News Items
High Representative Kane address to conference of legislators on measures to achieve a nuclear-weapon-free world
[source: UNODA]
Civil Society to Reflect on Measures for Implementing Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) in New Delhi
Representatives of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, industry and academics are gathering in New Delhi this week to help identify effective measures to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists and other non-State actors. Read the full press release… [source: UNODA]
UN chief condemns armed attacks amidst Thailand’s power struggle
23 February 2014 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for an immediate end to escalating violence in Thailand, and urged authorities to bring those responsible to justice. Read the full article here. [source: UN News Centre]
NEW UNRCPD Newsletter (Vol. 2 No. 1)
UNRCPD had a busy end to 2013 with two major conferences addressing issues of security, non-proliferation and disarmament in the Asia-Pacific: the annual disarmament and non-proliferation conference in Jeju, Republic of Korea, with a focus this time on UNSCR 1540,… [source: UNRCPD]
UN-mandated human rights inquiry on DPR Korea documents ‘widespread, systematic abuses’
A grim array of human rights abuses, driven by “policies established at the highest level of State,” have been and continue to be committed in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), according to a United Nations-mandated report released today,… [source: UN News Centre]
Japan may lift embargo on arms exports to international organizations
Japan may allow exports of defense equipment to international organizations on condition they do not take sides in conflicts, as part of its broad review of the restrictive policy on weapons, sources close to the matter said Monday. The government is… [source: Kyodo News International]
GCSP and Geneva Forum hold a Needs Assessment Workshop for the Arms Trade Treaty Network
On 7 February 2014 the GCSP ( Emerging Security Challenges Programme), jointly with the Geneva Forum, organized a Needs Assessment Workshop as the first activity of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Network launched in September 2013. Co-hosted by Silvia Cattaneo (Geneva Forum) and Marc… [source: Geneva Centre for Security Policy]
Final phase of Sri Lankan demining will take longer
KILINOCHCHI - Sri Lankan military officials have confirmed that the “final phase” of landmine clearance in the conflict-affected parts of northern Sri Lanka will take another two or three years. “What remains to be cleared are the difficult stretches. This requires… [source: IRIN]
Netherlands’ Partnership with Kazakhstan on Nuclear Security is making the world safer
Minister of Foreign Affairs Frans Timmermans is pleased with the Netherlands’ partnership with Kazakhstan on matters of nuclear security. ‘We are working together to ensure that radioactive material doesn’t fall into the hands of terrorists. In this way we are… [source: Nuclear Security Summit 2014]
ICAN launches report on Pacific Islands’ support for a global ban on nuclear weapons
In anticipation of the Second Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, to be held in Mexico next month, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) recently released a report entitled Banning Nuclear Weapons: A Pacific Islands Perspective,… [source: ICAN]