Welcome to the website of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific!

This Regional Centre, whose acronym is "UNRCPD", was created by United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/42/39D in 1987 and became operational in 1989. Since its inception, the Centre has promoted dialogue and confidence-building in disarmament and regional security related matters.

Last year (18 August 2008) marked a historic moment for the Centre. Our office was relocated from New York to Kathmandu, Nepal. Our sincere thanks go to the Government and People of Nepal who kindly supported the relocation.

With the Centre's physical operation from within the region, its mandate given by the Member States of the region and endorsed by the UN General Assembly, two decades ago, is gaining new momentum.

We wish to make a new departure by renewing our commitment to the Centre's mandate; promoting global disarmament and non-proliferation norms, enhancing regional dialogue on disarmament, non-proliferation and security matters, and conducting outreach and advocacy activities.

This vast and diverse region of 43 countries is facing daunting challenges in the field of disarmament and security. We believe in the power of dialogue and it is our strong desire that the Centre serves as a platform for dialogue and confidence building in the field of peace and disarmament in Asia and the Pacific.

It is my sincere hope that this website will serve its purpose of generating dialogue and confidence building throughout the region by continuously sending messages of peace and disarmament from the high mountains of the Himalayas, Top of the world.

Taijiro Kimura
Director