Security Council resolution 1977 (2011) [on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and on extension of the mandate of the Security Council Committee Established pursuant to Resolution 1540 (2004) concerning Non-Proliferation of Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Weapons until 25 Apr. 2021]
Symbol: S/RES/1977(2011)
Date: 2011-04-20
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/66 [23] NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION
Subjects: UN. Security Council Committee Established pursuant to Resolution 1540 (2004) concerning Non-Proliferation of Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Weapons|UN. Security Council Committee Established pursuant to Resolution 1540 (2004) concerning Non-Proliferation of Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Weapons. Group of Experts|UN. Office for Disarmament Affairs (Mar. 2007- )|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION|ARMS LIMITATION|PROGRAMMES OF ACTION|REPORT PREPARATION|GROUPS OF EXPERTS|PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION|TECHNICAL COOPERATION|INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION|REGIONAL COOPERATION|INTER-AGENCY COOPERATION|INFORMATION EXCHANGE|FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
vote: yes
country: BRAZIL
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: COLOMBIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GABON
vote: yes
country: GERMANY
vote: yes
country: INDIA
vote: yes
country: LEBANON
vote: yes
country: NIGERIA
vote: yes
country: PORTUGAL
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

                United Nations                                                                     S/RES/1977 (2011)*
                Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                 20 April 2011




                Resolution 1977 (2011)

                Adopted by the Security Council at its 6518th meeting, on
                20 April 2011

                     The Security Council,
                     Reaffirming its resolutions 1540 (2004) of 28 April 2004, 1673 (2006) of
                27 April 2006 and 1810 (2008) of 25 April 2008,
                     Reaffirming that the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons,
                as well as their means of delivery, constitutes a threat to international peace and
                security,
                     Reaffirming the need for all Member States to comply fully with their
                obligations and fulfil their commitments in relation to arms control, disarmament
                and non-proliferation in all its aspects of all weapons of mass destruction and their
                means of delivery,
                     Reaffirming that prevention of proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological
                weapons should not hamper international cooperation in materials, equipment and
                technology for peaceful purposes while goals of peaceful utilization should not be
                misused for proliferation purposes,
                      Remaining gravely concerned by the threat of terrorism and the risk that non
                state actors may acquire, develop, traffic in or use nuclear, chemical, and biological
                weapons and their means of delivery,
                      Reaffirming its resolve to take appropriate and effective actions against any
                threat to international peace and security caused by the proliferation of nuclear,
                chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery, in conformity with its
                primary responsibilities, as provided for in the United Nations Charter,
                      Reaffirming its decision that none of the obligations in resolution 1540 (2004)
                shall be interpreted so as to conflict with or alter the rights and obligations of State
                Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Chemical
                Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention or alter the
                responsibilities of the International Atomic Energy Agency or the Organization for
                the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons,



            * Reissued for technical reasons on 21 April 2011.


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S/RES/1977 (2011)


                     Noting that international cooperation between States, in accordance with
               international law, is required to counter the illicit trafficking by non-State actors in
               nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, their means of delivery and related
               materials,
                    Recognizing the need to enhance coordination of efforts at national, regional,
               subregional and international levels, as appropriate, in order to strengthen a global
               response to the serious challenge and threat to international peace and security
               posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of
               delivery,
                     Emphasizing the need for States to take all appropriate national measures in
               accordance with their national authorities and legislation, and consistent with
               international law, to strengthen export controls, to control access to intangible
               transfers of technology and to information that could be used for weapons of mass
               destruction and their means of delivery, to prevent proliferation financing and
               shipments, and to secure sensitive materials,
                     Endorsing the work already carried out by the Committee established pursuant
               to resolution 1540 (2004), hereafter the 1540 Committee, in accordance with its
               programmes of work, including the establishment of the working groups for
               facilitating implementation of the Programme of Work,
                    Recognizing States’ progress in implementing resolution 1540 (2004), while
               noting that States have taken fewer measures in some of its areas,
                     Endorsing also the valuable activities of the 1540 Committee with relevant
               international regional and subregional organizations,
                     Taking note of international efforts towards full implementation of resolution
               1540 (2004), including on preventing the financing of proliferation-related
               activities, and taking into consideration the guidance of the framework of the
               Financial Action Task Force (FATF),
                    Noting that not all States have presented to the 1540 Committee their national
               reports on implementation of resolution 1540 (2004),
                     Further noting that the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) by all
               States, including the adoption of national laws and measures to ensure
               implementation of these laws, is a long-term task that will require continuous efforts
               at national, regional and international levels,
                     Recognizing, in that regard, the importance of dialogue between the 1540
               Committee and Member States and stressing that direct contact is an effective means
               of such dialogue,
                     Recognizing that many States continue to require assistance in implementing
               resolution 1540 (2004), emphasizing the importance of providing States, in response
               to their requests, with effective assistance that meets their needs, and welcoming the
               coordinating and facilitating role of the 1540 Committee in this regard,
                     Stressing, in that regard, the need of enhanced assistance and collaboration
               among States, between the 1540 Committee and States, and between the 1540
               Committee and relevant international, regional and subregional organizations in
               assisting States to implement resolution 1540 (2004),



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                Recognizing the importance of progress towards achieving the goals and
           objectives of the 2010 Nuclear Security Summit as a contribution to the effective
           implementation of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004),
                 Calling on States to work together urgently to prevent and suppress acts of
           nuclear terrorism including through increased cooperation and full implementation
           of the relevant international conventions, and through appropriate measures to
           reinforce the existing legal framework with a view to ensure that those committing
           offences of nuclear terrorism are effectively held accountable,
                  Endorsing the 2009 comprehensive review of the status of implementation of
           resolution 1540 and taking note of the findings and recommendations contained in
           its final document,
                Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations:
                 1.    Reiterates its decisions in and the requirements of resolution 1540
           (2004), and re-emphasizes the importance for all States to implement fully that
           resolution;
                2.    Decides to extend the mandate of the 1540 Committee for a period of
           10 years until 25 April 2021;
                 3.   Decides that the 1540 Committee will conduct a comprehensive review
           on the status of implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), both after five years and
           prior to the renewal of its mandate, including, if necessary, recommendations on
           adjustments to the mandate, and will submit to the Security Council a report on the
           conclusions of those reviews, and decides that, accordingly, the first review should
           be held before December 2016;
                4.    Again decides that the 1540 Committee should submit an annual
           Programme of Work to the Security Council before the end of each May, and
           decides that next Programme of Work will be prepared before 31 May 2011;
                5.     Decides to continue to provide the 1540 Committee with the assistance
           of experts, and to this end:
                 (a) Requests the Secretary-General to establish, in consultation with the
           1540 Committee, a group of up to eight experts (“group of experts”), acting under
           the direction and purview of the Committee, composed of individuals with the
           appropriate experience and knowledge to provide the Committee with expertise, to
           assist the Committee in carrying out its mandate under resolutions 1540 (2004),
           1673 (2006), 1810 (2008) and this resolution, including through facilitation of
           assistance to improve implementation of resolution 1540 (2004);
                 (b) Requests, in that regard, the 1540 Committee to consider
           recommendations for the Committee and the group of experts on expertise
           requirements, broad geographic representation, working methods, modalities, and
           structure, including consideration of the feasibility of a coordination and leadership
           position of the group of experts, and to present these recommendations to the
           Security Council no later than 31 August 2011;




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               Implementation
                    6.    Again calls upon all States that have not yet presented a first report on
               steps they have taken or intend to take to implement resolution 1540 (2004) to
               submit such a report to the Committee without delay;
                     7.   Again encourages all States that have submitted such reports to provide,
               when appropriate or upon the request of the 1540 Committee, additional information
               on their implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), including, voluntarily, on States’
               effective practices;
                    8.    Encourages all States to prepare on a voluntary basis national
               implementation action plans, with the assistance of the 1540 Committee as
               appropriate, mapping out their priorities and plans for implementing the key
               provisions of resolution 1540 (2004), and to submit those plans to the 1540
               Committee;
                     9.   Decides that the 1540 Committee shall continue to intensify its efforts to
               promote the full implementation by all States of resolution 1540 (2004), through its
               Programme of Work, which includes the compilation and general examination of
               information on the status of States’ implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) as
               well as States’ efforts at outreach, dialogue, assistance and cooperation; and which
               addresses in particular all aspects of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of that resolution, which
               encompasses (a) accountability, (b) physical protection, (c) border controls and law
               enforcement efforts and (d) national export and trans-shipment controls including
               controls on providing funds and services such as financing to such exports and
               trans-shipments; and includes, as necessary, specific priorities for its work, taking
               into account its annual review on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004),
               prepared with the assistance of the group of experts before the end of each
               December;
                     10. Urges the 1540 Committee to continue to engage actively with States and
               relevant international, regional and subregional organizations to promote the sharing
               of experience, lessons learned and effective practices, in the areas covered by
               resolution 1540 (2004), drawing in particular on information provided by States as
               well as examples of successful assistance, and to liaise on the availability of
               programmes which might facilitate the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004),
               while bearing in mind that customized assistance is useful for the effective
               implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) at national levels;
                     11. Encourages, in that regard, the 1540 Committee, with the support of
               necessary relevant expertise, to actively engage in dialogue with States on the
               implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), including through visits to States at their
               invitation;
                     12. Requests the 1540 Committee, with the support of the group of experts,
               to identify effective practices, templates and guidance, with a view to develop a
               compilation, as well as to consider preparing a technical reference guide about
               resolution 1540 (2004), to be used by States on a voluntary basis in implementing
               resolution 1540 (2004), and in that regard, encourages the 1540 Committee, at its
               discretion, to draw also on relevant expertise, including, civil society and the private
               sector, with, as appropriate, their State’s consent;




