The international community has recognized that illicit trafficking of CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) material poses a serious security problem. In April 2004 an important milestone was reached when the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1540, declaring that illicit trafficking of CBRN weapons and related material “adds a new dimension to the issue of proliferation of such weapons and also poses a threat to international peace and security”.

To address these concerns UNICRI, in cooperation with the European Commission, and with the technical support of o.a. the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Biological Weapons Convention, Interpol, Europol and the World Customs Organisation, has created Knowledge Management Systems (KMS) on the prevention of illicit trafficking of CBRN material.

The Knowledge Management System is designed to assist states in establishing clear channels of communication, improving information sharing on CBRN incidents, and accessing information that helps strengthen capabilities in terms of:

  • effective border control,
  • law enforcement operations,
  • national export controls and trans-shipment controls.

KMS applies a CBRN comprehensive approach unifying strategic knowledge and expertise drawn from the different CBRN areas. By collecting and comparing data on illicit CBRN trafficking at the national and regional levels, KMS increases opportunities to identify trends in trafficking, predict the location of future incidents and assess existing vulnerabilities and risks.

The System fully utilizes the capabilities and expertise of individual Member States, as well as that of international and regional organizations. In the field of preventing illicit trafficking of radiological and nuclear material, effective and carefully considered practices already exist. These existing practices provide invaluable lessons and principals that can be applied in other CBRN contexts.

The Knowledge Management System also enables experts from Member States to confront new security challenges, learn to collectively develop solutions and critically analyse the outcomes of their decisions, therefore resulting in a durable co-operation legacy. Such a legacy will promote the institutionalisation of best practices and information for combating CBRN trafficking throughout the UN system.

The Knowledge Management System was first developed in South East Europe and the Caucasus and ended late 2010. This successful experience contributed to the set up of a Knowledge Management System in North Africa – started in March 2009 and still ongoing. Overall, 16 countries and several international/regional organizations have been involved in the KMSs.