Spring 2025 Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Short Course  

The VCDNP hosted its 29^th intensive short course on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament issues from 10 to 14 March 2025, providing training to 20 diplomats, officials and other practitioners from 20 countries. Of the participants, 75 percent were women and 50 percent hailed from developing countries. 

Throughout the week-long programme, participants engaged in an intensive series of lectures, panel discussions, and on-site visits on a diverse array of nuclear-related topics. The sessions during the course included, among others: 

• The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and nuclear-weapon-free zones by VCDNP Japan Chair for a World without Nuclear Weapons Gaukhar Mukhatzhanova 

• Overviews of nuclear arsenals and the history of arms control by VCDNP Senior Fellow Dr. Nikolai Sokov 

• The evolution of nuclear safeguards by VCDNP Senior Fellow Laura Rockwood  

• A set of case studies in nuclear verification by Dr. Jacques Baute 

• Peaceful uses of nuclear technology by VCDNP Senior Fellow Ingrid Kirsten 

• A discussion on nuclear security by VCDNP Executive Director Elena K. Sokova 

• The humanitarian initiative and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) by Ambassador Alexander Kmentt 

• Approaches to negotiation and current status of North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme by VCDNP Senior Research Associate Noah Mayhew and Open Nuclear Network Senior Analyst Veronika Bedenko 

An alumni panel allowed current and former course participants to exchange valuable insights and strategies on negotiating nuclear matters in a multilateral framework, with emphasis on the Vienna-based international organisations. 

Course participants also had the opportunity to visit the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), where they received briefings and hands-on demonstrations of IAEA safeguards verification techniques and radionuclide detection by the CTBTO’s International Monitoring System.  

The following are testimonials from the Spring 2025 cohort: 

“The course enriched my knowledge in multiple aspects: political, technical, security, and history.” 

“For the first time, I understand how the NPT review process works.” 

“I will recommend the course specially to those joining the disarmament portfolio.” 

“This course should be offered to all newcomers to the field.” 

The VCDNP extends its gratitude to the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria for their generous support of its capacity-building and training activities.