Elena Sokova on UNSCR 1540

On 25 September 2019, VCDNP Executive Director Elena K. Sokova delivered the keynote address at a Security Dialogue held by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) Forum on Security Co-operation.

The Security Dialogue was devoted to the OSCE Code of Conduct, as well as to United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540, which aims to reduce the risk posed by weapons of mass destruction (WMD) from non-state actors. This year, the documents are 25 and 15 years old respectively.

During her remarks, Ms. Sokova discussed UNSCR 1540. After a brief overview, she described the accomplishments to date of UNSCR 1540, including wide recognition of the importance of the resolution, increased participation by UN Member States in key treaties and conventions and the enactment of national legislative prohibitions on WMD and non-state actors.

Notwithstanding, there are also challenges to the resolution's implementation, including a lack of capacity in some states to enact and enforce related legislation and ensure its proper implementation with respect to industry compliance, particularly in the chemical and biological spheres.

Moving forward, Ms. Sokova highlighted the important role of regional organizations in capacity building, especially with regard to technical and administrative gaps in states' implementation, the regional expertise that such organizations command and for sharing best practices within respective regions. She noted that the OSCE already engages in many UNSCR 1540-related activities and contributes to capacity building and the development of national implementation action plans, particularly in Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

Concluding, Ms. Sokova drew attention to the importance of ongoing assessment of the implementation of UNSCR 1540, as well as to the need to address new and emerging technologies and their impact on the proliferation of WMD and means of delivery by non-state actors.