New Disarmament Agenda: “Securing Our Common Future”

25th May 2018

GENEVA (24 May 2018) Secretary General António Guterres launched the United Nations’ new disarmament agenda, entitled “Securing Our Common Future”, at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. The new agenda puts focus on three priorities:

  1. Disarmament to save humanity;
  2. Disarmament that saves lives; and
  3. Disarmament for future generations.

Stressing the importance of a comprehensive approach to disarmament, the Secretary General has called for all Member States to work together towards the total elimination of Weapons of Mass Destruction, a drastic reduction in illicit flow of Conventional Weapons, and the creation of a society where the unlawful use of weapons is morally condemned. He underlined the dramatic consequences of Nuclear Weapons, and how “we are one mechanical, electronic or human error away from a catastrophe”, urging countries to work under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to achieve reduction in nuclear weapons’ capabilities, transparency in nuclear-weapon programmes, and ensure non-use of Nuclear Weapons. The Secretary General also expressed his concerns over the widespread availability of conventional weapons, calling for greater control over conventional arms by the states, especially in a time when civilians are increasingly the victims of armed conflicts. António Guterres has also underlined the close link between his new disarmament agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, that are the pillars of the United Nations’ mission all over the world.

Disarmament, he said, holds a “strong gender dimension”, since “women are several times more likely to be victims of gun violence than perpetrators”. The new agenda for disarmament promotes arms control to stop gender-based violence and urges especially young people to spread the culture of disarmament and to be “the most important force for change in our world”.

“Disarmament is an extremely important tool to strengthen peace and security, and to create the conditions for sustainable development and the promotion of human rights”,

  • Secretary General António Guterres

Click here to watch the full video of the Secretary General’s speech at the University of Geneva and download the new disarmament agenda “Securing Our Common Future”: https://www.un.org/disarmament/sg-agenda/en/index.html

Secretary General Guterres at Geneva University