Disarmament

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the UN Security Council’s open debate on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, in New York today:

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that intense Israeli bombardment and ground operations — as well as heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups — continue to be reported across much of the Gaza Strip.

With geopolitical tensions escalating the risk of nuclear warfare to its highest point in decades, reducing and abolishing nuclear weapons is the only viable path to save humanity, the UN chief told the Security Council, as delegates expressed deep concern about the continuous erosion of the international non-proliferation architecture.

In preparation for the fourth Review Conference in June 2024 on the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA), States from Latin America and the Caribbean will gather over the coming two weeks to discuss regional priorities, as well as challenges and opportunities, to combat small arms trafficking.

In Myanmar, the conflict now spans vast swathes of the country. More than 350,000 people are displaced in Rakhine. The 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan seeks $994 million to support 5.3 million people in the country, but it is currently just 3 per cent funded.

The Security Council met this morning to discuss the situation in Syria. Briefing the Council was Adedeji Ebo, Director and Deputy to the High Representative, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs.

NAIROBI, 1 March (Office for Disarmament Affairs) — Nairobi is set to host a pivotal gathering of Eastern and Southern African countries to review progress made and set priorities for preventing, combating and eradicating the scourge of illicit small arms and light weapons. The Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Fourth Review Conference on the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN PoA) and its International Tracing Instrument is set to take place from 4 to 5 March 2024.

Lomé is set to host a pivotal gathering of West and Central African countries to review progress made and to set priorities for tackling illicit small arms and light weapons. The Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Fourth Review Conference on the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN PoA) and its International Tracing Instrument is set to take place from 29 February to 1 March.

In October 2023, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs called on young people between the ages of 18 and 24 from across the globe to apply for an innovative learning programme aimed at empowering them to work for disarmament in their communities.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, observed on 5 March: