In the summer of 2019, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research New York Office (UNITAR NYO), International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), and United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation (UNSCAR) collaboratively published a “Quick Guide” to understanding the United Nations Secretary-General’s agenda for disarmament. In May 2018, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres published an 87-page disarmament agenda called “Securing Our Common Future: An Agenda for Disarmament,” in which he calls for a new method of disarmament to bring about global peace and security. In IANSA: Quick Guide to Small Arms Issues in “Securing Our Common Future”, UNITAR breaks down the disarmament agenda into comprehensive notes.

First, the Quick Guide introduces the decisive actions called for in the Secretary-General’s Agenda. Then, the Secretary-General’s reasons for prescribing such actions are explained. A few reasons include the deterioration of international security, the increasing complexity of conflicts, and growing economic costs. The Quick Guide also describes the four pillars of Secretary-General Guterres’ plan: Disarmament to Save Humanity; Disarmament that Saves Lives; Disarmament for Future Generations; and Strengthening Partnerships for Disarmament. Furthermore, the Quick Guide relates the Secretary-General’s plan of action to the relevant Sustainable Development Goals, saying that “disarmament and the regulation of arms are essential to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” Lastly, the Quick Guide explains several of the 40 actions introduced in the Secretary-General’s Agenda. These actions will be carried out by entities both within and beyond the United Nations system, and because the plan is a living document, new steps will be added as needed.

The Secretary-General’s stance on disarmament is a valuable component of his overall agenda for global peace, and this “Quick Guide” will be important to understanding and implementing his ideas. IANSA: Quick Guide to Small Arms Issues in “Securing Our Common Future” is available in three languages: English, Spanish, and French.