Fourth Annual Industry Conference on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) in Germany, 19 to 20 November

NEW YORK, 19 November (Office for Disarmament Affairs) — The “Wiesbaden Conference 2015: Private Sector Engagement in Strategic Trade Controls — Industry Recommendations for New Approaches on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 Implementation” will be held from 19 to 20 November 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 the Republic of Korea and the United States, and the European Union.

The “Wiesbaden Process”, which was established by the first Industry Conference on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) in 2012, has become synonymous with outreach and cooperation between Governments and the private sector to support the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004).

This year’s conference will attract the participation of representatives of the United Nations Security Council 1540 Committee as well as numerous representatives from global enterprises in the aviation, communication, energy, finance, pharmaceutical, shipping and transport sectors.  In addition, representatives from United Nations Member States, international and regional organizations, civil society and academia will attend the meeting.

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.  The final outcome of this year’s conference will constitute an important contribution to the 2016 Comprehensive Review of the Status of Implementation of Resolution 1540 (2004).

Background

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 Nils Schmieder, tel: +1 917 367 2308.