the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan)
• Publication launch: Risks of AI (organized by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research)

18 October

• Autonomous weapons: state positions and trends in weapons systems (organized by the Permanent Mission of Belgium)
• Digital tools for disarmament: UNIDIR portals and databases (organized by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research)
• In the crosshairs? Addressing military drone use and proliferation (organized by the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with PAX, the Stimson Center and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research)
• Preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons in the 21st century (concept note) (organized by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs)

19 October

• Advocating for nuclear justice (organized by the permanent missions of Kazakhstan and Kiribati)
• Working to strengthen the NPT review process (organized by the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative)
• Regional consultations on the programme of action to advance responsible State behaviour in the use of information and communications technologies in the context of international security pursuant to General Assembly resolution 77/37 (organized by the permanent missions of Egypt and France, with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs)

20 October

• Exploring the space-nuclear nexus (organized by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
• Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours: a new approach to preventing an arms race in outer space (organized by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom)
• Military expenditures and arms transfers: from opacity to transparency (organized by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Stimson Center)
• Water and conflict: addressing water insecurity issues in fragile and conflict-affected countries (organized by the permanent missions of Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland, with PAX)

23 October

• The ATT Voluntary Trust Fund (VTF): How to apply for VTF funding (organized by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom and the Arms Trade Treaty Secretariat)
• 10 years of EU Support for ATT implementation and universalization: taking stock and moving forward (organized by the European Union, in cooperation with the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control of Germany and Expertise France)
• Generation Z(ero): role of youth in achieving a world without nuclear weapons (organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs)

24 October

• Arms control and armed violence in island States: perspectives from the Caribbean (organized by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom)
• Exploring the complementarity of existing approaches for the future of outer space security (organized by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs)
• Achieving tangible cooperation and compliance to avert nuclear catastrophe (organized by the permanent missions of Austria and Kuwait)
• The new Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management (organized by the Permanent Mission of Germany and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs)

25 October

• Book launch: It is Possible: A future Without Nuclear Weapons (organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Permanent Mission of Austria)
• SALIENT: the Saving Lives Entity trust facility (organized by the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs)

26 October

• Remembering Mr. Jayantha Dhanapala, leader for disarmament (organized by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research)

1 November

• Between tradition and the law: artisanal firearm production in West Africa (organized by Small Arms Survey and the Permanent Mission of France)