International News
In commemoration of the International Day against Nuclear Tests and the thirtieth anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, the Office for Disarmament Affairs in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the United Nations has launched the #StepUp4Disarmament Youth Campaign.
With talks ongoing in Vienna to fully restore the landmark 2015 agreement to contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the United Nations political affairs chief called on the United States to lift or waive its sanctions against Tehran, as Security Council delegates rallied the parties to make the difficult political decisions needed to achieve a breakthrough.
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, today:
Syria has yet to fulfil its obligations under the international instrument prohibiting the use of chemical weapons, senior United Nations officials told the Security Council today, pointing to documented instances of Syrian forces engaging in that type of warfare while members sparred over the objectivity of the investigative process used to substantiate those claims.
The Security Council today renewed the mandate of its committee monitoring implementation of a resolution that aims to prevent non-State actors from acquiring nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, and their means of delivery.
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2021 the “International Year of Peace and Trust”. It is also the first year of the Decade of Action to usher in ambitious steps to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Against that backdrop, the Office for Disarmament Affairs will launch the “What if — Spesterra Youth Video Challenge” to stimulate young people’s interest and knowledge about the vital way disarmament contributes to a safer, more secure and sustainable world for all.
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the Security Council’s open debate on mine action today:
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, observed on 4 April:
The Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), which supports States in preventing non-State actors — including terrorists — from gaining access to weapons of mass destruction, provided a briefing to the Security Council during a videoconference meeting today, describing the successful completion of the body’s ongoing comprehensive review process as its top priority.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Robin Geiss of Germany as Director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR).