In Vienna, States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Wepons (NPT) concluded the first of three sessions of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 NPT Review Conference in a constructive manner.

Less than five percent of the 2010 military spending would be enough to achive the Millennium Development Goals of lifing all people out of poverty. The High Representative for Disarmament Affairs marks the Global Day of Action on Military Spending with Statement. 

Phnom Penh, 27 - 30 March 2012 – UNRCPD contributed to and actively participated in the ASEAN Workshop and Study Visit on Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons and UXO Control. The Workshop was organized to improve coordination and share knowledge and information on the management of the smuggling of illicit small arms and light weapons and the control of unexploded ordinance (UXO) between the defense and national police agencies of the ASEAN States.

New York, 8 March 2012 – The United Nations Secretary-General appoints Ms. Angela Kane as the new United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.

Bali, 5 - 6 March 2012 – Organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, the Regional Meeting on the Implementation of the Programme of Action for Asia (PoA) primarily aimed at supporting States in the region in preparation for the upcoming UN PoA Review Conference, and at affording them the opportunity to discuss national and regional perspectives of the UN PoA. UNRCPD actively participated in and contributed to the Meeting.

Brisbane, 29 February - 2 March 2012 – With UNRCPD’s active contribution and participation, the Australian Government, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat representing 16 Pacific nations and Oxfam Australia organized the three-day Pacific Regional Workshop on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).  The purpose of the Workshop was to identify the most important issues for the Pacific with regard to illicit SALW trade, the ATT and the implementation of the UN Programme of Action (PoA), as well as to ensure that these issues be championed at the United Nations and in the region.

Kathmandu, 26 - 27 February 2012 – In corporation with Institute of Human Rights Communication Nepal (IHRICON), the Nepali Working Group on Armed Violence Reduction organized a capacity-building workshop, primarily for members of the Group, to increase their knowledge on issues of armed violence in Nepal, particularly on small arms in relation to the media, the violence and security threats they cause, as well as to the Government’s Work Plan on small arms control.

Kathmandu, 21 - 22 February 2012 – In corporation with the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) of the University of Sussex, the Nepali Working Group on Armed Violence Reduction organized the Workshop on Armed Violence in Nepal to raise awareness of and improve access to current research based evidence on the issue of armed violence in Nepal by planning and defining the publishing of a “Policy Briefing” information paper on the issue.