Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Regimes Short Course

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Overview

Over the past 50 years UN Member States have established numerous instruments to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to foster nuclear disarmament, and to strengthen international cooperation on international and regional levels. The global disarmament and non-proliferation regime is a comprehensive network of complementing and reinforcing arrangements, result of continued diplomatic effort and dialogue.

What will participants learn?

The course consists of 4 thematic modules:

  • Introduction to Disarmament: Machinery, Processes and the Role of the United Nations
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
  • Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zones
  • UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004)

Audience:

The course is open to all interested audiences but particularly aims to respond to the needs of entry-level experts, including Government officials, diplomats, researchers and graduate students.

Components and Methodology:

This course will introduce three key instruments:
  • the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), a landmark treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament. The NPT represents the only binding commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by the nuclear-weapon States.
  • Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZ), a regional approach to strengthening global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament norms. A NWFZ is a specified region in which countries generally commit themselves not to develop, manufacture, acquire, test or possess nuclear weapons.
  • UN Security Council resolution 1540, an effort by the UN Member States to prevent the spread of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, their means of delivery and related materials to non-State actors, particularly for terrorist purposes.

The course is available in English and is held in the Disarmament Education Dashboard, thus participants need a computer or mobile device, with audio and reliable internet connection. No special software is required.

Certificate:

Upon successful completion of thematic modules, including examination and course evaluation a certificate of completion will automatically be issued to the participant.

Short-course Series

The UN Office for Disarmament Affairs Short Course Series aims at making available quality education material on disarmament, arms control, non-proliferation and issues cross-cutting with security, such as gender and development. The courses are targeted for and available to the general public at UNODA’S globally accessible e-Learning platform disarmamenteducation.org.

In line with the UN Secretary-General’s Agenda for Disarmament this short-course series aims to contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.