UN Security Council resolution 1540

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Security Council meeting room at UN headquarters in New York

The 1540 is a unanimous decision of the UN Security Council to control the spread of weapons of mass destruction, the draft of the United States was introduced in April of 2004.

Content of resolution 1540

The UN resolution requires all states to implement effective legal and regulatory measures to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction . Resolution 1540 calls for all states "to take and enforce effective measures to put in place domestic controls to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their delivery systems, including appropriate controls on related materials" . The resolution calls on states to submit a report detailing the steps they have taken or intend to take to implement the resolution. It is the first resolution in which the Security Council prescribes special measures for UN member states to deal with the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

1540 Committee of the UN Security Council

A committee (“1540 Committee”) was set up to monitor the implementation of the resolution. Its mandate was last extended to April 2011 with Security Council resolutions 1673 (2006) and 1810 (2008). By July 1, 2008, 155 countries had submitted their national implementation reports and additional information on them.

In the implementation report of May 2009 to the UN Security Council, the inadequate implementation of the resolution in many member states is criticized, despite attested progress in some areas. In particular, efforts are being made to strengthen the committee's role as a “clearing house” for helping Member States to provide assistance to other Member States in implementing resolutions.

Resolution 1810 (2008) also provides for a comprehensive report by the Committee on the implementation of Resolution 1540 by January 31, 2009.

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