By Reinhard Jacobsen

VIENNA (IDN) – Arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation are essential to build a safer, more secure world and to protect people from harm. Strengthening the participation of youth in these processes – particularly women – has been recognized by the UN Security Council to be important in efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. [2019-07-04]

The Security Council also highlighted the need to increase the role of women in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution. This view aligns with the UN Secretary General´s Agenda for Disarmament: Securing Our Common Future, which commits to further invest in disarmament education, with a particular focus on youth engagement.

Against this backdrop, the second edition of the joint scholarship of the Organization for Security Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) for Peace and Security took place from April 8 to May 10, 2019 in Vienna. Ninety women and ten men received scholarships through the initiative.

This initiative is one of the ways in which the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) supports education and training opportunities for young professionals, empowering new generations to be a force for change.

Valere Mantels, Head of the UNODA Office in Vienna, said: “I hope that we can bring disarmament back to the centre of the United Nations. At this moment we seek to further engage as much as possible the younger generation. It is very promising; there is a lot of potential out there.”

The OSCE-UNODA Scholarship for Peace and Security consists of online courses and in-person workshops and lectures that were held in Vienna. With a focus on training young professionals, and women in particular, these scholarship recipients learned about conflict prevention, conflict management and conflict resolution through arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation.

Marcel Pesko, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre said: “I welcome this initiative which contributes to creating a greater community of experts among women.”

Participants are tutored through case studies and lectures and connect with each other during workshops and visits to Vienna-based organizations. The course highlighted the links between disarmament and development, and how they both contribute to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals by upholding humanitarian principles and protecting civilians. [IDN-InDepthNews – 04 July 2019]

Photo: The OSCE-ODA Scholarship for Peace and Security focuses on training young professionals -women in particular- in conflict prevention, conflict management and conflict resolution through arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. Credit: UNODA

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