Statement by Ambassador Ondina Blokar Drobič at the UN Security Council briefing on the work of the 1540 Committee (non proliferation of the Weapons of Mass Destruction)

Thank you, Mr. President.

Let me join others in welcoming your appointment, Ambassador, as the new Chair of the 1540 Committee. We wish you every success in fulfilling this important responsibility. I also thank you for today’s briefing.

In our view, the Resolution 1540 remains one of the most significant instruments in the international community’s efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors. It is one of the essential pillars of our collective commitment to maintain international peace and security. At a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, the Committee’s work is vital in ensuring that this resolution remains effective and relevant.

Mr. President,

We have taken a good note of the Chair’s report on the Committee’s activities in 2024, and would like to highlight the following key points:

Firstly, we welcome the Committee’s review of its assistance mechanism procedures and the adoption of new Assistance Mechanism Procedures and Templates, which will enhance the effectiveness of support provided to Member States. The Committee’s efforts to better align assistance offers with the needs of Member States have also been commendable.

Secondly, the full implementation of resolution 1540 remains a long-term undertaking that requires continuous efforts at the national, regional and international levels. In this regards, we commend the 1540 Committee for its ongoing engagement with Member States and regional organizations. The open briefing held last October highlighted the importance of dialogue and the sharing of best practices, thereby reinforcing the global effort to prevent WMD proliferation. It is important to maintain this practice.

Thirdly, the Committee’s tailored, capacity-building initiatives, such as regional training programs, have been an important instrument in strengthening national capacities to implement the 1540 resolution. We are pleased that after four-year hiatus, two training courses for points of contact were conducted again – one for the Asia-Pacific and one for Africa and that, as you announced, Panama is hosting one for Latin America.

However, despite all the progress, we note with concern that the Committee was not able to adopt its Program of work for 2025 and failed to fill all the vacancies in the Group of Experts. In this regard, we believe that increasing the inclusion of women experts in the Group would lead to more effective  stronger implementation. We also hope that the appointment of a new Coordinator for the Group of Experts will be finalized soon.

Mr. President,

Rapid advancement of technologies, including artificial intelligence and cyber capabilities presents new proliferation risks, requiring proactive and adaptive measures. Additionally, it is essential to expand existing partnerships with regional organizations, civil society, industry and the private sector to foster a truly comprehensive and inclusive approach to non-proliferation.

Many Member States continue to face challenges in fully implementing resolution 1540. In this context, Slovenia continues to express its full support to the UN Trust Fund for Global and Regional Disarmament Activities, including by financial donations. We also remain a strong supporter of all efforts of both the 1540 Committee and UNODA in assisting States with the resolution’s implementation.

Thank you.

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