International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness 2023; March 5th.

FORUM: "The role of disarmament education as a tool for peace and security." International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness 2023.

Since the founding of the United Nations, the goals of multilateral disarmament and arms limitation have been central to the Organization’s efforts to maintain international peace and security. Weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, continue to be of primary concern, owing to their destructive power and the threat that they pose to humanity. The excessive accumulation in conventional weapons and the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons jeopardizes international peace and security and sustainable development, while the use of explosive weapons in populated areas is seriously endangering civilians. New and emerging weapon technologies, such as autonomous weapons, pose a challenge to global security and have received increased attention from the international community in recent years. Follow the conversation with the hastags: #disarmamentawarenessday, #5march, #nonproliferationawarenessday #VCS, #peaceandsecurity.

Statement from the U.N. Secretary-General on International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness 2023; March 5th.

On this first-ever International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, the global community gathers around a fundamental conviction.

Nuclear, chemical, biological, and unpredictable autonomous and other indiscriminate weapon systems have no place in our world.

Yet today, these and other threats continue to menace humanity, with record levels of military spending, rising mistrust, and geopolitical tensions that, left unchecked, could spiral into even greater conflict.

In particular, the number of nuclear weapons held in stockpiles around the world remains at around 13,000 — more than enough to destroy our planet many times over at a time when risk of use is at its highest since the Cold War.

On this important day, I call on all partners — from governments and academia, to media, civil society groups, industry, and young people — to turn up the volume on this collective emergency and raise awareness about the critical importance of disarmament and non-proliferation to humanity’s future.

I also urge leaders to take steps to strengthen the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime — including the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons — and support a New Agenda for Peace with a reinvigorated vision for disarmament.

Disarmament and non-proliferation are investments in peace.

They are investments in our future.

Let’s end these threats before they end us.

António Guterres.

EVENTS: Activities to Commemorate the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness Day 2023.


- Inaugural online launch event (1 March 2023)

To mark the first-ever International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, the Permanent Mission of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs will co-host a virtual launch event on Wednesday 1 March, from 11.00 am to 12.30 pm (EST). Distinguished speakers including the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, and the President of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly will deliver opening remarks for the launch event, which will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A from participants. 

Distinguished speakers including the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, and the President of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly will deliver opening remarks for the event, which will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A from participants.

MODERATOR
• H.E. Ms. Aida Kasymalieva
Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UN

OPENING REMARKS
• H.E. Mr. Zheenbek Kulubaev
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic
• H.E. Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu
UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs
• H.E. Mr. Csaba Kőrösi
President of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly

PANELLISTS
• H.E. Mr. Ishikane Kimihiro
Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN
• Ms. Maria Antonieta Jaquez Huacuja
Director for Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Arms Control, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico
• Mr. William Potter
Director of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
• Ms. Naomi Ekpoki
UN Youth Champion for Disarmament
• Mere Tuilau
Manager, Reverse The Trend Pacific, Marshallese Educational Initiative's Pacific Campaign, Fiji

Register here.

- Vienna Conversation Series event “Advancements in Science & Technology: Leveraging disarmament education towards greater diversity and inclusion” (2 March 2023)

On 2 March from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. (CET), Member States, academia and civil society representatives will explore the impact of advances in science and technology on international peace and security through the lens of diversity and inclusion. They will also reflect on how the power of disarmament education may be leveraged to engage more stakeholders, especially new generations, in an inclusive and sustained manner. This event is organized by the UNODA Vienna Office in partnership with the Permanent Missions of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Korea to the United Nations in Vienna. Register here.

- #ClickDISARM Campaign

In a countdown to the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness on 5 March, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs’ #Youth4Disarmament initiative has launched the #ClickDISARM campaign to highlight a variety of ways for young people to get involved in awareness-raising activities for disarmament issues. As part of the initiative, various features of the #Youth4Disarmament website will be highlighted, using each letter of “DISARM” to spotlight the different avenues available to: Demystify, Innovate, Share, Amplify, Research, and Motivate.

The campaign will be launched and conducted on the #Youth4Disarmament Instagram page.

- Launch of the 2023 Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship (3 March 2023)

The Geneva Branch of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs will launch the 2023 Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship in the framework of the first International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness celebrations. The online launch event on 3 March aims to present the Fellowship, the application process and the programme with managers and experts supporting the initiative and alumni.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Did you know that in 2021, global military spending reached $2.1 trillion? 
• 12,700 nuclear weapons remain an existential threat to humanity today. 
• 26,000 people can be treated for malaria for the price of 1 battle tank. 

Here are some outreach materials.

CAMPAIGN: Raise awareness on the opportunities provided to engage, educate, and empower young people on disarmament.