United Nation Office For Disarmament Affairs, Headquarter, Objective

Why in the News?

The Indian Army is hosting the first United Nations training programme on Small Arms Control for the Asia-Pacific region at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

About the Programme

• India is hosting the first United Nations training programme on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) control for the Asia-Pacific region in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. This step highlights India’s growing role in promoting global peace and disarmament.
• The programme started at the Military College of Materials Management (MCMM), Jabalpur and will continue for three weeks. Delegates from 13 countries of the Asia-Pacific region are taking part in this training.
• The programme is being conducted under the guidance of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Defence. It is organised by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) through its Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD).

‹ ›

About United Nation Office For Disarmament Affairs

• Established: Originally created in 1982 after the UN General Assembly’s Special Session on Disarmament.
• Present Name: Became the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) in 2007.
• Headquarters: Works under the United Nations Secretariat (New York, USA)
• Main Objective
  • To promote global disarmament and reduce the spread of weapons.
  • To achieve general and complete disarmament under international control.
• Key Focus Areas
  • Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), especially nuclear weapons.
  • Control of small arms and light weapons (SALW).
  • Addressing humanitarian impact of conventional weapons.
  • Monitoring emerging technologies like autonomous weapons.
• Major Functions
  • Supports the UN General Assembly and its First Committee on disarmament matters.
  • Assists bodies like the Conference on Disarmament and UN Disarmament Commission.
  • Promotes transparency through tools like the UN Register of Conventional Arms.
  • Encourages regional and international cooperation in disarmament.
  • Provides impartial information on global disarmament issues.
  • Supports post-conflict measures like disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of former combatants.