| The United
Nations Institute for Disarmament Research is a voluntarily funded
autonomous institute within the United Nations. An impartial actor,
the Institute generates ideas and promotes action on disarmament
and security. Based in Geneva, UNIDIR is centrally positioned to
assist the international community in developing the practical,
innovative thinking needed to find solutions
to the challenges of today and tomorrow.
UNIDIR brings together states, international organizations,
civil society, the private sector and academia so that we may work
together—internationally, regionally and locally—to
build and implement creative solutions that will benefit all states
and peoples.
Our Vision
The Institute’s driving Vision is that of a
world in which human security is ensured, where peace prevails over
conflict, weapons of mass destruction are eliminated, conventional
arms proliferation is avoided, and reduced military spending accompanies
global development and prosperity as envisioned in Article 26 of
the United Nations Charter. UNIDIR thus seeks to serve as an agent
of progressive change towards those goals.
Our Mission
The Mission of the Institute is to assist the international
community in finding and implementing solutions to disarmament and
security challenges. Through its research and educational efforts,
UNIDIR seeks to forward arms control and disarmament, contribute
to conflict prevention and promote the development of a peaceful
and prosperous world. UNIDIR strives to anticipate new security
challenges and threats and to elaborate possible methods to address
them before they become critical. Finally, UNIDIR serves as a bridge—among
United Nations disarmament, security and development organizations
and between the United Nations system and the broader security community—to
create the necessary synergies to address and mitigate the effects
of insecurity at the international, regional and local levels.
Our Work
The Institute's research, practical assistance and
educational efforts encompass five themes:
Weapons of Mass Destruction
We work to support and enable progress in nuclear disarmament and
non-proliferation, addressing all aspects of the nuclear dilemma,
from delivery vehicles to security policy to the benefits and risks
of the peaceful use of nuclear energy. As well, we assist the international
community in efforts to keep the world free of biological and chemical
weapons.
Weapons of Societal Disruption
We work towards limits and controls on the weapons that tear at
the fabric of societies from day to day, such as small arms, cluster
munitions, landmines and explosive remnants of war. We seek to identify
and understand the grave harm the use of such weapons brings, and
thereby to help societies recover and rebuild.
Emerging Threats
We work to anticipate the security challenges of tomorrow. Advances
bringing real benefit to human security and development must be
supported, but we cannot ignore the new weapons, methods of warfare
and dangers to society that might follow.
Process and Practice
We work to translate ideas for disarmament and security into practical
action. From supporting treaty negotiation and implementation to
identifying best practices on the ground, we seek to strengthen
and interconnect the efforts of all actors throughout the international
community.
Security and Society
We are mandated to facilitate greater security not just for all
states, but for all peoples. Proceeding from the fundamental belief
that human security is predicated on economic and social development,
we work to integrate the ideas and actions of a wide range of security
stakeholders—from intergovernmental organizations to community
groups—so that, together, we may understand the challenges
and build practical solutions.
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