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The United Nations Office at Geneva
A meeting happening at the Council Chamber, the room is filled with delegates, the panel sits on the right side of the picture in front of a selection of flags and a large tv screen.

The United Nations in Geneva is one of the world's busiest conference centres, hosting meetings every day on topics ranging from human rights to telecommunications technology, from peacebuilding to artificial intelligence, and much more.  These meetings and the documents they produce can seem abstract, but the decisions, agreements and standards that they adopt have a direct impact on our lives. 

In this section, we explain why these meetings are taking place, what is being discussed, and what outcomes are expected or have been achieved. 

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Watch or listen in on the meetings at UN Geneva

Should machines make the decisions in war?

Seventh Review Conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), 16 to 20 November 2026

Weapons that can cause excessive harm, such as landmines or blinding laser weapons, are already subject to tight international restrictions and oversight. Every five years, countries review the rules governing these weapons to ensure they keep pace with new technologies and methods of warfare.
 
In recent years, new questions have emerged: what about weapons powered by artificial intelligence? And who is responsible for military decisions taken by machines? This Conference examines how they should be regulated, and what role humans must continue to play in decisions about life and death. Read more

What needs to change to end racial inequality?

Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, 14 to 17 April 2026

Once a year, the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent brings together governments, UN entities, experts, civil society, and even private citizens who care about racial justice, to share their experience and talk through practical steps to advance the rights of people of African descent. This year focused on the question of whether the great-grandchildren of slaves should receive compensation for the stolen labour of their ancestors, lost culture and family bonds. Read more