Disarmament

Since the birth of the United Nations, the goals of multilateral disarmament and arms limitation have been central to its efforts to maintain international peace and security. The UN has given the highest priority to reducing and eventually eliminating nuclear weapons, destroying chemical weapons and strengthening the prohibition of biological weapons. While these objectives have remained constant over the years, the scope of deliberations and negotiations has changed as the international community continues to consider the proliferation of small arms and landmines - instruments that threaten the economic and social fabric of societies and kill and maim civilians, all too many of whom are women and children.