UNIDIR launches platform for AI peace and security policy
Switzerland and Pakistan are joining UNIDIR for a pre-launch briefing on AI peace and security.
UNIDIR, Switzerland, and Pakistan will host a pre-launch briefing for the Institute’s Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security in Geneva on 17 June 2026.
The briefing will take place at the Palais des Nations ahead of the centre’s formal launch later the same day. It will bring together stakeholders involved in the governance of AI and international security.
UNIDIR said the Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security is being established at a critical moment for global AI governance, as AI increasingly reshapes international peace and security dynamics. The centre is intended to serve as a permanent platform for consolidating knowledge, connecting stakeholders and maintaining continuity between multilateral processes and global discussions on AI and international security.
The platform aims to promote greater continuity and coherence across international AI governance initiatives. It will also promote inclusive global engagement and provide practical, evidence-based policy guidance, resources, and capacity-building support.
According to UNIDIR, the goal is to strengthen international cooperation on the governance of AI in peace and security contexts, amid growing urgency and complexity.
The pre-launch briefing will introduce the centre as a platform for multistakeholder engagement and actionable knowledge generation. Participants will also be invited to express interest in supporting the centre, joining its Forum and contributing to future activities.
Speakers will include Dr Giacomo Persi Paoli, Head of UNIDIR’s Security and Technology Programme; Reto Wollenmann, Senior Advisor on AI and International Security at Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs; and Husham Ahmed, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN in Geneva.
The briefing will also include an overview of the centre’s governance structure and ways for states and other stakeholders to engage through its Forum. The event will be moderated by Dr Yasmin Afina, Researcher in UNIDIR’s Security and Technology Programme.
Why does it matter?
AI is becoming an increasingly important factor in international peace and security, influencing areas ranging from military applications and cyber operations to information integrity, crisis management and strategic stability. As discussions on AI governance expand across multiple international forums, there is growing demand for mechanisms that can provide continuity, expertise and coordination between policy processes.
The new UNIDIR centre seeks to fill that gap by creating a permanent platform for research, dialogue and capacity-building. By bringing together governments, international organisations, industry, academia and civil society, it could help promote more inclusive and evidence-based approaches to governing AI in security contexts, particularly for countries with limited resources or technical expertise.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!