First Industry Conference on Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004)

 

to Be Held in Germany, 23 to 25 April

 

NEW YORK, 20 April (Office for Disarmament Affairs) — The Conference of International, Regional and Sub-Regional Industry Associations on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) will be held from 23 to 25 April, in Wiesbaden, Germany.  Hosted by the Government of Germany, the conference is co-organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), with financial support from the Governments of Norway, the United States and the European Union.

Representatives from over 25 international, regional and subregional industry associations with an active membership in more than 100 United Nations Member States and representing the different sectors of nuclear, biological, chemical, transport, financing as well as aerospace industries will participate.  Other participants include representatives of the 1540 Committee as well as representatives of several international and regional organizations, civil society, academia and the private sector.

Consistent with the objectives of Security Council resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1977 (2011), the Conference aims to enhance ways to work with industries on promoting progress in achieving the objectives of resolution 1540 (2004) and to draw on relevant expertise from various industry associations and sectors.

Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1540 on 28 April 2004 obliging all States 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 the resolution, all States are to establish domestic controls to prevent the proliferation of these weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, including by establishing appropriate controls over related materials.  Resolution 1540 (2004) established a Committee of the Security Council, as its subsidiary body, to report to the Council on the implementation of the resolution.  On 20 April 2011, the Security Council adopted resolution 1977, which extended the Committee’s mandate until 2021.  Resolution 1977 (2011) encourages the 1540 Committee to draw on relevant expertise, including from civil society and the private sector.

For further information, contact Gabriele Kraatz-Wadsack, tel.: +1 (212) 963-3633.

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For information media • not an official record