The Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC), also known as the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, addresses some of the world's most pressing threats to international peace and security. From nuclear disarmament to emerging military technologies, DISEC provides a forum for nations to debate how global security can be maintained in an increasingly complex world.
At GlobalVoices 2026, DISEC delegates will confront two challenges at the intersection of international law, security, and technological change: One Person’s Terrorist: The Politics, Power, and Propaganda of Defining Terrorism and War by Machine: AI, Autonomy, and the Future of Armed Conflict. Both topics raise fundamental questions about how the international community can establish shared rules in a world where threats, technologies, and political interests are constantly evolving.
The Past
DISEC's origins date back to the founding of the United Nations in 1945, when the devastation of the Second World War highlighted the urgent need for international cooperation on disarmament and collective security.
Throughout the Cold War, DISEC became an important forum for discussions on nuclear proliferation, arms control, and the growing military rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. International agreements such as the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty reflected wider diplomatic efforts to prevent nuclear conflict and limit the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
Following the Cold War, the international security agenda expanded to encompass new threats, including terrorism, regional conflicts, and the proliferation of conventional weapons. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, further transformed global security priorities, intensifying international counterterrorism cooperation while raising difficult questions about sovereignty, human rights, and the use of force.
Meanwhile, technological developments continued to reshape warfare. From early pilotless aircraft to precision-guided weapons and remotely operated drones, advances in military technology increasingly challenged traditional approaches to arms control and international humanitarian law.
The Present
Today, DISEC operates in a world shaped by renewed geopolitical competition, ongoing armed conflicts, and rapidly advancing military technologies.
One of the international community's most persistent challenges is the absence of a universally agreed definition of terrorism. While countries broadly condemn terrorist violence, disagreements remain over which acts should qualify, how terrorism should be distinguished from armed resistance or struggles for self-determination, and whether violence committed by states should fall within its definition.
These disagreements extend beyond legal terminology. The designation of an individual or organisation as 'terrorist' can influence international legitimacy, justify security measures, and shape public perceptions of conflicts. Governments, international institutions, and media organisations may apply the term differently, raising difficult questions about political influence, consistency, and human rights.
Meanwhile, artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons systems are transforming the nature of warfare. The growing use of drones in conflicts such as Ukraine, alongside advances in AI-assisted targeting and military decision-making, has demonstrated both the potential advantages and serious risks associated with increasingly autonomous technologies.
Weapons capable of selecting and engaging targets without direct human intervention raise profound ethical and legal questions. Who should be held accountable when an autonomous weapon makes a fatal mistake? How much human control should be required over decisions involving lethal force?
International discussions are progressing, but agreement remains elusive. In September 2026, a UN Group of Governmental Experts reached consensus on elements of a possible international instrument addressing lethal autonomous weapons systems. However, states remain divided over whether new rules should be legally binding and which technologies should be restricted or prohibited.
For DISEC, these challenges demonstrate the growing difficulty of maintaining international security when political divisions persist and technological innovation moves faster than diplomatic consensus.
The Future
Looking ahead, DISEC must confront an evolving international security landscape, shaped by:
The politics of defining terrorism, including the challenge of establishing consistent international standards while preventing the misuse of terrorist designations for political purposes.
The regulation of autonomous weapons and artificial intelligence, including potential international prohibitions, accountability mechanisms, and requirements for meaningful human control.
The growing risks of technological arms races, as states compete to develop increasingly sophisticated military capabilities.
The future of international disarmament, amid rising geopolitical tensions and declining trust between major powers.
The coming decades will test whether international diplomacy can adapt to threats that previous generations could scarcely have imagined.
At GlobalVoices 2026, DISEC delegates will face the same fundamental challenge that has shaped the committee since its creation: how can nations with competing interests establish common rules to protect international peace and security?
From the nuclear anxieties of the Cold War to the political complexities of defining terrorism and the ethical dilemmas of autonomous warfare, DISEC's history demonstrates that the future of global security will depend as much on diplomacy and cooperation as on military power. The decisions made today will help determine how tomorrow's conflicts are fought, prevented, or resolved.