Philippines, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), organized the first regional peer review exercise in Southeast Asia and the Pacific with Singapore on export control under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (UNSCR 1540) through a tabletop exercise on May 28 and 29, 2024 in Manila. Japan, represented by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated as an observer in the exercise.
Considered a milestone in the implementation of UNSCR 1540, Amanda Cowl, UNSCR 1540 Regional Coordinator for Asia at the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), noted that the exercise has sparked interest among Indo-American States. Pacific, donor countries and international stakeholders, and that the conversations held at the two-day workshop have had a “domino effect” in the region.
The peer review exercise compared the implementation of UNSCR 1540 between the Philippines and Singapore, presented by experts from the border security and export control authorities of both countries and moderated by UNODA.
Taiwan seeks to expand its agricultural exports in the world
The Philippine side was represented by the FDFA, the Department of Trade and Industry’s Strategic Trade Management Office (DTI-STMO), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), and the Philippine Coast Guard ( PCG).
Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations Charles Jose said the peer review exercise represented a good opportunity to “take stock, measure and evaluate where we are, where we want to go and what direction to take in the future.” future to get there.
Peer review exercise compared implementation of UNSCR 1540 between the Philippines and Singapore
“This exercise is not intended to embarrass anyone or embarrass any participating State. Rather, it is a multilateral mechanism that allows us to identify points of synergy where we can work together to achieve a more efficient, effective and impactful implementation of UNSCR 1540,” said Usec Jose. The second and final phase of the peer review exercise will be held in Singapore later this year. The peer review process has been made possible thanks to the financial support of Japan, the Regional Coordinator for Asia of UNODA 1540 and the Office of the United Nations and International Organizations of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 was co-sponsored by the Philippines, along with France and the United Kingdom, in 2004, when the country last held a non-permanent seat on the Security Council. The resolution was adopted unanimously. UNSCR 1540 calls on UN Member States to adopt and implement appropriate laws and other effective measures to prevent the proliferation of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and their delivery systems to non-State actors.
Add Comment