Criminalizing WMD Proliferation: the Role of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1540
The United Nations (U.N.) Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1540 in April 2004. This landmark measure legally charges all U.N. Member States to enact and enforce effective measures to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery by preventing illicit trafficking of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) materials and related technologies. Revelations regarding the expansiveness of the A.Q. Khan network provided a clear impetus for the Resolution. Resolution 1540 is distinctive because it is the first time the U.N. Security Council has required all Member States to act to prevent the illicit trafficking of CBRN materials and their means of delivery. It is also unique in that it specifically addresses prevention of CBRN proliferation and trafficking among non-state actors. The Resolution has a direct impact on the management of nuclear materials and nonproliferation policy in the future. Consequently, the INMM Nonproliferation and Arms Control Technical Division and the INMM Northeast Chapter initiated a professional workshop on March 15, 2005 to engage topical experts in a discussion of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1540. Although Resolution 1540 is now one year old and the Committee established to monitor its implementation has begun its work, many in the nonproliferation and nuclear materials management communities have not learned of the Resolution or have not yet recognized its significance. This article provides a summary of and perspectives on the workshop discussion that was conducted on a not-for-attribution basis.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 946006
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-45027; TRN: US0901134
- Journal Information:
- JNMM. Journal of Nuclear Materials Management, 33(4):22-24, Vol. 33, Issue 4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Integration of Nuclear Safeguards Infrastructure Development with UNSCR 1540 Implementation - Context and Challenges
To discuss illicit nuclear trafficking