National Roundtable on Prioritizing Items found in Mongolia’s 1540 National Action Plan
National Roundtable on Prioritizing Items found in Mongolia’s 1540 National Action Plan
Start Date: Dec 6, 2022
End Date: Dec 8, 2022
Group photo of participants at the National Roundtable on Prioritizing Items found in Mongolia’s 1540 National Action Plan, 6th – 8th December, 2022
On the 6-8 December 2022, the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) supported the organization of a National Roundtable on Prioritizing Items found in Mongolia’s 1540 National Action Plan, in collaboration with UNODA’s 1540 Support Unit, the Government of Mongolia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The aim of the event, held in Ulaanbaatar, was to conduct a review of Mongolia’s 1540 National Action Plan (NAP) and identify ways of strengthening Mongolia’s implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004). This event followed the 2017 roundtable and the 2021 virtual roundtable organized by UNRCPD and the OSCE, which assisted Mongolia in developing the 1540 NAP.
The event was supported by voluntary contributions from the Government of Japan, and counted on the participation of delegates from various Mongolian ministries and government agencies, alongside representatives from UNODA (1540 Support Unit and UNRCPD), the 1540 Committee, the OSCE, the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA), the Japanese Embassy in Mongolia, the United States Export Control and Related Border Security Program (EXBS) and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
Discussion during the National Roundtable on Prioritizing Items found in Mongolia’s 1540 National Action Plan, 6th – 8th December, 2022
The first substantive meeting provided an overview of the background of Resolution 1540 (2004) and the relevant obligations and provisions it contains, which was followed by a session on the current state of play in Mongolia, including an introduction to relevant legislation and insights into current preparations. The following presentation was on Mongolia’s 1540 NAP, followed by and overview of the rationale underpinning efforts to improve export control legislation. The EU control list of dual use items was then introduced, after which presentations were delivered on Mongolia’s nuclear security and implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Several of the following interventions were related to finding and accessing the appropriate assistance mechanisms available. Finally, there was a discussion of the possibilities for raising stakeholder awareness on strategic trade control issues, and on the necessary steps forward in the implementation of Mongolia’s 1540 NAP.
Throughout, emphasis was made on Mongolia’s progress in implementing UNSCR 1540 (2004), including its accession to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and the adoption of a general Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) law, which fulfills some UNSCR 1540 (2004) obligations. However, there was also much discussion on the remaining gaps in Mongolian legislation, including the need to adopt a comprehensive strategic trade control law, and a law to strengthen Mongolia’s biosecurity.
The roundtable contributed to raising awareness on the importance of building Mongolia’s capacity to prevent the illicit trafficking of WMD related materials, dual use items and means of delivery through its borders, therefore contributing to Mongolia’s progress on SDG 16. UNRCPD will continue to cooperate with the Government of Mongolia and facilitate additional assistance as required.