UNODA

United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
Item ID
{D5D29DB5-CBC4-48B2-BB87-DAA716F071D2}
UNAgency ID
{A18FC639-9CEA-4008-932D-C34D26A52B15}
Policy Framework

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) contributes to policy development including on the gender aspects of disarmament, and executes disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation programmes at the regional, subregional and national levels through its three UN Regional Centres for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC); Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD); and Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC). The Secretary General’s Agenda for Disarmament Securing our Common Future calls for greater efforts to be made towards achieving equal, full and effective participation of women in all decision-making processes related to disarmament and for gender-responsive arms control to reduce violence against women and girls in both public and private spheres. UNODA committed to undertake concrete activities in this regard in the agenda’s implementation plan. The Office began mainstreaming a gender perspective into its work in 2001, with the issuance of briefing notes on "Gender Perspectives on Disarmament", followed by a Gender Action Plan, the first such plan at the UN Secretariat. In 2006, UNODA issued guidelines for "Mainstreaming Gender for the Effective Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms", which were revised in 2010. In addition, ODA supports Member States in the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and General Assembly resolution 65/69 (2011). UNODA chairs the inter-agency coordination mechanism on arms, the arms trade and ammunition (CASA), where gender aspects are fully taken into account. In 2017, CASA adopted a Modular Small-arms-control Implementation Compendium (MOSAIC) module on women, men, and the gendered nature of small arms and light weapons. The module provides guidance for practitioners on implementing gender-responsive programming on small arms and light weapons control. UNODA also participates in UN-wide joint programming to prevent and reduce armed violence. Finally, UNODA has developed a long-standing cooperation with the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) on gender aspects of the small arms / arms trade issue. 

Background

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) provides substantive analysis and advice to the Secretary-General on disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation issues. The Office assists Member States in promoting and strengthening multilaterally negotiated principles and norms in all areas of disarmament and non-proliferation. Additionally, it assists Member States in their efforts to prevent the destabilizing and excessive accumulation of illicit small arms and light weapons. The Office promotes transparency, based on the principle of undiminished security for all, and confidence-building measures in the field of disarmament. Through its regional centres for peace and disarmament, UNODA assists Member States in promoting regional approaches to disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation in support of regional and international peace and security.

URL
https://www.un.org/disarmament/
Mail Address
UN Plaza. Room S-3185. New York, NY, 10017, USA
Areas of Work

Weapons of mass destruction, military expenditures, disarmament & development, arms trade, small arms, landmines, cluster munitions, transparency and confidence-building.

Agency Type
SECRETARIAT
Title
United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs

Feb 2017 - Apr 2018 | UNODA

UNLIREC organized the first Regional Women and Security Symposium for Latin America and the Caribbean, where the discussion focused on, among other issues, how the SDGs can contribute to improving the lives and security of women. Some of the recommendations reached at the symposium focused on the need for solid national legislation and policy responses to gender-based armed violence and for promoting an inclusive security response to such violence.  

Feb 2017 - Apr 2018 | UNODA

UNLIREC contributed to an inter-agency programme funded by the Human Security Trust Fund in Peru on strengthening human security and community resilience by fostering peaceful coexistence. Under this programme, UNLIREC contributed to a course on gender in public policy, where the Regional Centre sensitized 76 participants on why and how to include a gender focus in policies on arms control, and prevention and reduction of armed violence. 

Mar 2013 - Feb 2014 | UNODA

In celebration of the International Day of Peace, UNREC, the regional centre of UNODA for Africa, participated in training sessions for young women in Togo on “Citizenship education of young women, guaranteeing a fairer society”, which also addressed the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the need for increased representation of women at all levels of decision-making, especially in the prevention, management, and peaceful settlement of conflicts.

Mar 2012 - Feb 2013 | UNODA

During the reporting period, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) has conducted three cources of Inter-institutional Training Course on Combating Illicit Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives (IITC), which contributes to enhancing the capacity of law enforcement and legal practitioners to prevent armed violence, including against women. Participants came from across the Caribbean, as well as Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

Mar 2011 - Jan 2012 | UNODA

In September 2011, UNODA’s Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) co-organised a seminar for women working in civil society organisations in South America. The seminar enhanced their knowledge of linkages between sexual and gender-based violence, small arms control and armed violence prevention and reduction.

Mar 2011 - Jan 2012 | UNODA

In March 2011, UNODA’s Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) organised a seminar on “UN Regional Best and Promising Practices on Armed Violence Reduction and Prevention for South and Southeast Asia”. A full session of the seminar analyzed, discussed and assessed the interrelations between armed violence and gender. In cooperation with civil society organisations, UNRCPD identified best practices in mainstreaming gender issues and in armed violence reduction programming.

Mar 2011 - Jan 2012 | UNODA

In June 2011, the United Nations Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) co-organised a workshop on Gun Violence in Nepal that brought together political leaders, government officials and media representatives, with significant women’s participation, to raise awareness on gender-based violence.

Mar 2011 - Jan 2012 | UNODA

In October 2011, UNODA’s Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) organised a workshop, with the UN Togo country team, to draft and support the adoption of a National Action Plan for Togo to implement UNSC Resolution 1325 (2000). Furthermore, UNREC assisted in the creation of REPSFECO-TOGO, the Togo branch of ECOWAS’ Women’s Network Working for Peace.
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