Launch of a parliamentary handbook on disarmament for security and sustainable development

Assuring our Common Future

This handbook focuses on parliamentary action to implement the disarmament agenda put forward by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his 2018 report entitled Securing our Common Future: An Agenda for Disarmament. This agenda includes a set of goals and practical measures across the entire range of disarmament issues, including weapons of mass destruction, outer space, conventional weapons and future weapon technologies.

Thursday, November 5, 2020 | International webinar

Online event:

Thursday November 5. 4pm-5:30pm Central Europe Time (10am – 11:30 Eastern Time USA). Event will be in English.

Chair:

Ms Vanda Proskova, Czech Republic. Gender, Peace and Security Program Director for Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament. Vice-Chair, PragueVision Institute for Sustainable Security.

Speakers:

  • Ms Katherine Prizeman, United Nations. Political Affairs Officer, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs;
  • Hon Mr Saber Chowdhury MP, Bangladesh. Honorary President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Co-President of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament;
  • Hon Mr Naveed Qamar MP, Pakistan. Convenor of Parliamentarians for Global Action International Peace and Security Program;
  • Hon Ms Daisy Tourné, Uruguay. President of the Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons;
  • Hon Ms Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Ecuador. Member World Future Council. Former President of the UN General Assembly;
  • Mr Alyn Ware, NZ/Czech Republic. Handbook editor. Global Coordinator of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament.

Presentations will be followed by Q&A from event participants.

Background

In 2018, UN Secretary-General António Guterres released a report, Securing our Common Future: An Agenda for Disarmament, which outlined a set of goals and practical measures across the entire range of disarmament issues, including weapons of mass destruction, conventional arms and future weapon technologies.

Parliamentarians play key roles to ensure implementation of disarmament goals. The handbook to be launched at this event provides background to these disarmament issues, makes connections between disarmament and sustainable development, provides examples of effective policies and parliamentary action, and offers recommendations for further parliamentary action. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the handbook also includes a focus on disarmament and pandemics.

Registration

Registration is open to legislators, government representatives, academics and representatives of civil society organisations who are engaging with legislators on peace, disarmament and sustainble development issues.

Click here to register. Click here for the event flyer.

French language event, Nov 6

Note: A launch event will be held in French on Friday November 6. Click here for further information.

Event partners

The vent is sponsored by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Parliamentarians for Global Action, Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, Geneva Centre for Security Policy and the World Future Council. Supported by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs.