(a)

Safeguarding the future by ensuring anticipatory, dynamic and responsive approaches to address new and emerging weapon technologies;

(b)

Addressing the impact of emerging weapon technologies on the protection of civilians through enhanced technical, practical and normative knowledge of stakeholders;

(c)

Contributing to the implementation of the Pact for the Future and the promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and international human rights law in the areas where these converge with humanitarian disarmament efforts; and

(d)

Building on the work carried out under the project in support of the universalisation, implementation and strengthening of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) (Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/1694 of 21 September 2021).

—

Elaborate at least two studies that include risk assessments to keep abreast of the development and use of emerging weapon technologies and assess their potential implications on global peace and security, international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

—

Organise up to six dialogues to facilitate cross-disciplinary engagement among scientists, industry leaders, ethicists, engineers and diplomats to foster holistic solutions, and ensure that ethical, legal, humanitarian and human rights implications are sufficiently considered in the design and use of emerging weapon technologies. At least one of the dialogues will be held in collaboration with academic and research institutions to enhance the knowledge of and promote awareness of the role of women and youth in disarmament, with the meaningful participation of women experts and youth active in the area of disarmament.

—

The two studies will explore and generate insight and policy recommendations on the potential implications of new and emerging weapon technologies as well as identifying avenues for response and engagement by States. As such it is expected that it will lead to a greater engagement by States and other stakeholders on these issues. The dialogues will be an opportunity to advance the deliberations on lethal autonomous weapons systems and support advances of the relevant inter-governmental processes, in particular the Group of Governmental Experts on LAWS, in 2025-2026 and beyond.

—

The activity will, furthermore, encourage the collection and synthetisation of broad perspectives on the issue and, as applicable, bring identified issues and thus far underexplored voices, particularly from the global south to the international arena and multilateral discussions, including within the GGE on LAWS.

—

The activity will also seek to ensure that the role of women and youth in disarmament is addressed comprehensively and with a vision for long-term integration. As such it is expected that women and youth representatives are empowered and enabled to engage on relevant subject matters and that opportunities for engagement are identified and pursued with the ultimate goal of regularising meaningful participation throughout a broad range of disarmament fora.

—

Provision of technical assistance to up to four High Contracting Parties to the CCW to revise and/or support the drafting/updating of legislation and/or policies and manuals to implement the Convention and its Protocols, using the CCW Implementation Guide developed under Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/1694.

—

Development of one user-friendly and one-stop-shop online platform that provides comprehensive information about the humanitarian disarmament instruments that would include:

—

Through the provision of targeted technical assistance, the activity is expected to lead to enhanced national implementation of the CCW by a select number of High Contracting Parties. This will, furthermore, lead to greater visibility of implementation guidance developed under EU-CD (CFSP) 2021/1694 and set a practical foundation for the future provision of focused implementation assistance.

—

The activity is, furthermore, expected to result in the establishment of an online platform housed by UNODA and containing a broad range of practical tools, guidance and materials, including a database of national legislation and policies. The platform will facilitate the general availability of materials and provide practical assistance to States with regard to annual reporting obligations under select humanitarian disarmament instruments to increase submission rates. In addition, the platform will also help provide greater clarity on the complementarity of humanitarian disarmament treaties to support both implementation and universalisation efforts.

—

Organisation of at least three workshops for government officials, military personnel, and civil society representatives to share information on designing and implementing of best practices related to policies and practices related to the protection of civilians.

—

At least one research/contextual analysis on protecting civilians from the impact of weapons to identify main areas of potential action for States and related solutions, which include possible convergence and complementarity emanating from relevant human rights mechanisms.

—

One Weapons and Ammunition Guide to facilitate casualty recording, with a view to strengthen the United Nations’ capacity to collect arms-related data, including weapon identification and details of death or injury with the goal of strengthening accountability and enhancing informed decision-making.

—

The workshops are expected to enable participants to gain a better understanding of human-centered approaches to reducing the impact of weapons. They will furthermore enable dialogues between a broad range of actors, including military and civil society practitioners working on the ground with a view to identify practical measures for the implementation of human-centered strategies across various fields of expertise, while encouraging cross-fertilisation among sectors, and drawing upon the body of recommendations by international human rights mechanisms. These military dialogues with government, civilian, officials, and defence industry stakeholders and civil society representatives and other related experts aim to identify and collect concrete examples of best practices on the protection of civilians from the use of conventional weapons. The information collated is expected to inform broader State and stakeholder engagement on the issue with a view of building a community of practice that prioritises the protection of civilians, and to provide practical guidance to States in the process of reviewing or drafting national policies and practices.

—

The analysis paper will identify and suggest areas of action for States with a view to enhance approaches on the protection of civilians in the context of existing humanitarian disarmament instruments. As such, suggested actions and opportunities for engagement are expected to be taken up by States, with the support of UNODA.

—

It is expected that the technical guidance will enhance the United Nations’ accuracy and capacity to collect arms-related data through its various entities and agencies, including field practitioners, thus directly responding to requests by States for the United Nations to provide data on weapon usage and the protection of civilians in a more standardised manner. In addition, it will help ensure a consistent use of terminologies and concepts in guidance and information provided by the United Nations.