The Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP and the International Affairs Institute (IAI), on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium and in the framework of the Young Women Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI) organized the first Mentorship Alumni meeting in Brussels and a webinar on Conventional Weapons Diversion featuring Dr. Nils Duquet. The Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP) and the International Affairs Institute (IAI), within the framework of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI), organized the first Mentorship Alumni Regional Meeting for participants of the YWNGI Mentorship Programme. The event was held on 15 April 2025 at the Flemish Parliament in Brussels, in collaboration with the Flemish Peace Institute. [caption id="attachment_14359" align="alignnone" width="1308"] Participants in the Alumni Regional Meeting[/caption] The meeting brought together mentors and mentees based in Brussels and surrounding areas, representing both current and past cohorts of the YWNGI Mentorship Programme. This format enabled participants to engage in in-person discussions, share experiences, and strengthen their network, while reflecting on the four editions of the Mentorship Programme. [caption id="attachment_14360" align="alignnone" width="411"] Selected Mentees at the Alumni Regional meeting[/caption] The event was opened by Ettore Greco, Executive Vice-President at IAI, who spoke about the origins of the Mentorship Programme, its goals and challenges, and emphasized the importance of in-person meetings as a way to gather inputs from participants and strengthen their network and sense of community. He also moderated remarks delivered by Pedro Arostegui, Chair of the Council’s Working Group on Non-Proliferation at the EEAS, Sibylle Bauer, Director of Studies, Armament and Disarmament at SIPRI and Chair of the EUNPDC, and Nils Duquet, Director at the Flemish Peace Institute. [caption id="attachment_14361" align="alignnone" width="900"] From left to right: Ettore Greco, Sibylle Bauer, Pedro Arostegui, Nils Duquet[/caption] Pedro Arostegui highlighted the core belief behind the programme: that the voices, insights, and ideas of young women are essential in addressing today’s global challenges. He emphasized that this belief is central to the European Union’s approach, which acknowledges that collective security relies not only on policies and institutions but also on the strength of people-to-people networks — such as those built through the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative and its Mentorship Programme.

Empowering youth - especially young women - is not just the right thing to do, but a strategic imperative for building resilient, inclusive security frameworks". "The EU is proud to support initiatives like the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative —and to see how it has grown from a pilot project into a growing community of young female experts and future leaders.

Sibylle Bauer and Nils Duquet, both mentors and Advisory Board members since the programme’s inception, shared their perspectives on its evolution. They underscored how the initiative has grown into a vibrant and expanding community and reaffirmed their strong support for its mission. As the programme enters its fourth edition, the speakers expressed keen interest in understanding the impact it has had on mentees. [caption id="attachment_14362" align="alignnone" width="1128"] From left to right: Ksenija Trajkovska, Bianca Voican, Fer Avar, Amanda Narhan Pereira, Karen Van Loom, Precious Eze[/caption] The event continued with a Roundtable discussion among mentors and mentees, moderated by Paola Tessari, Senior Fellow at IAI. After brief introductions, mentees reflected on their experiences in the programme and how it shaped their professional aspirations. For some, it sparked new areas of interest; for others, it expanded their knowledge of the field. All mentees emphasized the value of the relationships formed: from professional networking and participation in high-level conferences to lasting personal connections and friendships. The roundtable also featured suggestions for improving the programme and highlighted the importance of fostering connections across different cohorts to strengthen the growing community. [caption id="attachment_14363" align="alignnone" width="1141"] From left to right: Ettore Greco, Federica Dall’Arche, Nils Duquet[/caption] The regional meeting also featured a hybrid lecture by Dr. Nils Duquet, moderated by Federica Dall’Arche, Senior Associate at the VCDNP. Dr. Duquet addressed the issue of conventional weapons diversion, explaining how legally traded arms can be diverted into illicit markets throughout their lifecycle. He outlined international normative frameworks and initiatives aimed at curbing the illicit proliferation of such weapons and discussed the involvement of non-state actors — including religious extremists and far-right groups. Duquet also explored how emerging technologies, such as 3D printing, are being used to manufacture firearms and how arms trafficking has fuelled both past and ongoing conflicts. The lecture concluded with an interactive Q&A session. The VCDNP and IAI warmly thank the Flemish Peace Institute for hosting the event and the European Union for the generous support in making this event possible. The event was organized under the frameworks of the YWNGI, an initiative by the VCDNP and IAI on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC), which aims to inspire young women and the next generation to explore careers in non-proliferation, arms control, and disarmament. The initiative provides mentorship, workshops, and outreach opportunities to address gender and age imbalances in the field. More information about the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI) and the Mentorship Programme can be found below: Mentorship Programme https://vcdnp.org/mentorship/ Young Women and Next Generation Initiative https://vcdnp.org/young-women-and-next-generation-initiative-ywngi/  

Additional Resources:

Opening Statement by the EEAS Recording of the Event Agenda of the event

Launch of the 2024 Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Mentorship Programme

On 18 September 2024, the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP) and the International Affairs Institute (IAI), as part of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI), launched the 4^th edition of Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (YWNPD) Mentorship Programme. The Mentorship Programme, established in 2021 and organised in the framework of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC), pairs 20 young women (mentees), chosen through a highly competitive selection process, with well-established experts in the field (mentors). Mentors and mentees engage in a mentoring relationship that envisions, among other things, regular video or in-person meetings. Mentees are also offered an opportunity to attend conferences, seminars, social events, and other activities, to benefit from networking and career development opportunities. VCDNP Executive Director Elena K. Sokova delivering welcome remarks The launch event was opened by the VCDNP Executive Director Elena K. Sokova. Two former mentees, Veerle Moyson and Lara Maria Guedes, and one continuing mentor, Renata H. Dalaqua, shared their personal experiences of participating in previous editions of the programme. Renata H. Dalaqua, Programme Lead for Gender & Disarmament at UNIDIR, sharing her experience as a mentor After a round of introductions, VCDNP Senior Research Associate Federica Dall’Arche and Paola Tessari, Senior Researcher at IAI, offered an overview of the programme, discussing expectations and opportunities for mentors and mentees as well as upcoming activities, including the EUNPDC Annual Conference in Brussels. Karolina Proprentner, Office and Events Manager at the VCDNP, introduced a social media spotlight campaign, which will feature mentors and mentees of the new cohort and present their backgrounds and interests to a wider audience in the non-proliferation and disarmament field. The VCDNP and IAI look forward to working with this cohort of bright and motivated mentees and thank returning and new mentors for generously volunteering their time and expertise to the 2024 edition of the programme. The Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (YWNPD) Mentorship Programme is made possible thanks to the generous financial support of the European Union.  

Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Mentorship Programme – 3rd Edition Final Meeting

The VCDNP and IAI convened the final meeting of the third edition of their Mentorship Programme for young women in non-proliferation and disarmament.

On 10 May 2024, the VCDNP and the International Affairs Institute (IAI) organised the final meeting of the third edition of the Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Mentorship Programme. This year, the programme paired 22 driven young women with 22 established experts in the field. These pairs engaged in a mentoring relationship that included regular videoconferencing sessions, among other activities. The programme also gave participants the opportunity to attend relevant conferences and outreach events on non-proliferation, disarmament, arms control, and related topics, including the EUNPDC Annual Conference and Next Generation Workshop. The Mentorship Programme has also provided networking and career development opportunities through seminars, social events, and other activities. The Mentorship Programme is part of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative under the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium.

  “The mentorship programme definitely is a unique opportunity for young female professionals or students to gain a foothold in the world of disarmament and non-proliferation. Not only can you learn from the experiences of an experienced and established mentor in the field, but you also get to connect with young like-minded colleagues who are also at the start of their career. I can definitely recommend it as the connections you are able to make are extremely valuable - both in the professional and the private sphere!” -Mentee

The final meeting was opened by Elena K. Sokova, VCDNP Executive Director, and Stephan Klement, Special Envoy for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation and Disarmament at the European External Action Service (EEAS).

The event was held online and divided into three sessions. The first session was dedicated to mentees’ presentations and moderated by Paola Tessari (IAI). Several mentees presented the results of their research conducted during the Mentorship Programme. The presentations addressed issues related to arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation, including regional challenges, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, military expenditure and data collection, as well as the nexus between climate change and disarmament. Presentations were delivered by:

• Lara Maria Guedes, Intern at Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
• Ksenija Trajkovska, Analyst at Fenix Insight LTD
• Clara Wend, Student at Technical University Vienna
• Beatrice Aubert, Trainee at EEAS

  “I really like the concept of this Programme and how refreshing it felt to coach a mentee/someone who is hopeful and positive about the field and I learned a lot too as a mentor!” -Mentor

The second panel focused on providing career advice and featured a presentation by Elizabeth Bone, Career and Academic Advisor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Ms. Bone shared helpful tips when searching for a job and offered guidance for dealing with rejection and building resilience. The panel was moderated by Manuel Herrera (IAI).

  “The many opportunities provided by the mentorship programme have definitely deepened my understanding of arms control and non-proliferation. Especially the in-person conference in December 2023 was a particularly enriching experience. I also enjoyed both the issue-related and skill-building opportunities that took place online” -Mentee

The last panel was devoted to a comprehensive evaluation of the Programme to collect feedback from participants and brainstorm improvements for future editions. The open discussion was moderated by Federica Dall’Arche (VCDNP).

Launch of the 2023 Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Mentorship Programme

On 20 September 2023, the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP) and the International Affairs Institute (IAI), as part of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI), launched the 3^rd edition of Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (YWNPD) Mentorship Programme. The Mentorship Programme, established in 2021 and organized in the framework of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC), pairs 20 young women (mentees), carefully chosen through a highly competitive selection process, with well-established experts (mentors) to engage in a mentoring relationship that envisions, among other things, regular video or in-person meetings. Mentees are also expected to attend conferences, seminars, social events, and other activities, in order to be exposed to networking and career opportunities. Participants of the launch event The launch event was opened by the VCDNP Executive Director, Elena Sokova, and IAI Executive Vice-President, Ettore Greco, who welcomed the new cohort and congratulated new mentees for having been selected among over hundreds of very strong applications. Three former mentees – Selma Mustafić, Elif Erginyavuz, and Kincső Vizi – and one former (and current) mentor – Rebecca Jovin – shared their personal experience during the previous editions of the programme.   Federica Dall’Arche, Senior Research Associate at the VCDNP and Paola Tessari, Senior Researcher at IAI, offered an overview of the programme, discussing expectations and opportunities for both mentors and mentees as well as the upcoming activities. Karolina Proprentner, Office and Events Manager at the VCDNP, introduced the new cohort to the spotlight campaign, while Manuel Herrera, Senior Researcher at IAI, shared information about the upcoming EUNPDC Annual Conference, which mentors and mentees are invited to attend. A round of introductions of all participants allowed the organizers, mentors, and mentees to get to know each other better. The VCDNP and IAI look forward to working with this bright and motivated cohort of mentees and deeply thank the EU for funding this project as well as returning and new mentors for joining the 2023 edition of the programme. The Agenda of the event can be found here!  

Young Women and Next Generation Initiative in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Mentorship Programme – 2nd Edition Final Meeting

On 15 May 2023, the VCDNP and the International Affairs Institute (IAI) organised the final meeting of the second edition of the Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Mentorship Programme. The Programme pairs 20 driven young females with 20 well-established experts in the field over the course of nine months and gives mentees the opportunity to attend relevant conferences and outreach events on non-proliferation, disarmament, arms control, and related topics, including the EUNPDC Annual Conference and Next Generation Workshop. The Programme has also provided networking and career development opportunities through seminars, social events, and other activities. The Mentorship Programme is part of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative under the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium.

“I think the programme is a great initiative. It encouraged me to study more non-proliferation, disarmament, and gender issues, and it provided me with amazing connections with mentees and mentors. The programme taught me good lessons, it helped me improve many of my skills and now I intend to deepen my studies into a Master's in this field.” 2023 Mentee

The final meeting was opened by Stefan Tressing, Deputy Head of the Division for Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Arms Export Control at the European External Action Service (EEAS) and Elena Sokova, VCDNP Executive Director. The event was held online and divided into three sessions. The first session was dedicated to mentees’ presentations and moderated by Paola Tessari (IAI). Selected mentees presented their work and research prepared over the course of the Mentorship Programme. The presentations covered issues related to arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation, such as autonomous weapon systems, non-traditional security and nuclear risk, diversity in non-proliferation and disarmament, economic sanctions from a gender perspective, and gender and race in international security. Presentations were delivered by:

• Insaf Senouci (Sciences Po Grenoble)
• Stephanie Verlaan (EuropeanUniversity Viadrina)
• Veerle Moyson (UNODA Vienna Office)
• Jennet Charyyeva (Bilkent University)
• Amanda Pereira (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo)
• Elin Bergner (Open Nuclear Network)
• Natalina Popat (Oxford University)
• Irene Palomo (European Research Council Executive Agency – ERCEA)

“I really like the concept of this Programme and how refreshing it felt to coach a mentee/someone who is hopeful and positive about the field and I learned a lot too as a mentor!” 2023 Mentor

The second panel focused on providing career advice and featured a presentation by Elizabeth Bone, Career and Academic Advisor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Ms. Bone shared helpful tips when searching for a job and offered guidelines for dealing with rejection and building resilience. The panel was moderated by Manuel Herrera (IAI).

“I feel encouraged knowing there are many other young women working on the same path as me. It is nice to hear you're not alone. I received good guidance and explanations and insights which allowed me to reflect on my career path and possible developments, outcomes and combinations. This is very important.” 2023 Mentee

The last panel was devoted to a comprehensive evaluation of the programme to collect feedback from participants and brainstorm improvements for future editions. The open discussion was moderated by Federica Dall’Arche (VCDNP). Closing remarks were delivered by Sybille Bauer (SIPRI and Chair of the EUNPD Consortium).

Launch of the 2022 Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Mentorship Programme

On 19 September 2022, the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP) and the International Affairs Institute (IAI), as part of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI), launched the 2^nd edition of Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (YWNPD) Mentorship Programme. The Mentorship Programme, established in 2021 and organized in the framework of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC), pairs 20 young women (mentees), carefully chosen through a highly competitive selection process, with well-established experts (mentors) to engage in a mentoring relationship that envisions, among other things, regular video or in-person meetings. Mentees are also expected to attend conferences, seminars, social events, and other activities, in order to be exposed to networking and career opportunities.

The launch event was opened by the VCDNP Executive Director, Elena Sokova, the IAI Executive Vice-President, Ettore Greco, and the EUNPDC Chair, Sibylle Bauer who welcomed the new cohort and congratulated new mentees for having been selected among over 300 very strong applications.

Three former mentees - Akanshya Gurung, Emily Faux, and Virginia Bertuzzi - shared their personal experience during the previous edition of the programme. Akanshya Gurung noted how the mentorship programme was valuable to her as it challenged the assumption that young women have no place in discussing nuclear weapons, arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament. She also shared how the programme helped her build a network of likeminded, passionate and motivated people, suggesting the new cohort not to look at the programme as just another item to put on their resumes but as a unique process for making connections and create opportunities. Emily Faux noted that the mentorship programme, proved to be very useful for her Ph.D. studies, extracurricular research activities, and essay-writing competition. Ms. Faux praised the professionalism of the VCDNP and IAI noting that  “whenever an issue arose, they were always there to help resolve them”. For Virginia Bertuzzi, the programme was a “milestone exercise”. Ms Bertuzzi noted that her cohort of mentees became her family and helped her to stay motivated and not to lose hope even in difficult times. Now, they all look forward to the opportunity to meet again because, she said: “Once mentee, always mentee”. She encouraged the new cohort to take advantage of the opportunity and to ask for help given that having a mentor, she said, is priceless.

Federica Dall’Arche, Senior Research Associate at the VCDNP and Paola Tessari, Researcher at the IAI, offered an overview of the programme, discussing expectations and opportunities for both mentors and mentees as well as the upcoming activities. A round of introductions of all participants followed, allowing the organizers, mentors, and mentees to get to know each other better.

The VCDNP and IAI look forward to working with this bright and motivated cohort of mentees and deeply thank returning and new mentors in the 2022 Programme.

Young Women and Next Generation Initiative in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Mentorship Programme – 1st Edition Final Meeting

On 28-29 April 2022, as part of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI), the International Affairs Institute (IAI) and the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP), with the support of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium, organized the final meeting of the 1^st  edition of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Mentorship Programme , an initiative aimed to pair successful candidates (mentees) with well-established experts (mentors) and engage in a mentoring relationship. During this last year, Mentees had the opportunity to attend relevant conferences and outreach events on non-proliferation, disarmament, arms control and related topics, including the EUNPDC Annual Conference and the Next Generation Workshop. Networking and career opportunities have been also facilitated through seminars, social events and other activities. Previous events can be found here. The event was divided into three thematic panels. The first panel addressed current and emerging challenges and opportunities in arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. Moderated by Elena Sokova (VCDNP), it featured some of the Mentors of the programme, including: Sybille Bauer (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI), Renata Hessmann (The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, UNIDIR), Filippa Lentzos (King's College London), and Jenny Nielsen (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, CTBTO).

During the second panel, three Mentees of the programme, Intan Bedisa (International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development, INFID), Stella Blumfelde (University of Genoa) and Emily Faux (University of Leeds), presented on issues related to non-proliferation and disarmament, specifically: regional approaches to nuclear non-proliferation, cybersecurity and disinformation, and popular culture and nuclear politics respectively. The panel was co-moderated by Mara Zarka (VCDNP) and Manuel Herrera (IAI).

The last panel was devoted to a comprehensive evaluation of the programme with a view to receiving feedbacks and making improvements for future editions. The open discussion was moderated by Federica Dall’Arche (VCDNP).

The event was opened by IAI Director Nathalie Tocci, while closing remarks were delivered by Ettore Greco (IAI). Read the concept note and event agenda You can find Intan Bedisa's presentation here. You can find Stella Blumfelde's presentation here. You can find Emily Faux's presentation here. For more information, please visit the website of the initiative.

Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Mentorship Programme Launch Event

On 12 April 2021, the International Affairs Institute (IAI) and the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP), as part of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI), held the first meeting of the recently established Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (YWNPD) Mentorship Programme. The YWNPD mentorship programme, which is organized in the framework of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC), pairs 19 young women (mentees), carefully chosen through a highly-competitive selection process, with well-established experts (mentors) to engage in a mentoring relationship that envisions, among other things, regular video-conferencing sessions. Mentees are also expected to attend conferences, seminars, social events, and other activities to be exposed to networking and career opportunities.

The launch event was opened by VCDNP Executive Director Elena Sokova and EUNPDC Chair Sibylle Bauer. Afterwards organisers laid out expectations for the programme and a round of introductions followed. The launch event concluded with a keynote address by Laura Rockwood, Director of the Open Nuclear Network and member of the YWNGI Advisory Board. Ms. Rockwood provided participants with an overview of her career in the field and tips for how to succeed. She shared stories and anecdotes from her experience, in particular her work at the International Atomic Energy Agency, where she served 28 years in the Department of Safeguards and was the principal author of the document that became the Model Additional Protocol. She also provided valuable insights and recommendations on how to thrive in the field, highlighting that sometimes the best career path is not the most direct nor the one you thought you would take. In her experience, Ms. Rockwood noted that active listening, strong writing skills and learning how to structure your thoughts and arguments, have proved valuable. Aside from mentors and mentees, the event was attended by members of the EUNPD Consortium, of the YWNGI Advisory Board, and by representatives from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI). Read the event agenda