The Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP) and the International Affairs Institute (IAI), in the framework of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI) cordially invite you to a webinar entitled “Conventional Weapons diversion: challenges and initiatives to counter illicit trafficking”. The event will feature a lecture by Dr. Nils Duquet, Director at the Flemish Peace Institute. He will speak about the diversion of Conventional Weapons and how such weapons, during their lifecycles, happen to be diverted from the legal trade into the illicit domain. Nils Duquet will also address the existing international normative frameworks and initiatives aiming at combating the illicit proliferation of such weapons. The event will take place online on Zoom on 15 April 2025 from 16:30 to 17:30 (CEST). Students and young specialists interested in learning more about the field of non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament are particularly encouraged to attend. The event will be held in English. We kindly ask you to RSVP via the online registration form: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZvIGS_bFQim4_YVC7nosEA

Tentative agenda

  16.00: Welcome remarks and introduction  Federica Dall’Arche, Senior Research Associate, VCDNP Speaker Nils Duquet, Director, Flemish Peace Institute 17.15 Q&A 17.45 Meeting Ends

Background

  The Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP) and The International Affairs Institute (IAI), in the framework of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (EUNPD) Consortium have launched a Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI), an initiative to encourage young women and the next generation to enter the non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament field. Driven by the widely shared awareness of the persistent age and gender imbalances among experts and practitioners in the non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament field, the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative aims to help address such imbalances by exposing college and university level students to arms control issues, increasing awareness and encouraging participation in events and workshops. The initiative also aims to respond to the very limited offering of relevant courses on WMD issues in colleges and universities at undergraduate and master’s level. The goal is to help students understand how to pursue a career in the field, making the best use of their own skills. The Initiative includes the creation of a mentorship programme, the conveying of workshops and meetings, and the organization of outreach visits at universities. The YWNGI is possible thanks to the generous support of the European Union. Download the PDF

The Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP and the International Affairs Institute (IAI), on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium and in the framework of the Young Women Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI) organized the first Mentorship Alumni meeting in Brussels and a webinar on Conventional Weapons Diversion featuring Dr. Nils Duquet. The Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP) and the International Affairs Institute (IAI), within the framework of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI), organized the first Mentorship Alumni Regional Meeting for participants of the YWNGI Mentorship Programme. The event was held on 15 April 2025 at the Flemish Parliament in Brussels, in collaboration with the Flemish Peace Institute. [caption id="attachment_14359" align="alignnone" width="1308"] Participants in the Alumni Regional Meeting[/caption] The meeting brought together mentors and mentees based in Brussels and surrounding areas, representing both current and past cohorts of the YWNGI Mentorship Programme. This format enabled participants to engage in in-person discussions, share experiences, and strengthen their network, while reflecting on the four editions of the Mentorship Programme. [caption id="attachment_14360" align="alignnone" width="411"] Selected Mentees at the Alumni Regional meeting[/caption] The event was opened by Ettore Greco, Executive Vice-President at IAI, who spoke about the origins of the Mentorship Programme, its goals and challenges, and emphasized the importance of in-person meetings as a way to gather inputs from participants and strengthen their network and sense of community. He also moderated remarks delivered by Pedro Arostegui, Chair of the Council’s Working Group on Non-Proliferation at the EEAS, Sibylle Bauer, Director of Studies, Armament and Disarmament at SIPRI and Chair of the EUNPDC, and Nils Duquet, Director at the Flemish Peace Institute. [caption id="attachment_14361" align="alignnone" width="900"] From left to right: Ettore Greco, Sibylle Bauer, Pedro Arostegui, Nils Duquet[/caption] Pedro Arostegui highlighted the core belief behind the programme: that the voices, insights, and ideas of young women are essential in addressing today’s global challenges. He emphasized that this belief is central to the European Union’s approach, which acknowledges that collective security relies not only on policies and institutions but also on the strength of people-to-people networks — such as those built through the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative and its Mentorship Programme.

Empowering youth - especially young women - is not just the right thing to do, but a strategic imperative for building resilient, inclusive security frameworks". "The EU is proud to support initiatives like the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative —and to see how it has grown from a pilot project into a growing community of young female experts and future leaders.

Sibylle Bauer and Nils Duquet, both mentors and Advisory Board members since the programme’s inception, shared their perspectives on its evolution. They underscored how the initiative has grown into a vibrant and expanding community and reaffirmed their strong support for its mission. As the programme enters its fourth edition, the speakers expressed keen interest in understanding the impact it has had on mentees. [caption id="attachment_14362" align="alignnone" width="1128"] From left to right: Ksenija Trajkovska, Bianca Voican, Fer Avar, Amanda Narhan Pereira, Karen Van Loom, Precious Eze[/caption] The event continued with a Roundtable discussion among mentors and mentees, moderated by Paola Tessari, Senior Fellow at IAI. After brief introductions, mentees reflected on their experiences in the programme and how it shaped their professional aspirations. For some, it sparked new areas of interest; for others, it expanded their knowledge of the field. All mentees emphasized the value of the relationships formed: from professional networking and participation in high-level conferences to lasting personal connections and friendships. The roundtable also featured suggestions for improving the programme and highlighted the importance of fostering connections across different cohorts to strengthen the growing community. [caption id="attachment_14363" align="alignnone" width="1141"] From left to right: Ettore Greco, Federica Dall’Arche, Nils Duquet[/caption] The regional meeting also featured a hybrid lecture by Dr. Nils Duquet, moderated by Federica Dall’Arche, Senior Associate at the VCDNP. Dr. Duquet addressed the issue of conventional weapons diversion, explaining how legally traded arms can be diverted into illicit markets throughout their lifecycle. He outlined international normative frameworks and initiatives aimed at curbing the illicit proliferation of such weapons and discussed the involvement of non-state actors — including religious extremists and far-right groups. Duquet also explored how emerging technologies, such as 3D printing, are being used to manufacture firearms and how arms trafficking has fuelled both past and ongoing conflicts. The lecture concluded with an interactive Q&A session. The VCDNP and IAI warmly thank the Flemish Peace Institute for hosting the event and the European Union for the generous support in making this event possible. The event was organized under the frameworks of the YWNGI, an initiative by the VCDNP and IAI on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC), which aims to inspire young women and the next generation to explore careers in non-proliferation, arms control, and disarmament. The initiative provides mentorship, workshops, and outreach opportunities to address gender and age imbalances in the field. More information about the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI) and the Mentorship Programme can be found below: Mentorship Programme https://vcdnp.org/mentorship/ Young Women and Next Generation Initiative https://vcdnp.org/young-women-and-next-generation-initiative-ywngi/  

