1540 Committee to Convene Formal Open Consultations on Comprehensive Review of Resolution 1540 (2004)
Resolution 1540 (2004) is a key instrument in global efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and their means of delivery to non-State actors, in particular to terrorists. Its effective implementation is increasingly important for all States, and its effective implementation can promote non-proliferation regime.
It is more than 12 years since its adoption, and, at the request of the Security Council, the 1540 Committee — established to monitor implementation of the resolution — is conducting a comprehensive review on the status of its implementation in accordance with resolution 1977 mandate. The Committee will submit its report to the Security Council before December 2016.
Within this framework, the Committee has been analysing the information it has on how States are implementing the measures required by resolution 1540. It has also organized specific events and has been discussing with international organizations such as the African Union and the OSCE, as well as with academics, industry and parliamentarians on lessons learnt in the field of implementation, assistance, cooperation and outreach regarding preventing proliferation of WMD to and by non-State actors.
As an important step in this process, from 20-22 June, the 1540 Committee will hold formal open consultations with Member States that are responsible for resolution implementation and also with relevant international and regional organizations and civil society in order to have the benefit of their perspectives on how best to achieve the goals of the resolution. Representatives from international and regional organizations, as well as from non-governmental organizations, academia, professional associations; and industrial enterprises and organizations have expressed their intentions to participate.
The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain, the President of the General Assembly, and the Chair of the Committee (the Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations) will make introductory statements at the inaugural session on Monday, 20 June. On Tuesday, 21 June, the Secretary-General of the United Nations will address the meeting.
The meeting will provide an opportunity for participants to make substantive contributions to the comprehensive review. Member States, relevant international, regional and subregional organizations and other entities, and sectors of civil society will make interventions on the first two days of the meeting. There will be three thematic sessions with interactive discussions on monitoring and implementation; assistance, including the role of international organizations; and the role of transparency and outreach.
Further information is available at the 1540 Committee’s website at http://www.un.org/en/sc/1540.