Security Council

6518^th Meeting (PM)

Security Council Extends Mandate of 1540 Committee for 10 Years,

 

Unanimously Adopting Resolution 1977 (2011)

 

The Security Council today extended the mandate of the committee that monitors efforts to prevent weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of terrorists and other non-State actors — the so-called 1540 Committee — for 10 years, until 25 April 2021.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1977 (2011), the Council requested the Secretary-General to establish a group of up to eight experts to assist the Committee, known formally as the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004).  That text imposed binding obligations on all States to establish controls preventing the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and their means of delivery.

In today’s text, the Council decided that the Committee should continue to intensify its efforts to promote full implementation of the resolution, urging it to engage actively with States so as to facilitate the sharing of experiences and best practices, as well as the provision of assistance for that purpose.

The Council re-emphasized the importance of full implementation of the resolution by all States, calling on them to work together urgently in support of relevant international conventions and through the reinforcement of legal regimes.  It again called on all States that had not yet done so to submit reports on their compliance with resolution 1540 (2004), as well as additional information when requested to do so by the Committee.

Encouraging States to prepare voluntary national action plans, the Council also called upon relevant international, regional and subregional organizations to designate and provide, by 31 August 2011, a point of contact or coordinator for the implementation of the resolution.

Following the adoption, the representatives of Brazil and India welcomed the action, while Brazil’s representative emphasized, however, the need for a broader approach to non-proliferation that would lead to nuclear disarmament as well as continuing to facilitate the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

She maintained that today’s vote confirmed the unequivocal commitment to ensuring a safer world in which weapons of mass destruction did not exist.  In addition, she welcomed the establishment of a group of experts, with an even geographical distribution of its membership, saying, however, that she did not favour the idea that it would enjoy a status on a par with the 1540 Committee, the mandate of which Brazil supported fully.   At the same time, she called for periodic review of its work plans to ensure they remained relevant.

India’s representative, noting that his country had been a victim of terrorism for more than three decades, said he was fully cognizant of the catastrophic dangers that transfers of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors could entail.  Describing the many measures that India had taken to ensure compliance with resolution 1540 (2004) and related international agreements, he stressed that all States should scrupulously abide by their national and international obligations in that regard.

The meeting began at 3:10 p.m. and ended at 3:25 p.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1977 (2011) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Reaffirming its resolutions 1540 (2004) of 28 April 2004, 1673 (2006) of 27 April 2006 and 1810 (2008) of 25 April 2008;

“Reaffirming that the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as their means of delivery, constitutes a threat to international peace and security;

“Reaffirming the need for all Member States to comply fully with their obligations and fulfil their commitments in relation to arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects of all weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery;

“Reaffirming that prevention of proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons should not hamper international cooperation in materials, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes while goals of peaceful utilization should not be misused for proliferation purposes;

“Remaining gravely concerned by the threat of terrorism and the risk that non‑State actors may acquire, develop, traffic in or use nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery;

“Reaffirming its resolve to take appropriate and effective actions against any threat to international peace and security caused by the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery, in conformity with its primary responsibilities, as provided for in the United Nations Charter;

“Reaffirming its decision that none of the obligations in resolution 1540 (2004) shall be interpreted so as to conflict with or alter the rights and obligations of State Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention or alter the responsibilities of the International Atomic Energy Agency or the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons;

“Noting that international cooperation between States, in accordance with international law, is required to counter the illicit trafficking by non-State actors in nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, their means of delivery and related materials;

“Recognizing the need to enhance coordination of efforts at national, regional, subregional and international levels, as appropriate, in order to strengthen a global response to the serious challenge and threat to international peace and security posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery;

“Emphasizing the need for States to take all appropriate national measures in accordance with their national authorities and legislation, and consistent with international law, to strengthen export controls, to control access to intangible transfers of technology and to information that could be used for weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, to prevent proliferation financing and shipments, and to secure sensitive materials;

“Endorsing the work already carried out by the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), hereafter the 1540 Committee, in accordance with its Programmes of Work, including the establishment of the working groups for facilitating implementation of the Programme of Work;

“Recognizing States’ progress in implementing resolution 1540 (2004), while noting that States have taken fewer measures in some of its areas;

“Endorsing also the valuable activities of the 1540 Committee with relevant international regional and subregional organizations;

“Taking note of international efforts towards full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), including on preventing the financing of proliferation-related activities, and taking into consideration the guidance of the framework of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF);