Additional Resources:

Opening Statement by the EEAS Recording of the Event Agenda of the event

The Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP) and the International Affairs Institute (IAI), on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium and in the framework of the Young Women Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI) visited the University of Split to engage the next generation and raise awareness on non-proliferation, disarmament, and arms control issues. [caption id="attachment_14368" align="alignnone" width="1600"] Prof. Sanchez Cobaleda (University of Barcelona) presenting on Dual Use and Export Control[/caption] From 9 to 10 April 2025, the VCDNP and IAI visited the University of Split and took part in the “Securing Our Future: An Introduction to Arms Control, Non-Proliferation, and Disarmament” workshop. The workshop brought together selected students from across the South East European region, including from the University of Zagreb and the University of Budapest. The workshop was also open to the general public and included the participation of young professionals, experts, diplomats, and officers. The two-day event, which provided attendees with a foundational understanding of arms control, non-proliferation, and disarmament by covering political, legal, and technical dimensions of international security frameworks, was an opportunity for the VCDNP and IAI to represent the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC) and to present its work and activities. Welcome remarks were delivered by Prof. Damir Piplica, Head of the Department of Forensic Sciences at the University of Split, who warmly greeted participants and speakers and officially opened the event. The first day featured expert-led lectures and discussions focused on foundational topics in arms control and non-proliferation and disarmament. Ms. Federica Dall’Arche, Senior Research Associate (VCDNP), introduced participants to the EUNPDC, outlining its role and activities, particularly those targeting the younger generation of experts, such as the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative, the Next Generation workshop and the EUNPDC Internships. Ms. Dall’Arche also offered an overview of the different free educational resources offered by the Consortium, including e-learning courses and policy papers, among others. [caption id="attachment_14369" align="alignnone" width="920"] Federica Dall’Arche (VCDNP) presenting the EUNPDC[/caption] The morning continued with a lecture on conventional arms control delivered by Col (res.) László Szatmári, former Head of the Hungarian Military Advisory Group to the OSCE. He provided an in-depth analysis of key conventional arms control agreements, including the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty, and discussed confidence-building measures, small arms control and transparency initiatives within the OSCE framework. Ms. Dall’Arche then presented on nuclear arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament, offering an overview of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and its significance in maintaining global security and stability. In the afternoon, discussions shifted to critical security threats, including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) dangers. Ms. Paola Tessari, Senior Research Fellow (IAI), explored the security risks posed by WMDs, the challenges of counter-proliferation, and the role of international arms control regimes in mitigating these threats. Prof. Ana Sanchez Cobaleda (University of Barcelona) then examined the complex legal framework governing dual-use export controls, emphasizing the importance of balancing trade and security considerations. Later, forensic science expert Prof. Tonći Prodan (University of Split), and his research team composed of Ms. Matea Bešlić and Mr. Marin Jovanović, presented on the use of forensic techniques in tracking illicit arms and WMDs. The first day concluded with a presentation by Mr. James Cooke (UNODA), who highlighted the work of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. [caption id="attachment_14370" align="alignnone" width="1161"] Prof. Tonći Prodan (University of Split), presenting on WMDs Forensic[/caption] With a strong foundation established on arms control principles, global security challenges, and policy strategies, day one of the workshop provided participants with essential knowledge and valuable networking opportunities to enhance their expertise in non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament. The second day of the workshop focused on hands-on learning through an interactive simulation exercise and career guidance from leading experts. Designed to provide practical experience in arms control negotiations and crisis management, the exercise challenged participants to navigate real-world scenarios involving weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), illicit arms trafficking, and international security cooperation. The simulations underscored the complexity of arms control and the necessity of diplomatic engagement, technical expertise, and legal acumen in addressing security threats. [caption id="attachment_14371" align="alignnone" width="819"] Simulation exercise[/caption] Following a short break, the workshop featured a panel discussion titled “A Career in Arms Control, Non-Proliferation, and Disarmament: Advice and Opportunities for the Next Generation”. The speakers shared their experiences and insights on career paths, skills development, and opportunities in international organizations, think tanks, and government agencies. [caption id="attachment_14372" align="alignnone" width="1424"] From left to right: Prof. Sanchez Cobaleda, Federica Dall’Arche, Col (res.) László Szatmári, Paola Tessari, James Cooke, Levente Toth during the panel: “A Career in Arms Control, Non-Proliferation, and Disarmament: Advice and Opportunities for the Next Generation”[/caption] The VCDNP and IAI thank the University of Split for hosting the event and the European Union for the generous support in making this event possible.

More information:

Agenda The EUNPDC Consortium and its work Additional Opportunities for the Next Generation