April 10, 2014 | New York, New York, USA | Nuclear Weapons

Bridging the Security/Development Divide and Ten Years of UN Security Council Resolution 1540

Invitation Only

In 2014, the international community marks the tenth anniversary of the adoption of Resolution 1540 by the UN Security Council. Despite near-universal appreciation for the resolution, for many member states, implementation was and remains a significant burden. While assistance is available to states to facilitate security improvements through Resolution 1540 by states, many of them require capacity building in what they consider to be higher-priority areas such as development. Assistance that can be provided by states and international organizations to implement Resolution 1540 can complement or contribute to capacity building; for example, in border and customs controls, transport safety and security, and public health. Projects for implementing Resolution 1540 can also be built into existing development programs that aim to improve national infrastructure, including in the aftermath of conflicts or natural disasters.

This finding prompted the government of Finland to consider an innovative new approach to proliferation prevention pioneered by Stimson and the Stanley Center. This strategy—a dual-benefit nonproliferation engagement—necessitated an unprecedented new “whole-of-society” methodology that leveraged a wider spectrum of interests and capabilities.

This meeting, co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations, the Stanley Center, and Stimson, will provide a forum to celebrate a decade of implementation of Resolution 1540, learn of the committee’s future plans, and discuss the implementation of the government of Finland’s initiative in six different regions: the Caribbean, Central America, the Andean region, the Middle East, Eastern Africa, and Southeast Asia. The speakers will include Ambassador Jarmo Viinanen, Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations; Ambassador Oh Joon, Chairman of the 1540 Committee; and Yadira Soto, Senior Advisor for Assistant Secretary General of Organization of American States.

Contact

Ben Loehrke

Program Officer
Nuclear Weapons