“Noting that not all States have presented to the 1540 Committee their national reports on implementation of resolution 1540 (2004);

“Further noting that the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) by all States, including the adoption of national laws and measures to ensure implementation of these laws, is a long-term task that will require continuous efforts at national, regional and international levels;

“Recognizing, in that regard, the importance of dialogue between the 1540 Committee and Member States and stressing that direct contact is an effective means of such dialogue;

“Recognizing that many States continue to require assistance in implementing resolution 1540 (2004), emphasizing the importance of providing States, in response to their requests, with effective assistance that meets their needs, and welcoming the coordinating and facilitating role of the 1540 Committee in this regard;

“Stressing, in that regard, the need of enhanced assistance and collaboration among States, between the 1540 Committee and States, and between the 1540 Committee and relevant international, regional and subregional organizations in assisting States to implement resolution 1540 (2004);

“Recognizing the importance of progress towards achieving the goals and objectives of the 2010 Nuclear Security Summit as a contribution to the effective implementation of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004);

“Calling on States to work together urgently to prevent and suppress acts of nuclear terrorism including through increased cooperation and full implementation of the relevant international conventions, and through appropriate measures to reinforce the existing legal framework with a view to ensure that those committing offences of nuclear terrorism are effectively held accountable;

“Endorsing the 2009 comprehensive review of the status of implementation of resolution 1540 and taking note of the findings and recommendations contained in its final document;

“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations:

“1.   Reiterates its decisions in and the requirements of resolution 1540 (2004), and re-emphasizes the importance for all States to implement fully that resolution;

“2.   Decides to extend the mandate of the 1540 Committee for a period of 10 years until 25 April 2021;

“3.   Decides that the 1540 Committee will conduct a comprehensive review on the status of implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), both after five years and prior to the renewal of its mandate, including, if necessary, recommendations on adjustments to the mandate, and will submit to the Security Council a report on the conclusions of those reviews, and decides that, accordingly, the first review should be held before December 2016;

“4.   Again decides that the 1540 Committee should submit an annual Programme of Work to the Security Council before the end of each May, and decides that next Programme of Work will be prepared before 31 May 2011.

“5.   Decides to continue to provide the 1540 Committee with the assistance of experts, and to this end:

“(a)  Requests the Secretary-General to establish, in consultation with the 1540 Committee, a group of up to eight experts (“group of experts”), acting under the direction and purview of the Committee, composed of individuals with the appropriate experience and knowledge to provide the Committee with expertise, to assist the Committee in carrying out its mandate under resolutions 1540 (2004), 1673 (2006), 1810 (2008) and this resolution, including through facilitation of assistance to improve implementation of resolution 1540 (2004);

“(b)  Requests, in that regard, the 1540 Committee to consider recommendations for the Committee and the group of experts on expertise requirements, broad geographic representation, working methods, modalities, and structure, including consideration of the feasibility of a coordination and leadership position of the group of experts, and to present these recommendations to the Security Council no later than 31 August 2011;

“Implementation

“6.   Again calls upon all States that have not yet presented a first report on steps they have taken or intend to take to implement resolution 1540 (2004) to submit such a report to the Committee without delay;

“7.   Again encourages all States that have submitted such reports to provide, when appropriate or upon the request of the 1540 Committee, additional information on their implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), including, voluntarily, on States’ effective practices;

“8.   Encourages all States to prepare on a voluntary basis national implementation action plans, with the assistance of the 1540 Committee as appropriate, mapping out their priorities and plans for implementing the key provisions of resolution 1540 (2004), and to submit those plans to the 1540 Committee;

“9.   Decides that the 1540 Committee shall continue to intensify its efforts to promote the full implementation by all States of resolution 1540 (2004), through its Programme of Work, which includes the compilation and general examination of information on the status of States’ implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) as well as States’ efforts at outreach, dialogue, assistance and cooperation; and which addresses in particular all aspects of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of that resolution, which encompasses (a) accountability, (b) physical protection, (c) border controls and law enforcement efforts and (d) national export and trans-shipment controls including controls on providing funds and services such as financing to such exports and trans-shipments; and includes, as necessary, specific priorities for its work, taking into account its annual review on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), prepared with the assistance of the group of experts before the end of each December;

“10.  Urges the 1540 Committee to continue to engage actively with States and relevant international, regional and subregional organizations to promote the sharing of experience, lessons learned and effective practices, in the areas covered by resolution 1540 (2004), drawing in particular on information provided by States as well as examples of successful assistance, and to liaise on the availability of programmes which might facilitate the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), while bearing in mind that customized assistance is useful for the effective implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) at national levels.

“11.  Encourages, in that regard, the 1540 Committee, with the support of necessary relevant expertise, to actively engage in dialogue with States on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), including through visits to States at their invitation;

“12.  Requests the 1540 Committee, with the support of the group of experts, to identify effective practices, templates and guidance, with a view to develop a compilation, as well as to consider preparing a technical reference guide about resolution 1540 (2004), to be used by States on a voluntary basis in implementing resolution 1540 (2004), and in that regard, encourages the 1540 Committee, at its discretion, to draw also on relevant expertise, including civil society and the private sector, with, as appropriate, their State’s consent;

“Assistance

“13.  Encourages States that have requests for assistance to convey them to the 1540 Committee, and encourages them to make use of the Committee’s assistance template to that effect;

“14.  Urges States and relevant international, regional and subregional organizations to inform the Committee as appropriate of areas in which they are able to provide assistance; calls upon States and such organizations, if they have not done so previously, to provide the 1540 Committee with a point of contact for assistance by 31 August 2011;

“15.  Urges the 1540 Committee to continue strengthening the Committee’s role in facilitating technical assistance for implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), in particular by engaging actively, with the support of the group of experts, in matching offers and requests for assistance, through such means as visits to States, at the invitation of the State concerned, assistance templates, action plans or other information submitted to the 1540 Committee;

“16.  Supports the continued efforts of the 1540 Committee to secure a coordinated and transparent assistance process that provides timely and ready availability of information for States seeking assistance and for States prepared to provide assistance;

“17.  Encourages meetings on assistance issues with the participation of the 1540 Committee, between States prepared to offer assistance, States requesting assistance, other interested States, and relevant international, regional and subregional organizations.

“Cooperation with International, Regional and Subregional Organizations

“18.  Calls upon relevant international, regional and subregional organizations to designate and provide the 1540 Committee by 31 August 2011 with a point of contact or coordinator for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004); and encourages them to enhance cooperation and information sharing with the 1540 Committee on technical assistance and all other issues of relevance for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004);

“19.  Reiterates the need to continue to enhance ongoing cooperation among the 1540 Committee, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban, and the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism, including through, as appropriate, enhanced information sharing, coordination on visits to States, within their respective mandates, technical assistance and other issues of relevance to all three committees; and expressing its intention to provide guidance to the committees on areas of common interest in order to better coordinate their efforts;

“Transparency and Outreach

“20.  Requests the 1540 Committee to continue to institute transparency measures and activities, inter alia by making fullest possible use of the Committee’s website, and urges the Committee to conduct, with the participation of the group of experts, regular meetings open to all Member States on the Committee’s and group’s activities related to the aforementioned objectives;

“21.  Requests the 1540 Committee to continue to organize and participate in outreach events on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) at the international, regional, subregional and, as appropriate, national level, and promote the refinement of these outreach efforts to focus on specific thematic and regional issues related to implementation;

“Administration and Resources

“22.  Recognizes that implementation of the mandate of the 1540 Committee requires sustained support and adequate resources; and to that end:

“(a)  Endorses the existing administrative and logistics support to the 1540 Committee from the Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA), and decides that the Committee should report to the Council by January 2012 on the possibility of strengthening this support, including through strengthening of ODA’s regional capacity to support the implementation of the resolution at regional, subregional and national levels;

“(b)  Calls upon the Secretariat to provide and maintain sufficient expertise to support activities of the 1540 Committee as outlined in the present resolution;

“(c)  Encourages States that are able to do so to provide resources to the Office of Disarmament Affairs to assist States in implementing their 1540 obligations, and to make available “in kind” contributions or cost-free training and expertise to the 1540 Committee to help the group of experts meet requests for assistance in a timely and effective manner;

“(d)  Invites the 1540 Committee to consider developing, in close cooperation with relevant international, regional and subregional organizations and other United Nations bodies, ways to utilize and maintain expertise, including, in particular, of former experts of the group, that could be made available for specific missions and assistance needs regarding the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004);

“(e)  Urges the 1540 Committee to continue to encourage and take full advantage of voluntary financial contributions to assist States in identifying and addressing their needs for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), and requests the 1540 Committee at its discretion, to promote the efficient and effective use of the existing funding mechanisms within the United Nations system;

“23.  Decides to remain seized of the matter.”

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For information media • not an official record