The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) was first established in 1998 as the Department for Disarmament Affairs by the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as a part of his efforts to reform the UN. UNODA aims to promote non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament by strengthening disarmament regulations in respect to weapons of mass destruction. It also focuses on the area of conventional weapons; especially on land mines and small arms which play an important role in contemporary conflicts. The organization consists of 4 primary operational branches namely as, weapons of mass destruction, conventional weapons, regional disarmament, and information and outreach.
The department promotes preventative disarmament measures through fostering international dialogue, transparency policies and regional disarmament efforts. Furthermore, it provides guidance and consultancy to member states, NGOs, civil organizations, media and the general public by publishing objective, impartial and up-to-date information on multilateral disarmament issues.
The department promotes preventative disarmament measures through fostering international dialogue, transparency policies and regional disarmament efforts. Furthermore, it provides guidance and consultancy to member states, NGOs, civil organizations, media and the general public by publishing objective, impartial and up-to-date information on multilateral disarmament issues.
