March 2006

United Nations Register of Conventional Arms
Peace and Security through DISARMAMENT

A group of governmental experts held its first meeting, from 27 February to 3 March at United Nations Headquarters, to review the continuing operation and further development of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. See Press Release The Register is a universal and non-discriminatory reporting system that includes data on international arms transfers as well as information provided by Member States on military holdings, procurement through national production and relevant policies. It comprises seven categories of major conventional arms. For more information on the Register visit the Department’s web site at http://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/TransparencyRegisters/TransparencyRegisters.shtml

Review Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons

Substantive preparations are underway in the Department for the United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects taking place at UN Headquarters from 26 June to 7 July 2006. For further details on the event, visit:

http://www.un.org/events/smallarms2006.

Occasional Paper Number 10
Verifying Arms Control and Disarmament Agreements TDDAy

The Department’s latest Occasional Paper offers presentations from a panel discussion organized last October to explore verification of compliance issues. Four renowned experts explore such topics as compliance monitoring and enforcement, the role of the United Nations, the lessons of UNSCOM and UNMOVIC, the range of opportunities that new technologies and open sources can offer to many States, and verifying arms embargoes mandated by the Security Council. The panel discussion was a contribution to the work that began this year of the panel of government experts set up by the General Assembly resolution 59/60.

Disarmament Resolutions and Decisions Handbook

This annual publication, a compilation of disarmament resolutions and decisions adopted at the Sixtieth Session of the United Nations General Assembly, is available on the Department’s web site at http://disarmament.un.org/vote.nsf