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| Home >> Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) | ||
Working Group on Preventing and Responding to WMD Terrorist AttacksMandate: United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy: Section II, paragraph 5: “To strengthen coordination and cooperation among States in combating crimes that might be connected with terrorism, including drug trafficking in all its aspects, illicit arms trade, in particular of small arms and light weapons, including man-portable air defence systems, money-laundering and smuggling of nuclear, chemical, biological, radiological and other potentially deadly materials;” Section II, paragraph 11: “To invite the United Nations system to develop, together with Member States, a single comprehensive database on biological incidents, ensuring that it is complementary to the biocrimes database contemplated by the International Criminal Police Organization. We also encourage the Secretary-General to update the roster of experts and laboratories, as well as the technical guidelines and procedures, available to him for the timely and efficient investigation of alleged use..;” Section II, paragraph 13: “To step up national efforts and bilateral, subregional, regional and international cooperation, as appropriate, to improve border and customs controls in order to prevent and detect the movement of terrorists and prevent and detect the illicit traffic in, inter alia, small arms and light weapons, conventional ammunition and explosives, and nuclear, chemical, biological or radiological weapons and materials, while recognizing that States may require assistance to that effect;” Section II, paragraph 17: “To invite the United Nations to improve coordination in planning a response to a terrorist attack using nuclear, chemical, biological or radiological weapons or materials, in particular by reviewing and improving the effectiveness of the existing inter-agency coordination mechanisms for assistance delivery, relief operations and victim support, so that all States can receive adequate assistance. In this regard, we invite the General Assembly and the Security Council to develop guidelines for the necessary cooperation and assistance in the event of a terrorist attack using weapons of mass destruction;” Section III, paragraph 9: “To encourage the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to continue their efforts, within their respective mandates, in helping States to build capacity to prevent terrorists from accessing nuclear, chemical or radiological materials, to ensure security at related facilities and to respond effectively in the event of an attack using such materials;” Section III, paragraph 10: “To encourage the World Health Organization to step up its technical assistance to help States to improve their public health systems to prevent and prepare for biological attacks by terrorists.” Status: For its 2009 work plan and within its prime mandated task, the Working Group has selected one specific area for further development: the assessment of how the UN system and international organizations would respond, as a whole, to a terrorist attack where nuclear, chemical, biological or radiological weapons or materials are used, and the level of planned coordination among the different entities to facilitate rapid provision of assistance to the affected state/states. In order to meet this objective, the Working Group plans to facilitate an interactive exchange of knowledge, better understanding and sharing of information on current activities and emergency plans already in place by relevant international organizations and UN entities in the response to, and mitigation of an attack using WMD or related materials. CTITF Entities:
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