The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacificis finalising preparations to resume its operations from its headquarters in Kathmandu following a temporary relocation after the devastating earthquakes that hit Nepal in 2015.

According to a press release issued by UNIC,  UNRCPD resume its operation in Kathmandu from today.

Since 2008, the Regional Centre has strengthened its capacity to implement regional activities in support to Member States of Asia and the Pacific on disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation, according to the practical needs of States. The Centre will further strengthen its promotion of regional dialogue and confidence-building peace and security issues.

On 21 November, the Foreign Minister of Nepal, Dr.Prakash Sharan Mahat, and the United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Under-Secretary-General KIM Won-soo, will unveil a plaque commemorating the resumption of operations from the new premise in Kathmandu.

On this occasion also the “Kathmandu Process”, a dialogue among States in Asia and the Pacific on disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation issues will be revitalized. The first event of this Process is a High-Level Roundtable on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004). This Roundtable, organised by the Regional Centre in partnership with the Government of Nepal and the Committee established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1540, will discuss the 2016 Comprehensive Review on the status of implementation of the resolution, the role of regional cooperation, and synergies between the resolution and other disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, such as the Biological Weapons Convention.