Meeting the Objectives of UN Security Council Resolution 1540: The Role of Civil Society

Brian FinlayManaging Director and Senior Associate

Managing Across BoundariesStimson

202.478.3444bfinlay@stimson.org

www.stimson.org/programs/managing-across-boundaries

Innovating 1540

National Monitoring

UNSCR Resolution 1540 uniquely targets the threat of WMD terrorism, and therefore, seeks to directly protect the interests of civil society;

Civil society has a unique role to play in monitoring their respective governments’ efforts to ensure implementation of the Resolution;

These efforts can go far to help raise awareness and build political momentum toward implementation

Considered expansively, this role goes beyond security think tanks and other civil society groups.

Awareness Raising

Local civil society organizations can play a role in raising the priorities of 1540 to their respective governments

Many civil society groups have worked both independently and in cooperation with governments to hosted awareness-raising seminars and workshops, and otherwise have participated as experts in international conferences focusing on 1540.

Information Sharing

Many governments have failed to prioritize implementation of 1540, occasionally due to a competition with other priorities;

Others lack awareness of the mandate and opportunities;

Civil society organizations can play critical role in raising the profile beyond international events.

Legal Gap Analysis

A first practical step for any national government in implementing the Resolution is a comprehensive legal analysis that compares and contrasts existing legal authorities with the mandate of the Resolution

This is a role often well suited to specialized civil society organizations

Provision of Specialized Expertise

Effective implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1540 requires extensive knowledge and capacities across an extraordinarily broad array of relevant practical, legal, and policy fields;

Civil society organizations may be able to backfill these competencies.

Training

Many governments lack the technical capacity or willingness to divert those scare resources;

Civil society organizations often possess the unique knowledge and capacities requisite to transmit to government agencies.

Financial Assistance

Rarely are civil society organizations able to fully finance their activities without the external financial support

Philanthropic organizations. can often provide more nimble assistance to promote innovation in ways that government authorities are either unable or unwilling.

Building Implementation Networks an Identifying Donors

The breadth of responsibilities under UNSCR 1540 is so vast that identifying and building implementation networks of government agencies, civil society actors, private industry, and international, regional, and sub-regional organizations is essential to full and effective implementation.

Political Legitimacy and Assisting Governments in Drafting Requests for Assistance

In many instances, implementation of 1540 is an insufficiently high priority for governments;

Indigenous civil society organizations can play a significant role in promoting the political legitimacy of a national WMD security agenda;

These organizations can also provide direct implementation assistance to their national authorities.

Breadth of Civil Society Engagement

UNSCR 1540 requires a wide breadth of skills and assets to achieve implementation;

These skills go beyond WMD security; Critical role to be played by:

Legal scholars Public health experts Supply chain specialists

Civil society can become a critical bridge into these constituencies.

Recommendations for Civil Society1. Launching a comprehensive assessment of their governments’

national implementation programs, identifying gaps, and advocating for enhanced engagement;

2. Notifying the Committee/UNODA of their unique interests and specialized expertise;

3. Making available that expertise to the Committee/UNODA and to interested States;

4. Coordinating their national and international activities with the Committee and with UNODA;

5. Establishing relationships across national borders and working with local NGOs to facilitate national buy-in and a deeper understanding of assistance needs;

6. Development of a comprehensive database detailing the capacities of civil society organizations around the world capable of assisting with UNSCR 1540 implementation