Underrepresentation in multilateral forums

Weapons policy issues are a global concern – but global representation at multilateral disarmament forums is far from equal. For a research project, Article 36 analysed the participation data for 2010-15 of the meetings of 13 disarmament forums. Lower income countries, countries from some regions, and women were starkly underrepresented amongst state and NGO attendance and speaking at them.

The final project research report was released in April 2016. We have also conducted further analysis since then.

Our research has: mapped the participation of countries in a range of multilateral disarmament forums as well as the participation of women; looked at the factors behind underrepresentation at these meetings in terms of attendance and speaking; and examined measures taken to try and address these trends. Our goal has been to strengthen understanding of these patterns, and the dynamics that they are informed by and produce.

Latest content on this issue

Nov 2019 publication Addressing the Political Impact of Inclusion and Exclusion in Multilateral Disarmament Forums
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Jun 2018 Conference statement Disarmament as a means to build peace
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Dec 2017 publication Missing Voices: The Continuing Underrepresentation of Women in Multilateral Forums on Weapons and Disarmament
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Nov 2016 post Patterns in participation: the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, 2010-14
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Nov 2016 publication Patterns in participation: the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, 2010-14
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Aug 2016 post Briefing for UN General Assembly First Committee on disarmament and development
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May 2016 post State participation at the UN nuclear talks – who is represented?
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May 2016 post UN nuclear talks: imbalances and underrepresentation in discussion
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Apr 2016 post Disarmament, development and patterns of marginalisation in international forums
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