Briefing by 1540 Committee on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

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BRIEFING BY CHAIR OF THE 1540 COMMITTEE.

 

Mr. President,
I wish to begin by thanking the Chair of the 1540 Committee, Ambassador Hernán Pérez Loose for his briefing. Ghana acknowledges, with much appreciation, the progress made in the work of the Committee since last year.

 

Mr. President,
Global interest in the use of chemical, biological and nuclear technology for peaceful developmental uses such as the supply of climate-friendly electricity, energy security, medicine and agriculture, will forever be marred by the risks of accidents and proliferation as a result of the dual-use nature of these technologies. For this and many other reasons, resolution 1540’s role as an important means of preventing the proliferation of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, and their means of delivery from falling into the hands of non-state actors, such as terrorists, remains pivotal in the international non-proliferation and disarmament architecture.

 

Mr. President,
Ghana values and remains committed to the work of the 1540 Committee. The resumption of most of the Committee’s work, with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, therefore, came as a great relief. We are confident that the twentieth programme of work of the Committee, covering planned activities for outreach, assistance, transparency and cooperation with international, regional and sub- regional organisations, will further accelerate the Committee’s goal for the full implementation of the resolution by Member States. We are particularly keen on the inclusion in the programme of work of the Committee’s agenda to review existing initiatives available to strengthen, upon request of States, the capacity of their Points of Contact to assist in the implementation of the resolution. We believe that engagement with points of contact, will, among other things, further increase awareness and provide member states, whose focus may be otherwise farther away from or those that may be worried about the dissemination of WMDS, with a better appreciation of what the resolution seeks to achieve.

 

 

Mr. President,
The Committee’s work illustrates the impact and importance of engagement and outreach. We are optimistic that the Committee’s sustained work will yield significant progress in the submission of voluntary National Implementation Action Plans (NAPs) by States. While national ownership is undeniably, central to the implementation of the resolution; experience sharing, including through voluntary peer reviews, present important means of encouraging states to develop voluntary NAPs. In this regard, we believe that maintaining an inclusive process that benefits from collaboration with relevant international, regional and sub- regional, organisations and other United Nations bodies as part of outreach activities, is important.

 

Mr. President,
Rapidly evolving technologies, as witnessed, for instance, in the case of nuclear science and technology, reinforces the common refrain that the full and effective implementation of resolution 1540 is a long-term task. Consequently, the Committee has got its work cut out in its important role in facilitating assistance to Member States to fulfil their 1540 obligations. In conclusion, we commend the Chair of 1540 Committee, Ambassador Hernán Pérez Loose and his team for the diligent and inclusive manner in which the Committee’s affairs are conducted. We are as well encouraged by the hard work and persistence of fellow members of the Committee and remain immensely appreciative of the support of the Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA), the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and the Group of Experts in their joint effort in assisting the Committee carry out its mandate.

 

I thank you for your kind attention.

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