United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research

In the face of rapid advances in AI, how can States and non-state actors shape effective governance of AI in security and defence? Our Draft Guidelines for the Development of a National Strategy on AI in Security and Defence aim to capture, anticipate and dissect the key issues, considerations and needs that States must address in developing, adopting, implementing and reviewing their own national strategies on AI in security and defence. To ensure these guidelines reflect all the full diversity of perspectives, viewpoints and approaches to this issue, 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬. 🗨️ Share your insights by 27 December 2024: bit.ly/3YFLa5l 📘 Read the report: unidir.org/AiDraftGuide

2025 has been proclaimed by the United Nations as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology! Quantum science is a transformative technology that holds immense potential for addressing global challenges, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and improving lives around the world. With applications in health, food, sustainable cities, clean water, energy and communications, quantum technologies will have significant impacts on every aspect of our lives, including global security. To support global cooperation, raise awareness and foster education on these technologies, UNIDIR’s 2024 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞, co-organized with GESDA - Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator, will focus on Quantum Technologies and Their Implications for International Peace and Security. 🔗 Learn more about #ID24 and register: unidir.org/ID24

Disarmament is at a crossroads. Global tensions are on the rise, yet multilateral disarmament has reached an impasse. Could effective, inclusive participation offer a way forward? In a new UNIDIR commentary, Emilia Vassiliades and Johanna Kleffmann examine how amplifying diverse voices could reinvigorate disarmament efforts, exploring tangible measures that can help to level the playing field for broader participation. One such measure is the UNIDIR and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs annual Disarmament Orientation Course, whose most recent edition in September welcomed 47 newly arrived, Geneva-based diplomats from 38 different countries. The course set out to equip them with the knowledge and networks needed to navigate Geneva's disarmament landscape, helping to foster participation that is as inclusive as it is effective. 🔗 Read the full commentary: unidir.org/InclusivePath

📌 Mark your calendars! The 2024 Innovations Dialogue, on quantum technologies and their implications for international peace and security, is coming up in November! Given the multifaceted potential of quantum innovations, it is essential to gain early insights into their possible impacts on global security, including military applications and related geopolitical dynamics. #ID24 will bring together experts from various fields to analyse the implications of quantum computing, quantum communications and quantum sensing. Join us in person or online to explore the opportunities and challenges of this revolutionary technology. 🗓️ 22 November 2024 🕘 9:00 - 17:00 CET 📍 Campus Biotech (Geneva) and online 🔗 Learn more and register: unidir.org/ID24

On #UNDay, we celebrate a bold step towards a brighter future! Last month, UN Member States united to adopt the visionary #PactForTheFuture – a commitment to align global efforts with the realities and challenges of tomorrow. The Pact calls for this generation to become agents of positive change and transformation, equipped with the knowledge and skills the world will need in the years ahead. Today, the six United Nations research and training institutes are proud to commit to supporting this vision by delivering specialized learning and training, as well as research that informs decision-making for the entire UN system and beyond. 👉 Swipe left to meet the institutes, and click here to learn more about them: unidir.org/UNDay United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) UNICRI - United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute United Nations University United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) UNRISD

UNIDIR’s latest report examines how Colombian feminists shaped negotiations that resulted in the landmark 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–People's Army (FARC-EP), which incorporates over 120 gender-equality provisions. Drawing on lived experiences from Cauca, Colombia, the authors highlight how feminists have adapted the global Women, Peace and Security agenda to influence local institutions and advance gender equality. Find out more about these innovative strategies for inclusive, sustainable peace ➡️ unidir.org/MEACCOFem

“It took half a century for the electric grid system developed in the 1880s to reach 100 million homes globally. In 2022, ChatGPT achieved the same result in just two months.” – Robin Geiß, UNIDIR Director at the United Nations Security Council. This one simple example clearly reveals the drastic compression of the time available to policymakers to react and adapt to scientific and technological advances in today’s world. At Monday’s high-level briefing, chaired by H.E. Ignazio Cassis of Switzerland, our Director and other expert speakers addressed the growing impact that emerging technologies are having on global peace and security. UNIDIR highlighted the urgent need for global governance frameworks to keep pace with innovations like quantum computing and artificial general intelligence. One key element noted was the convergence of multiple technologies and their "dual-use nature", which can lead to unintended consequences in warfare, humanitarian crises and broader peace efforts. Our briefing concluded by underlining the vital role that the UN Security Council has to play in fostering early awareness of emerging technologies and anticipating key developments in the context of international peace and security. But the session was also enriched by the insightful contributions of Amin Awad, President of the Foundation Council of the DCAF - Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, Jocelyne Bloch, Professor at the Neuroscience Research Centre (Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne), and G. Courtine Professor at the Centre for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute (EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne). 🔗 Read more: unidir.org/UNSCBriefing

The United Nations General Assembly First Committee addresses issues related to disarmament, global challenges and threats to peace that affect the international community. During this year’s session, which runs until 8 November, UNIDIR will contribute to these discussions by hosting a series of side events ⬇️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐀 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐃𝐈𝐑 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐈 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 🗓️ 23 October 2024 📍 In person, New York 🔗 unidir.org/WomenAIFellows 💬 This event will address the challenges that AI poses to international peace and security, as well as highlight the opportunities that it presents. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐈, 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐬: 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 🗓️ 24 October 2024 📍 In person, New York 🔗 unidir.org/MultiStakeRAISE 💬 This event will highlight the importance of multistakeholder dialogue in advancing global governance efforts around AI in security and defence. 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 🗓️ 25 October 2024 📍 In person, New York 🔗 unidir.org/NationalAI 💬 This event will discuss the importance of national strategies on AI in security and defence to support regional and multilateral efforts for the governance of these technologies. 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚: 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 🗓️ 29 October 2024 📍 Online 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dMU4-et3 💬 This event will explore the implications of synthetic data for international security and governance. 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🗓️ 29 October 2024 📍 In person, New York 🔗 unidir.org/SpaceSteps 💬 This event will discuss the adoption of the first consensus report on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space since 1978.

Did you know the newly introduced 2024 Cyber Security Legislative Package aims to implement seven key initiatives under the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy? 🔐 🇦🇺 Head over to the Cyber Policy Portal to explore the recent legislative updates in the Legal Frameworks section! ⬇️ 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d-SZx2tS

#Hiring | Research Assistant – Managing Exits from Armed Conflict UNIDIR's Managing Exits from Armed Conflict project is looking for a Research Assistant to provide the team’s lead Data Scientist with support on data collection, monitoring, organization, cleaning, analysis, visualization and reporting. 💼 Research Assistant 📍 Geneva ⏰ Apply by 12 November 2024 🗓️ 12 Months Apply here 👉 unidir.org/MEACRAssist