8th June 2021
Geneva, Switzerland
2021 marches on, and it’s time for another update on the UK’s initiative on reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours. Regular readers will be familiar with the story so far. The UK-sponsored resolution of that name (A/RES/75/36) was adopted by the General Assembly in December. Four key ideas underpinned it. […]
Read more on Responsible behaviours in outer space: towards UNGA 76 | Reply
14th January 2021
Geneva, Switzerland
For the last couple of Januaries I’ve used this blog to look ahead to the year to come in the Geneva disarmament world. After 2020, I hesitate to be definite in predicting anything… The pandemic is far from over. For at least the first part of 2021, it’ll still be impossible to hold large-scale in-person […]
Read more on Disarmament in 2021 | Reply (3)
10th December 2020
Geneva, Switzerland
Back in August, I posted a blog about the launch of our new initiative on outer space security at the UN General Assembly. Throughout September and into October we were busy consulting UN member states on the text – bilaterally, in small groups, and in consultations open to the whole membership – and making adjustments […]
Read more on Disarmament blog: space resolution adopted | Reply
11th June 2020
Geneva, Switzerland
I last blogged in late February on the P5 Conference in London, looking ahead to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in April. The coronavirus outbreak in China was on our minds, of course, but none of us knew then how it would affect the rest of the world. Switzerland reported its first death from […]
Read more on Disarmament blog: Disarmament and the Pandemic | Reply
3rd April 2020
Geneva, Switzerland
On 4 April each year, we observe International Mine Awareness Day (or to give it its full title – International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action). International Mine Awareness Day aims to raise awareness about landmines and the continued need to eradicate them. On this day, we promote mine action (clearance, fencing […]
Read more on Enhancing Co-operation and Assistance for a Landmine Free World | Reply
11th March 2020
Geneva, Switzerland
Working on nuclear issues is hard – not only understanding the science behind it, but also its complicated politics and history. To help me do nuclear diplomacy better, I wanted to improve my awareness of how the nuclear fuel cycle works. That is why earlier this year I visited five nuclear sites – three in […]
Read more on Blog: Understanding the Nuclear Fuel Cycle | Reply
16th September 2019
Geneva, Switzerland
The Conference on Disarmament (CD) adopted its Annual Report to the UN General Assembly last week. Thanks to the skilful work of the sixth and final President for the year, Zimbabwean Ambassador Taonga Mushayavanhu, this was a quicker and much less fractious process than many of us were expecting. With that, a week ahead of […]
Read more on Disarmament blog: the Conference on Disarmament in 2019 | Reply
22nd March 2019
Geneva, Switzerland
Four weeks ago, the UK assumed the rotating Presidency of the Conference on Disarmament. Today, we hand it over, with our best wishes, to the US. It’s been an intense four weeks. During the High Level Segment we heard from 30 Ministers over five plenary meetings. We presided over eight working formal and informal plenary […]
Read more on Disarmament blog: Looking back at the UK’s Conference on Disarmament Presidency | Reply
4th April 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
2013 sees the 50th anniversary of Pope John XXIII’s great encyclical Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth), addressed “to all people of good will”. In the encyclical, Pope John called on states to reduce arms stockpiles – nuclear and conventional – and for “a general agreement … about progressive disarmament and an effective method of […]
Read more on We should all support the Arms Trade Treaty | Reply
