DYB2011-Part-II-web

United Nations Disarmament Yearbook 2011: Part II
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centres engaged in activities related to public security and the reduction of
armed violence, and also stepped up their role in assisting Member States in
the preparatory work for the upcoming United Nations Conference on the
Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in 2012.
Several regional organizations also directed significant efforts towards
curbing the illicit trafficking in SALW and, in this context, towards assisting
Member States to enhance their capacities in the tracing and marking of
SALW and in regulating brokering activities. The safeguarding of SALW
stockpiles and the destruction of surplus or obsolete ammunition also received
considerable attention and support. Similarly, Member States received
support in their preparations for the ATT Conference in 2012, particularly in
facilitating the development of common regional and subregional positions
and perspectives on key issues related to a future ATT.
UNODA continued to maintain a close relationship with regional
organizations and civil society groups, especially through its regional centres
in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. During
the course of the year, those ties were further strengthened. UNODA also
enlarged its institutional and outreach capacity by establishing the UNODA
Office in Vienna in November. The Office seeks to facilitate closer cooperation
and effective interaction in all areas of disarmament, non-proliferation and
arms control with the United Nations Office at Vienna and other Vienna-based
organizations and related specialized agencies.
For more information on the resolutions and decisions related to this
chapter, refer to appendix VIII.
Nuclear-weapon-free zones
A brief glance at the preambles of the five regional nuclear-weapon-free
zone treaties will confirm that none of these zones was ever intended as an
end in itself … Each was recognized … as making some contribution to the
strengthening of regional and international peace and security.
serGio dUarte, United nations hiGh rePresentative for disarmament affairs 4
The concept of nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZs) is a regional
approach for strengthening global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament
norms and consolidating international efforts towards peace and security.
The establishment of such zones has made significant progress and NWFZs
4 Remarks to the Task Force on the Technical Dimensions of a Weapons of Mass Destruction Free
Zone in the Middle East, Como, Italy, 12 November 2011. Available from http://www.un.org/
disarmament/HomePage/HR/docs/2011/2011-11-12_COMO_MEWMDFZ_Session_7.pdf
(accessed 13 June 2012).