Updates

UNRCPD together with the Government of the Philippines jointly organized a workshop on capacity-building for the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in Manila, on 25-26 November 2015.

The goal of this workshop was to assist and enhance the capacity of the national agencies involved in the control of small arms and light weapons (SALW) to effectively implement the UN Programme of Action, which has proven a useful tool to counter the illicit trafficking in SALW.

The project…

UNRCPD, together with the Government of the Maldives, implemented a project to strengthen the national capacity of the Maldives to implement the UN Programme of Action on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (UN PoA) and the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) between August and September 2015. On 29 – 30 September 2015, the final stage of the project took place in Malé, Maldives, in the shape of a summary workshop.

The purpose of the project was to enhance the maritime security of the Maldives by providing its Government with technical and legal assistance…

UNRCPD, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, organized an Inter-Agency Roundtable Discussion on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) which took place in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 9-10 September 2015.

The ATT is the first global legally binding instrument to regulate the international trade in conventional weapons, and entered into force on December 24, 2014. On 24-27 August 2015, the First Conference of States Parties (1CSP) to the ATT took place in Cancun, Mexico. Taking place shortly after the 1CSP, this event provided a unique opportunity for national…

The United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues has been held annually in Japan since 1989 and is recognized as an important forum for frank dialogue and an exchange of views on pressing security and disarmament-related issues facing the international community. This Conference was organised by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament and financed through voluntary contributions made to the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs by the Government of Japan, and in-kind contributions by Hiroshima Prefecture and Hiroshima City.

The purpose of…

UNRCPD, together with the Government of the Maldives, commenced a project to increase the national capacity of the Maldives to implement the UN Programme of Action on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (PoA) and support the country’s ability to move towards accession to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

The project is being implemented in three phases during August and September 2015. The first stage took place from 3–6 August 2015, in the form of a consultation visit to Malé, Maldives. During this visit international experts and a UNRCPD representative met with…

UNRCPD, in cooperation with the Government of Bangladesh, organized a workshop in Dhaka on the UN Programme of Action (PoA) and the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The purpose of this workshop was to assist the national ministries and agencies of Bangladesh involved in the control of small arms and light weapons, with a view to enhancing the national capacity to effectively implement the PoA and, in the future, the ATT. Bangladesh became a signatory state to the ATT on 23 September 2013.

The workshop was attended by national representatives and international experts who shared…

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), through its Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD), and in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Korea, organised the 13th Republic of Korea-United Nations Joint Conference on Disarmament and Non-proliferation Issues, on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, on 4-5 December 2014.

Under the theme of “Looking Ahead: Opportunities and Challenges in Disarmament and Non-proliferation”, the…

UNRCPD, together with Nepal’s Ministry of Education Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) and the National Curriculum Education Development Centre (NCED) and UNESCO Nepal, is implementing phase II of the Peace and Disarmament Education (PDE) project on 1 December 2014 – 31 July 2015.

In line with the recommendations of the UN Study on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education (A/57/124), UNRCPD will provide secondary education curriculum planners and textbook writers with practical examples of ways to integrate PDE into the national curriculum for grades 9 and 10 as well as…

UNRCPD together with the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia organized a Regional Legal Assistance Workshop on the Arms Trade Treaty taking place in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on 18-19 November 2014.   

The purpose of the two-day event was to provide States with legal expertise with a view to facilitate the process of ratification of and accession to the ATT, which enters into force on 24 December 2014. The workshop’s focus was examining treaty commitments and their potential impact for national legislations, identifying challenges and seeking solutions. It was aimed…

Drawing is a powerful creative outlet for children to express their views on what peace means to them, their families and their communities. Launched in 2012, UNRCPD’s annual Art for Peace competition has reached over 1,000 students, and has supported UNRCPD’s Peace and Disarmament Education Programme by allowing students to reflect on the importance of peace in their lives. For many children, this programme is a unique opportunity to be creative and to express…

The Second National Workshop on the implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) was held in Kathmandu, Nepal on the 9-10 June. The workshop was part of an assistance programme for Nepal and was organised by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), through the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) and the UNODA-Geneva Branch, and with financial support from the European Union (EU), in cooperation with the government of Nepal.

The workshop was carried out with the inter-agency Working Group in…

The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, and China Arms Control and Disarmament Association jointly organised an International Workshop on Information and Cyber Security  in Beijing, China, on 5-6 June 2014 The workshop brought together senior officials from agencies that lead their respective national coordination on cyber security issues, as well as senior representatives from the host country, various international organisations, international and national non-…

UNRCPD, together with the Government of Myanmar, hosted a capacity building workshop in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The purpose of the workshop was to assist government agencies in Myanmar, involved in small arms and light weapons control, to effectively implement the provisions of the UN Programme of Action (UN PoA).

The workshop was attended by government officials from various security sector agencies who discussed the policy and technical issues of implementing the UN PoA. Discussions focused on analysis of firearms in Myanmar, relevant international and regional…

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), through UNRCPD and the UNODA-Geneva Branch, organised a workshop on national implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The workshop brought together Mongolian experts and implementing authorities with international experts on the subjects to discuss ways to reinforce national implementation based on identified best practices. They also identified key partners, conducted an initial needs and priorities…

A workshop was organised with 12 agencies of the Government of Nepal on 20-21 February 2014 to support the future implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in the country. The workshop brought together stakeholders and implementing authorities that will be involved with the national process to ratify and implement the provisions of the BWC. This activity is part of an international assistance programme to promote universal adherence to the treaty and to enhance national capabilities to fulfill treaty obligations. It was co-organised by UNRCPD and UNODA-…

The United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ms. Angela Kane, paid a week-long visit to UNRCPD and Nepal in early January 2014. The purpose of the journey was for High Representative to visit UNRCPD offices and hold discussions with the staff on innovative ways for UNRCPD to deal with issues of regional peace and disarmament. The visit also provided an opportunity for High Representative to meet the UN Nepal Country Team and hold consultations with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Madhav Prasad Ghimire, and with the Chair of the Council of Ministers Khil Raj…

UNRCPD together with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines organised the Second Asia Regional Meeting to Facilitate Dialogue on the Arms Trade Treaty from 26-27 November 2013 in Manila. The purpose of the Second Meeting was to provide a forum for further dialogue on the ATT and to identify together priority areas, discuss common challenges, as well as identify tools for assistance for countries in their efforts to move towards signing and ratifying the Treaty. As in the First Meeting in February, the Second Meeting was an opportunity for senior-level officials to come…

The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD), in cooperation with the Republic of Korea, has continued the Jeju Process by organising the 12th Republic of Korea-United Nations Joint Conference on Disarmament and Non-proliferation Issues, on Jeju Island (Republic of Korea), 14-15 November 2013.

On 28 October 2013, Ms. Sharon Riggle, Director of UNRCPD, presented on behalf of the Regional Centre to the First Committee to the 68th General Assembly.

Speaking as part of the Regional Disarmament and Security cluster of the 18th Meeting of the First Committee, alongside Director and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ms. Virginia Gamba, and the Directors of the UN Regional Centres in Lima, Peru and Lomé, Togo, Ms. Riggle reported on the activities of UNRCPD and introduced future plans and projects.

This year UNRCPD marks the 5th anniversary of its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Since its relocation in 2008 from New York to Kathmandu, Nepal, UNRCPD has been working hard to enhance engagement with states and other stakeholders across the region. To celebrate the occasion, UNRCPD will host a reception in Kathmandu for the international community, government and civil society on 20 September. Artwork from the annual children’s drawing competition will also be on display.