Criminalizing WMD Proliferation: The Role of UN Security Council Resolution 1540

The United Nations Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1540 in April 2004. This landmark measure legally charges all UN member states to enact and enforce effective measures to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery. The revelations regarding the expansiveness of the A. Q. Khan network contributed to the rapid passage of the resolution. Resolution 1540 is distinctive because it is the first time the UN Security Council has required all member states to act to prevent the illicit trafficking of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) materials and their means of delivery. It is also unique in that it specifically addresses the prevention of CBRN proliferation and trafficking among non-state actors.