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           Assistance
                13. Encourages States that have requests for assistance to convey them to the
           1540 Committee, and encourages them to make use of the Committee’s assistance
           template to that effect;
                 14. Urges States and relevant international, regional and subregional
           organizations to inform the Committee as appropriate of areas in which they are able
           to provide assistance; and calls upon States and such organizations, if they have not
           done so previously, to provide the 1540 Committee with a point of contact for
           assistance by 31 August 2011;
                 15. Urges the 1540 Committee to continue strengthening the Committee’s
           role in facilitating technical assistance for implementation of resolution 1540
           (2004), in particular by engaging actively, with the support of the group of experts,
           in matching offers and requests for assistance, through such means as visits to
           States, at the invitation of the State concerned, assistance templates, action plans or
           other information submitted to the 1540 Committee;
                 16. Supports the continued efforts of the 1540 Committee to secure a
           coordinated and transparent assistance process that provides timely and ready
           availability of information for States seeking assistance and for States prepared to
           provide assistance;
                 17. Encourages meetings on assistance issues with the participation of the
           1540 Committee, between States prepared to offer assistance, States requesting
           assistance, other interested States, and relevant international, regional and
           subregional organizations;

           Cooperation with International, Regional, and Subregional Organizations
                18. Calls upon relevant international, regional and subregional organizations
           to designate and provide the 1540 Committee by 31 August 2011 with a point of
           contact or coordinator for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004); and
           encourages them to enhance cooperation and information sharing with the 1540
           Committee on technical assistance and all other issues of relevance for the
           implementation of resolution 1540 (2004);
                 19. Reiterates the need to continue to enhance ongoing cooperation among
           the 1540 Committee, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to
           resolution 1267 (1999), concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban, and the Security
           Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning
           counter-terrorism, including through, as appropriate, enhanced information sharing,
           coordination on visits to States, within their respective mandates, technical
           assistance and other issues of relevance to all three committees; and expressing its
           intention to provide guidance to the committees on areas of common interest in
           order to better coordinate their efforts;

           Transparency and Outreach
                20. Requests the 1540 Committee to continue to institute transparency
           measures and activities, inter alia by making fullest possible use of the Committee’s
           website, and urges the Committee to conduct, with the participation of the group of




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               experts, regular meetings open to all Member States on the Committee’s and group’s
               activities related to the aforementioned objectives;
                     21. Requests the 1540 Committee to continue to organize and participate in
               outreach events on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) at the
               international, regional, subregional, and, as appropriate, national level, and promote
               the refinement of these outreach efforts to focus on specific thematic and regional
               issues related to implementation;

               Administration and Resources
                    22. Recognizes that implementation of the mandate of the 1540 Committee
               requires sustained support and adequate resources; and to that end:
                     (a) Endorses the existing administrative and logistics support to the 1540
               Committee from the Office for Disarmament Affairs, and decides that the
               Committee should report to the Council by January 2012 on the possibility of
               strengthening this support, including through strengthening of ODA’s regional
               capacity to support the implementation of the resolution at regional, subregional and
               national levels;
                    (b) Calls upon the Secretariat to provide and maintain sufficient expertise to
               support activities of the 1540 Committee as outlined in the present resolution;
                     (c) Encourages States that are able to do so to provide resources to the
               Office of Disarmament Affairs to assist States in implementing their 1540
               obligations, and to make available “in kind” contributions or cost-free training and
               expertise to the 1540 Committee to help the group of experts meet requests for
               assistance in a timely and effective manner;
                     (d) Invites the 1540 Committee to consider developing, in close cooperation
               with relevant international, regional and subregional organizations and other United
               Nations bodies, ways to utilize and maintain expertise, including, in particular, of
               former experts of the group, that could be made available for specific missions and
               assistance needs regarding the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004);
                    (e) Urges the 1540 Committee to continue to encourage and take full
               advantage of voluntary financial contributions to assist States in identifying and
               addressing their needs for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), and
               requests the 1540 Committee at its discretion, to promote the efficient and effective
               use of the existing funding mechanisms within the United Nations system;
                    23.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.




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