General Information
Resolution 1540 (2004) recognizes that some States may require assistance in implementing the provisions of the resolution and invites States in a position to do so to offer assistance, as appropriate, in response to specific requests from States. In operative paragraph (OP) 5 of the Resolution 1810 (2008), the Security Council encourages States to convey assistance requests to the Committee.
Resolution 2325 (2016) emphasizes the importance of providing States, in response to their requests, with effective assistance that meets their needs. The 1540 Committee has a matchmaking role to facilitate assistance by others for implementation of the resolution. The Committee matches assistance requests from States with offers from States or international, regional or subregional organisations in a position to provide assistance (see Resolution 1810 (2008). Resolution 2663 (2022), in OP 18, requests the 1540 Committee to maintain an updated comprehensive list of assistance providers, as well as make available to Member States such assistance and capacity-building programs which might facilitate the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). In this regard, the 1540 Committee posts on its website:
- a summary of assistance requests, and
- a list of States and international organizations offering assistance.
Assistance requests can be submitted to the Committee in various forms. They can be sent formally to the 1540 Committee; for example, in a national reporting or simply by Note Verbale addressed to the Chair of the 1540 Committee. In any such case, as recalled in OP 16 of resolution 2663 (2022), States continue to be encouraged to make use of the Committee’s assistance template to convey them to the 1540 Committee. The current process includes:
- Authenticating a request;
- Acknowledging receipt of the request;
- Distributing the request to potential assistance providers;
- Posting a request on the 1540 Committee website, with the consent of the requesting state;
- The 1540 Committee Experts conducting informal ‘match-making’.
The 1540 Committee also adopted procedures to response to offers of assistance: This process includes:
- Circulating to the Committee Members offers of assistance regarding a specific request; and
- Informing requesting States of such offers and asking them to inform the Committee and the assistance provider if they intend to take up the offer.
- If the offer is taken up ask the receiving s\State and the provider to report on progress and completion of the assistance
Resolution 2663 (2022), in OP 20, encourages Member States receiving assistance as well as providers of assistance to provide feedback to the 1540 Committee on the fulfilment of the assistance requests, including activities, achievements, and areas of opportunity, as appropriate, with a view to improve the Committee’s matchmaking.
Resolution 2663 (2022), in OP 21, urges the 1540 Committee, using its full expertise, to promote the facilitation of technical assistance through, as appropriate, organizing, co-organizing, participating in or supporting international and regional assistance conferences, which bring together Member States that request assistance with those offering assistance, and further encourages Member States, including those in the region with relevant expertise, relevant international, regional and subregional organizations, in a position to do so, to support such efforts.
The Committee may also, upon request, provide assistance to Member States in the drafting of National Reports (OP 6 of resolution 2663 (2022)), voluntary National Implementation Action Plans (OP8 of resolution 2663 (2022)) and Assistance requests (OP19 of resolution 2663 (2022)).