disarmament

Licorne nuclear test, 1971, French Polynesia.
The Official CTBTO Photostream

Time to translate nuclear test moratorium into legally binding obligation – UN chief

21 September 2017
Secretary-General António Guterres today expressed the readiness of the United Nations to help bring into force the global treaty banning nuclear tests, adopted more than 20 years ago, while noting that the “destabilizing and provocative” actions by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) seek to undermine the global norm against nuclear explosions.
Signing ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, 20 September 2017.
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

Treaty banning nuclear weapons opens for signature at UN

20 September 2017
The world’s first legally-binding treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons opened for signature today at United Nations Headquarters in New York at a ceremony at which speakers from international organizations, governments and civil society hailed this milestone in achieving a world free of such arsenals as well as the work that remains to be done.
The remains of the Prefectural Industry Promotion Building, later preserved as a monument - known as the Genbaku Dome - at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
UN Photo

UN conference adopts treaty banning nuclear weapons

7 July 2017
Countries meeting at a United Nations conference in New York today adopted the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the first multilateral legally-binding instrument for nuclear disarmament to have been negotiated in 20 years.
Elayne Whyte Gómez, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG) and President of the United Nations Conference to Negotiate a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías

UN Member States set to adopt ‘historic’ treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons

6 July 2017
In what is set to be a “historic” moment at the United Nations, Member States will adopt on Friday a legally-binding treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons.
Izumi Nakamitsu, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, addresses the Security Council debate on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías

International cooperation key to keeping WMDs away from terrorists, Security Council told

28 June 2017
The United Nations disarmament chief today called for stronger international cooperation to prevent terrorists from accessing and using weapons of mass destruction, warning that technological advances – such as unmanned aerial vehicles, 3-D printers and the Dark Web – make it easier for terrorist groups to effectively use such weapons.
Meeting of the Security Council to discuss the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Khan Shaykhun area of southern Idlib, Syria.
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Security Council debates suspected chemical attack in Syria

5 April 2017
General News

Investigations continue into a suspected chemical attack in Syria which killed scores of civilians, the Security Council heard on Wednesday.

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An atmospheric nuclear test conducted by the United States at Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands, on 1 November 1952.
US Government

Urgent "need for progress" on nuclear disarmament

27 March 2017
General News

The “need for progress” on creating a world free of nuclear weapons has “rarely been as urgent” according to the UN chief António Guterres.

Audio -
Jean Arnault.
UNIC Bogotá (file)

“Challenges ahead are enormous” implementing Colombia peace deal

6 February 2017
General News

“Enormous challenges” lie ahead for the Colombian people and their international partners in turning the historic deal with FARC rebels into a lasting peace.

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Conference on Disarmament 2017 session gets underway in Geneva.
UN Photo

UN chief Guterres pledges commitment to achieving world free of nuclear weapons

24 January 2017
Disarmament can play an important role in ending existing conflicts and preventing the outbreak of new strife, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said today, pledging to actively pursue the abolition of all weapons of mass destruction and the strict regulation of conventional weapons.