The Summit of the Future, held in September 2024, published its outcome document titled “Pact for the Future, Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations.” The outcome document includes in its section on sustainable development goals an objective on upholding disarmament treaties. The commitment to upholding norms against the production and/or use of chemical weapons is specifically referenced, underscoring the United Nations’ recognition of the strength of the CWC and its continuing relevance. Read the full document here, and an excerpt related to disarmament goals below:
Action 26. We will uphold our disarmament obligations and commitments.
We express our serious concern at the increasing number of actions that
are contrary to existing international norms and non-compliance with
obligations in the field of disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation.
We will respect international law that applies to weapons, means and methods
of warfare, and support progressive efforts to effectively eradicate the illicit
trade in arms. We recognize the importance of maintaining and strengthening
the role of the United Nations disarmament machinery. Any use of chemical
and biological weapons by anyone, anywhere and under any circumstances is
unacceptable. We call for full compliance with and implementation of relevant
treaties. We reaffirm our shared determination to exclude completely the
possibility of biological agents and toxins being used as weapons and to
strengthen the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production
and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on
Their Destruction. We decide to:
(a) Revitalize the role of the United Nations in the field of disarmament,
including recommending that the General Assembly pursue work that could
support preparation of a fourth special session devoted to disarmament
(SSOD-IV);
(b) Pursue a world free from chemical and biological weapons and
ensure that those responsible for any use of these weapons are identified and
held accountable;
(c) Address emerging and evolving biological risks through improving
processes to anticipate, prevent, coordinate and prepare for such risks,
whether caused by natural, accidental or deliberate release of biological
agents;
(d) Identify, examine and develop effective measures, including
possible legally binding measures, to strengthen and institutionalize
international norms and instruments against the development, production,
acquisition, transfer, stockpiling, retention and use of biological agents and
toxins as weapons;
(e) Strengthen measures to prevent the acquisition of weapons of
mass destruction by non-State actors;
(f) Redouble our efforts to implement our respective obligations under
relevant international instruments to prohibit or restrict conventional weapons
due to their humanitarian impact and take steps to promote all relevant
aspects of mine action;
(g) Strengthen our national and international efforts to combat, prevent
and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects;
(h) Address existing gaps in through-life conventional ammunition
management to reduce the dual risks of unplanned conventional ammunition
explosions and the diversion and illicit trafficking of conventional ammunition
to unauthorized recipients, including to criminals, organized criminal groups
and terrorists.