Disarmament Affairs Office Selects 10 Young Leaders Worldwide as UN Youth4Disarmament Champions

NEW YORK, 28 September (Office for Disarmament Affairs) — The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs is pleased to announce the selection of 10 outstanding young leaders from around the world as the third cohort of Youth4Disarmament Champions.

Following a highly competitive global call for applications launched in June, more than 1,000 young people aged 18 to 29 from all regions of the world put forward their ideas for advancing disarmament and building more peaceful and secure communities.  The 10 selected Champions were chosen for their commitment to disarmament, peace and security, their diverse experiences and perspectives, and the potential of their proposed projects to contribute to positive change in their communities.

The new cohort brings together young leaders from ten countries and different backgrounds, reflecting the geographic and thematic diversity that is central to the Youth4Disarmament programme.  As Youth4Disarmament Champions, they will take action on a range of issues, including humanitarian mine action, small arms control, nuclear disarmament, arms trade law, biosecurity and climate-linked peacebuilding.

With generous support from the Government of the Republic of Korea and the European Union through Council decision (CFSP) 2025/2565, the 10 Youth4Disarmament Champions will design and implement their own disarmament and arms control projects as part of their immersive, year-long learning and networking experience.

Through training and mentoring from UNODA and its partners, participants will hone their skills to prepare for leading disarmament in their communities.  They may also be invited to present their work at selected intergovernmental disarmament and arms‑control meetings aligned with their interests and expertise, such as the first meeting of States to review the Global Framework on Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management.

“At my Office, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, meaningful youth engagement is a key priority.  As young people make up over half of the world’s population, it is essential to create space for them to contribute to the advancement of global disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control efforts,” said Izumi Nakamitsu, United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.

The third edition builds on the achievements of the previous two Youth Champions programmes, which have brought together young leaders from around the world and supported them in developing community-based initiatives to raise awareness and promote action on disarmament.  Through Youth4Disarmament, the Office of Disarmament Affairs continues its efforts to engage, educate and empower young people as meaningful participants in disarmament and international peace and security.

For more information about the Youth4Disarmament Champions programme and to meet the 10 members of the third cohort, please visit the Youth4Disarmament website.