Statement on CBRN Disinformation

Distinguished representatives:

The erosion of information integrity in the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear domains is a pressing concern. There continue to be divergent narratives about chemical weapons use and the conclusions of international investigations. Circulation of claims regarding biological weapons programmes, irrespective of their veracity, can contribute to public anxiety and mistrust among states. Misleading information related to nuclear safety and non-proliferation may undermine public trust and confidence in global security arrangements.

In an interconnected information environment, such campaigns exploit vulnerabilities in our global communication ecosystem, undermining not only the integrity of facts but also the stability of collective security arrangements. Disinformation erodes confidence in disarmament and multilateral institutions, and the treaties that underpin international security. Especially, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Addressing this challenge requires reaffirming our collective commitment to truth, transparency, verification—the norms and mechanisms that underpin the United Nations disarmament architecture. To support factual integrity in multilateral disarmament dialogues, the multi-partner Counter WMD Disinfo Initiative has produced a series of concrete tools. Our most recent tool is a chronological, interactive resource that tracks how disinformation is shaping multilateral disarmament debates on weapons of mass destruction. It tracks instances of CBRN disinformation in the First Committee, in the Security Council, in CWC and BWC meetings, and other international disarmament fora. We are launching the CBRN Disinformation Tracker in a webinar on Monday, 20 October, on the margins of this meeting, and you are all invited to attend. Registration details are available on the UNODA meeting pages.

Additional tools, in the form of analytical reports, explainer videos, and policy briefs are available on our Initiative website: GPWMDCounterDisinfo.com. Our evidence-based approach aims to equip the disarmament community to recognise, resist, and respond to disinformation before it erodes trust and Cooperation.

Distinguished representatives:

No state can effectively counter CBRN disinformation in isolation. False narratives cross borders as easily as digital messages, and their impact spreads faster than the truth if left unchecked. Our collective resilience depends on cooperation, sharing information, amplifying accurate voices, and standing together in defence of the facts.

Going forward, strengthening information integrity should become an integral element of our collective efforts to uphold and advance the disarmament regime. By defending truth, we defend trust — and trust remains the foundation of disarmament and international security.

We thank you for your attention.

The GP Counter WMD Disinformation Initiative