Launching of the world disarmament campaign and observance of disarmament week

In the Final Document of its first special session devoted to disarmament, in 1978, the General Assembly emphasized the importance of mobilizing public opinion on behalf of disarmament. In the same Document it proclaimed the week starting 24 October, the day of the foundation of the United Nations, as Disarmament Week, that is, a week devoted to fostering the objectives of disarmament. Since then the United Nations has observed Disarmament Week every year and increasingly Governments and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have developed activities to mark that event.