Disarmament

About Disarmament - See below.

Overview

Issues

Anti-Missile Systems   |   Arctic Region   |   Arms Transports   |  Cluster Munitions   |

Confidence Building Measures (CBMs)   |  Conventional Weapons   |   Environmental Affairs   |   Europe   |

Export Control   |   Humanitarian Affairs   |   Mines   |   Missiles   |   Nuclear Issues   |   Nuclear Weapons   |

Organised Crime   |   Outer Space   |   Overflight and Landing   |   Terrorism   |   Regional Cooperation   |

Restrictive Measures   |   Sanctions   |   Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW)   |

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Organisations

CTBTO   |   EU   |   IAEA   |   NATO  |   OPCW  |   UN   |   UNSC   |   OSCE

Conventions

ATT   |   APLC   |   BWC  |   CCM  |   CCWC  |   CFE   |   CTBT   |   CWC   |   FMCT   |   NPT   |   OS

Cooperation

Australia Group (AG)   |   FATF  |   G-8   |   GICNT   |   GTRI   |   HCOC   |   MTCR   |   NSG   |   PSI   |  

Wassenaar (WA)   |   Zangger (ZC)

About Disarmament

Disarmament includes a wide range of issues, including arms control and non-proliferation.

The weapons covered are sometimes divided into two categories, conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction (and their delivery systems). Weapons of mass destruction are nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, and bio-chemical weapons.

Disarmament also includes confidence building measures in military matters such as transparency measures and information exchange. Broadly, disarmament issues also cover the control of dual-use items and technology, i.e. for both military and civil use.

Many conventions on disarmament are part of humanitarian law, e.g. conventions that prohibit the use of mines, laser weapons, flame throwers etc.     

Disarmament has importance for progress in a number of areas, for example:

• It is estimated that half a million people lose their lives every year as a result of the use of small arms and light weapons. Their proper control is necessary to secure fundamental human rights.
• A large number of civilians die every year as a result of mines and cluster munitions, hindering their development.
• Disarmament is key to many dispute resolution process in conflict areas.
• Success in disarmament is important in combatting terrorism and adverse actions by non-state parties.

 Updated: 08/10   |     Send comments here     |     Abbreviations