The 1540 Compass is an e-journal published by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) that is dedicated to advancing the objectives, awareness and implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) (UNSCR 1540) and its successor resolutions. The journal aims to be a trusted source of knowledge, analysis, and dialogue for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their means of delivery by non-State actors.
Adopted unanimously on 28 April 2004, UNSCR 1540 stands as a cornerstone in global efforts to safeguard international peace and security. However, the challenges inherent in comprehending, implementing, and adapting to its provisions persist. Recognizing this knowledge gap, UNICRI is proudly re-launching the 1540 Compass. We aim to foster a space for robust knowledge exchange, insightful analysis, and meaningful dialogue among Member States, academic experts, policymakers, practitioners and followers of everything resolution 1540 related. By addressing knowledge gaps, sharing best practices, and nurturing discussion, the UNSCR 1540 e-journal promises to contribute to global efforts to counter the grave threat of WMD proliferation and reinforce international peace and security.
In the words of Francesco Marelli, Editor-in-Chief, “The 1540 Compass promises to be a platform for everybody, and we encourage all stakeholders involved in non-proliferation to leverage it. The success of the 1540 Compass lies in the widest participation of us all.”
If you would like to contribute an article, interview, opinion piece, case study, news item or event notification for publication, please see the most recent call for contributions for more details click here.
Download the first issue, celebrating 20 years of UNSCR 1540 here.
Articles in Issue 1
- Note from the Editor Francesco Marelli
- Message from the Acting Director of UNICRI Leif Villadsen
- Interview with Ambassador Mihnea Motoc
- Interview with Ambassador José Javier De la Gasca
- Interview with Dr Bilal Nsouli
- The Impact of Resolution 1540 on Non-Proliferation Architecture in the Past 20 Years by Kiwako Tanaka
- UNSCR 1540: Improving Implementation to Ensure a Safer Tomorrow by, Mara Zarka and Sarah Case Lackner
- UNSCR 1540 Lessons Learned from the ‘Tending’ of the Biological Weapons Regime, by Louison Mazeaud and James Revill
- New Challenges to the 1540 Non-Proliferation Regime, by Giuseppe Di Luccia
- UN Security Council Resolution 1540 and the Chemical Weapons Convention: Challenges, Complementarities and Synergies, by Rene Betancourt and Victor Calero
- Linking CBRN and SALW Non-Proliferation: Looking Ahead at Potential Conjoined Risks, by Erik Farkaš
- Bioterrorism in National Counter-Terrorism Legislation: Developments Since 2004, by Barry de Vries
- Two Decades of UNODC’s Assistance to Member States to Meet UNSCR 1540 Obligations, by Maria Lorenzo Sobrado
- Implementing UNSCR 1540: The Osce’s Role in Facilitating Peer Review Meetings, by Adriana Volenikova and Tynchtykbek Israiilov
- Strengthening Global Chemical Security: The Pivotal Role of the FBI’s Chemical and Biological Countermeasures Unit in Supporting Resolution 1540, by Allison Kirshner
Background
Thanks to the generous financial support of the US Department of State, UNICRI relaunched the 1540 Compass in April 2024 in an online format. The 1540 Compass was originally launched in 2012 by the Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) at the University of Georgia in hard copy format.
Under the initial direction of Dr Igor Khripunov, and in cooperation with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, the 1540 Compass was designed to provide an accessible forum on the effective implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1540. Back issues of the 1540 Compass can be found at the following link.
