Maat for Peace, Development, and Human Rights, in collaboration with the International Consulting Group for Training and Legal Work, organized a virtual training workshop titled "Introduction to International Disarmament Law" via Zoom. The workshop aimed to introduce young people to the fundamental concepts of international disarmament law, its sources, and the key international treaties related to arms reduction. Additionally, it sought to enhance their skills in documenting and gathering information on the use of weapons during armed conflicts and monitoring irresponsible arms transfers. This workshop is part of the "Safe Generations" campaign launched by Maat, aimed at educating Arab youth about the international legal rules concerning disarmament and arms control.
The workshop opened with a session led by Mohamed Mokhtar, Director of the International Law and Disarmament Unit at Maat, who discussed the basic concepts related to international disarmament law and its role in promoting international security and peace by imposing restrictions on the production, use, and transfer of weapons, particularly those with mass destructive capabilities and conventional weapons. He also addressed the primary sources of this law, including international treaties and customary international law.

In the second session, Ahmed Al-Sanhouti, Senior Researcher in the International Humanitarian Law and Disarmament Unit, reviewed the most important international treaties concerning weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. He explained the role of these treaties in enhancing global security and reducing the risks associated with the use of these destructive weapons.

The workshop concluded with a session presented by Malak Hassan, a researcher at Maat, who addressed conventional weapons and the humanitarian challenges associated with them. She noted that some conventional weapons, such as anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions, cause severe humanitarian damage due to their indiscriminate nature and disproportionate impact, rendering them incompatible with international humanitarian law.

This workshop comes amid the escalation of armed conflicts and civil wars in the Arab region, including in the occupied Palestinian territories, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen. Therefore, it is essential to train and educate a new generation of Arab youth to empower them to play an active role in mitigating the threats associated with the proliferation of illicit arms and enhancing disarmament and arms control efforts.