UN Security Council extends mandate of committee on weapons of mass destruction

The UN Security Council on Wednesday extended the mandate of a committee tasked with monitoring a resolution on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, for 10 years.

Resolution 2663, which was unanimously adopted by the 15-member council, extends the mandate of the 1540 Committee till Nov. 30, 2032.

The 1540 Committee was created by Security Council Resolution 1540 of 2004, which aims to prevent non-state actors from access to nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, and encourages enhanced international cooperation in this regard. Resolution 1540 also affirms that the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery constitutes a threat to international peace and security.

Resolution 2663 decides that the 1540 Committee will conduct comprehensive reviews on the status of the implementation of Resolution 1540 and submit to the Security Council a report upon the conclusion of each of those reviews.