UNITED NATIONS WORKSHOP ON IMPLEMENTING SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1540 (2004)

TO BE HELD IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL, 24-28 NOVEMBER

NEW YORK, 21 November (Office for Disarmament Affairs) -- A United Nations Workshop on Implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) will be held from 24 to 28 November 2008 in São Paulo, Brazil.  The Workshop, with the participation of MERCOSUR States, is hosted by the Government of Brazil, organized by the Office for Disarmament Affairs and sponsored by the European Union and the Governments of Norway and the United States.

Approximately 50 officials and experts from Member States, as well as international, regional and subregional organizations, will participate.  The workshop aims to enhance national capacities for the management of export control processes at a practical level, as well as improve information and experience-sharing between national export control and enforcement authorities.  The workshop is also expected to facilitate assistance and cooperation related to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004).

On 28 April 2004, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1540 (2004) under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, obliging States, inter alia, to refrain from providing any form of support to non-State actors that attempt to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery.  Under resolution 1540 (2004), all States are to establish domestic controls to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and their means of delivery, including by establishing appropriate controls over related materials.  The resolution also affirms support for multilateral treaties whose aim is to eliminate or prevent the proliferation of these weapons.

The 1540 Committee was established pursuant to the resolution and States were called upon to report to it on steps they had taken, or intended to take, to implement the resolution.  On 25 April 2008, by its resolution 1810 (2008), the Security Council extended the mandate of the 1540 Committee for three years until 25 April 2011 and emphasized the importance for all States to implement fully resolution 1540 (2004).  The Council, inter alia, requested the 1540 Committee to continue to organize and participate in outreach events at the regional and subregional level promoting States’ implementation of resolution 1540 (2004).

For further information, contact: Ms. Gabriele Kraatz-Wadsack at (212-963-3633).

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For information media • not an official record