2022
States endorse Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.
First Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons convenes.
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons enters into force.
2021
2020
50th country ratifies Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
COVID-19 pandemic postpones some disarmament meetings and causes others to be held remotely.
International Law Commission adopts draft principles on environmental protection in relation to armed conflict.
Austria convenes conference on use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Ireland starts consultations to develop a political declaration on the topic.
2019
2017
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons adopted and opened for signature.
UN Environment Assembly passes resolution on mitigation of conflict pollution.
ICAN wins 2017 Nobel Peace Prize “for its work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons.”
100th country ratifies Convention on Cluster Munitions.
UN Environment Assembly passes resolution on protection of the environment in areas affected by armed conflict.
International Law Commission recognizes toxic remnants of war and proposes obligations to address them.
CCW’s Fifth Review Conference establishes a Group of Governmental Experts on lethal autonomous weapons systems.
UN General Assembly votes to negotiate treaty banning nuclear weapons.
2016
2015
ICRC holds expert meeting on explosive weapons in populated areas.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) researchers and roboticists issue open letter calling for ban on autonomous weapons.
First Review Conference of Convention on Cluster Munitions adopts declaration “condemn[ing] any use of cluster munitions by any actor.”
Austria convenes discussions of political commitment on use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
Toxic Remnants of War Network established.
Mexico and Austria host conferences on humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons.
More than 100 states endorse Humanitarian Pledge to “stigmatise, prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons.”
Arms Trade Treaty enters into force.
2014
2013
Norway hosts first conference on humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons.
Campaign to Stop Killer Robots publicly launched in London.
Arms Trade Treaty adopted and opened for signature.
CCW states parties adopt mandate to discuss lethal autonomous weapons systems
Negotiations of an arms trade treaty begin.
Toxic Remnants of War Project launched.
Campaign to Stop Killer Robots formed in New York.
Human Rights Watch convenes first annual humanitarian disarmament forum.
2012
2011
International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW) established in Geneva.
Control Arms Secretariat established.
ICBL and CMC merge to create ICBL-CMC.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies calls for abolition of nuclear weapons.
Efforts to adopt weak Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) protocol on cluster munitions defeated.
Convention on Cluster Munitions enters into force.
2010
2009
UN General Assembly votes to initiate negotiations of an arms trade treaty.
UN Secretary-General first expresses concern about humanitarian impact of explosive weapons.
Convention on Cluster Munitions adopted and opened for signature.
2008
2007
Oslo Process to negotiate a ban on cluster munitions begins.
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) launched internationally in Vienna.
Control Arms campaign created.
Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) launched in the Hague.
2003
2000
100th country ratifies Mine Ban Treaty.
Mine Ban Treaty enters into force.
1999
1998
ICBL creates Landmine Monitor initiative.
Mine Ban Treaty adopted and opened for signature.
ICBL and Jody Williams receive 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for starting “a process which in the space of a few years changed a ban on anti-personnel mines from a vision to a feasible reality.”
1997
1996
Ottawa Process to negotiate a ban on antipersonnel landmines begins.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) president declares that from a “humanitarian point of view” a “world-wide ban on anti-personnel mines is the only truly effective solution.”
1994
1992