With the inclusion of a Fourth Special Session on Disarmament (SSOD-IV) in the zero draft of the Pact for the Future, the much awaited launch of SCRAP Weapons’ special issue editorial in the ZeFKo Studies in Peace and Conflict Journal, and the successful convening of civil society consultations advocating for an SSOD-IV, it has been a busy start of the year for SCRAP Weapons, and it does not look like it will be slowing down any time soon!

Informed by inputs from Member States, as well as 80 written submissions, including one from SCRAP Weapons, the zero draft of the Pact for the Future was published on Friday 26th January. SCRAP Weapons is delighted to announce the draft has recognised the need for a Special Session on Disarmament (SSOD) at the UN General Assembly, stating: “we commit to revitalizing the role of the United Nations in the field of disarmament, including consideration of the role, timing and preparations of a fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, building on previous special sessions on disarmament.”

The activation of an SSOD has been the goal of SCRAP Weapons since December 2021. Its inclusion in the zero draft of the Pact for the Future is warmly welcomed. As we continue our advocacy efforts to see a Fourth Special Session devoted to Disarmament take place, SCRAP Weapons has been hosting a series of civil society consultations with various organisations. In our latest consultation, co-sponsored by the Canadian Pugwash Group and Oxfam, we discussed the current situation of the disarmament machinery and identified ways to move off square one and initiate actual preparations for SSOD-IV.