Disarmament in Review
On the occasion of the 10th year anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 1540 (2004), the Government of Kazakhstan hosted, in cooperation with UNODA, an international workshop entitled “The Contribution of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) to Regional and Global Disarmament and Non-Proliferation” on 11-12 March in Astana.
The Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, unanimously adopted resolution 1540 (2004) 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. The resolution also decides that all States shall adopt and enforce appropriate effective laws and take and enforce effective measures to establish domestic controls to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons and their means of delivery, including by establishing appropriate controls over related materials.
Twenty-eight States from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America as well as several international, regional and subregional organizations participated in the Astana workshop. The workshop’s discussions were focused on the assessment of the current status of the resolution’s implementation as well as on ways forward to achieve its objectives.
Participating States outlined effective national practices for implementing resolution 1540 (2004), existing cooperation with relevant international, regional and sub-regional organizations as well as the cooperation with and outreach to, civil society and industry.
The Chair’s Summary (Kazakhstan) of the workshop’s discussions and conclusions notes that next to the multilateral treaties to eliminate or prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons, resolution 1540 (2004) plays a pivotal role in the current global security and non-proliferation architecture. It acknowledges that since its adoption, national and regional efforts have led to a significant progress towards the full and effective implementation of its key requirements. The summary takes note of the crucial role of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) in supporting the national, regional and international efforts to implement the key requirements of the resolution and recognizes the indispensable role of relevant international and regional organizations in promoting and facilitating 1540 implementation efforts by their respective Member States. Kazakhstan communicated the Chair’s Summary to the 1540 Committee.
LINK to Chair’s summary
Photos from the Event
