Launch event “International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness”

March 3, 2023

To mark the first-ever International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, the Permanent Mission of Kyrgyzstan to the United Nations together with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs co-hosted a virtual launch event on Wednesday March 1, 2023.

The event served the purpose of commemorating the new international Day with Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, civil society, youth, academia, media, and other interested parties.

Additionally, this inaugural event provided the opportunity to spotlight the role of disarmament education as a tool for peace and security, as highlighted in the resolution.

Launch event speakers via Zoom.

Background

The International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness seeks to promote awareness and better understanding of disarmament and non-proliferation issues among the public.

Since the founding of the United Nations, the goals of multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation 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. New and emerging weapon technologies, such as autonomous weapons, imperil global security and have received increased attention from the international community in recent years.

Observed on 5 March, the day that the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons entered into force, the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness plays a role in deepening the global public’s understanding about how disarmament efforts contribute to enhancing peace and security, preventing and ending armed conflicts, and curbing human suffering caused by weapons.

Through resolution A/RES/77/51, the General Assembly invites all Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system, civil society, academia, the media and individuals to commemorate the International Day, including through all means of educational and public awareness-raising activities.

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Launch event “International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness” | James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies