Young Voices for Disarmament: The Trajectory of Activist Monalisa Hazarika, Research and Strategic Engagement Officer of SCRAP Weapons

Monalisa Hazarika, SCRAP Weapons

In this interview, we meet the brilliant Monalisa Hazarika, a young Indian activist who shared with us part of her journey leading to her current role as Research and Strategic Engagement Officer of the SCRAP Weapons at SOAS University of London.

Monalisa grew up in Guwahati, in Northeast India, a geostrategically sensitive region that shares borders with countries such as China, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Having been raised in a region marked by the presence of insurgent groups, illicit arms and narcotics trafficking, and organized crime networks, she recalls recurring news of a context in which armed violence and a culture of impunity affected communities for decades. It was within this environment that Hazarika came to understand how the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) directly impacts and undermines human security and sustainable development.

In 2022, her formal trajectory as an activist began when she was selected for the #Leaders4Tomorrow programme of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). At the time a master’s student and still at the beginning of her journey in international relations and diplomacy, Monalisa expanded her understanding of the transformative role youth can play in security and peacebuilding agendas. It was in this context that she developed the online educational initiative “Across the Chicken Neck,” in homage to her homeland.

The project promoted disarmament education among young people, with particular attention to Indigenous communities, connecting disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control to issues such as gender, race, climate change, armed conflict, and illicit trafficking. Leading and implementing the initiative consolidated her decision to pursue a career in the field.

Since then, her engagement has continued to expand through initiatives such as “Leaders2Future” and her role as a UN Youth Champion for Disarmament. Monalisa affirms that each experience has strengthened her commitment to advancing disarmament through research, advocacy, and inclusive policy engagement. She often recalls the words of Izumi Nakamitsu, United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs:

“There is nothing small or light about small arms and light weapons, and when the rule of law is replaced by the barrel of a gun, there is little opportunity to recover and rebuild.”

When asked what it is like to be a disarmament activist today, Hazarika emphasized that it requires not only passion, but also resilience to sustain that passion over time. She highlighted creativity as a key element in the field, noting that young professionals often need to perform multiple roles simultaneously — an adaptation that reflects the evolving and interdisciplinary nature of disarmament work.

“Over the past five years working in this field, I have come to appreciate the level of strategic thinking, coordination, and sustained effort required to remain effective while balancing these responsibilities.”

The young activist also shared the challenges inherent in this work, which she describes as structural and institutional, affecting both participation and long-term engagement. Although youth presence in international forums is increasing, meaningful inclusion in formal decision-making spaces remains limited, revealing a persistent gap between recognition and influence. In addition, restricted access to sustained institutional support and resources continues to pose significant obstacles.

Monalisa further observes that disarmament is still perceived as a highly technical or elitist field, which may discourage emerging voices.

Monalisa Hazarika, SCRAP Weapons

She also reflected on her participation as a panellist at the Joint High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and ECOSOC on small arms and light weapons control for preventing violence and advancing sustainable development — a defining moment in her professional trajectory. During the discussion, she highlighted the “individual destruction” caused by SALW and their links to organized crime, terrorism, gender inequality, and human rights violations. She stressed the importance of working not only for youth, but with youth as equal stakeholders in decision-making processes. Her contribution was recognized by Philemon Yang, President of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, and by Adedeji Ebo, who reinforced the need to integrate SALW control into security and development agendas while mainstreaming youth perspectives in disarmament processes.

As a final message, Monalisa Hazarika stated:

“Young people should engage in humanitarian disarmament because history and policy are being written in real time, with or without our input. We can choose to remain bystanders or make a deliberate effort to shape safer, more humane futures. Our voices, skills, and persistence matter. Our perspectives, creativity, and resilience bring urgency and accountability to disarmament debates. The space is open—step into it, stay engaged, and help build the world we will inherit.”

Witten by: Kamilly Rosa

Reviewed by: Fernando Fiala

24/04/2026 BRT

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the institutional position of Dhesarme.