Statement by Mr. Anmol Sher Singh Bedi, Senior Adviser, Permanent Mission of India to the Conference on Disarmament at the CD Plenary meeting during thematic debate on Nuclear Disarmament, Geneva, 10 August 2023 Statement by Mr. Anmol Sher Singh Bedi, Senior Adviser, Permanent Mission of India to the Conference on Disarmament at the CD Plenary meeting during thematic debate on Nuclear Disarmament, Geneva, 10 August 2023
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Statement by Mr. Anmol Sher Singh Bedi, Senior Adviser, Permanent Mission of India to the Conference on Disarmament at the CD Plenary meeting during thematic debate on Nuclear Disarmament, Geneva, 10 August 2023

Thank you, Mr. President,

Thank you for giving my delegation the floor.

Let me start by appreciating you for your initiative for calling a discussion on this very relevant topic. We also thank the young panelists for their valuable perspectives.

Our shared work on arms control has immense implications for international peace and security. We believe that the first step for ushering a change in that regard is through creating awareness, particularly for the youth.

Young people are agents for social change, economic development and technological innovation. India, therefore, attaches great importance to engaging and working with the youth to raise awareness of and to find innovative solutions to issues of disarmament, arms control and international security.

India co-sponsored the UNGA Resolution A/Res/76/45 titled “Youth, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation”. The resolution calls upon Member States to consider developing and implementing policies and programs for young people to increase and facilitate their engagement in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation.

Mr. President,

In this regard, India’s Annual Disarmament and International Security Affairs Fellowship launched in 2019 has been well received by various member states, particularly the younger generation of diplomats.

The third edition of the fellowship program was held from 9-27 January this year at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, New Delhi.

The fellowship program aims to raise awareness and exchange views among young officials from across the world on issues relating to contemporary disarmament, non-proliferation, arms control and international security affairs.

It features talks, presentations and simulation exercises by leading experts on a range of subjects such as the global security environment, weapons of mass destruction, certain conventional weapons, space security, security of cyberspace, export controls, and emerging technologies, and includes visits to facilities of Department of Atomic Energy of India and Indian Space Research Organization to provide the fellows a first-hand exposure to India’s civil nuclear and civil space programs.

The fellowship program also fulfills the mandate of UNGA Resolution "United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education” and is in line with the focus on “Disarmament Education” in UN Secretary General’s Agenda for Disarmament “Securing our Common Future”.

I thank you.

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