A step closer to the approval of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) National Action Plan of Cambodia
The National Authority for the Prohibition of CBRN Weapons marks a significant milestone in the Plan road-map
The 5th Meeting of the Cambodian National Authority for the Prohibition of CBRN Weapons (NACW) marked a crucial step towards the approval of the CBRN National Action Plan (NAP) of Cambodia. General Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence and President of the NACW chaired the high-level meeting which took place on 21st July 2016 in Phnom Penh at the premises of the Ministry of National Defence.
The approval of the NAP was one the main subjects discussed during the 5th NACW’s meeting. The collaboration with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the reporting mechanism of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 were also discussed in this setting. The NACW agreed on submitting the revised version of the NAP to the Prime Minister, marking a significant milestone in the road-map of its approval.
The overall purpose of the NAP is to articulate a national vision for CBRN risk mitigation and to identify priorities for awareness raising and building capacity. The NAP ensures integration of efforts in one coherent approach, thus strengthening national capacities for prevention, detection, preparedness and response to CBRN threats. It also facilitates the identification and implementation of projects and ensures that capacity building is part of a coordinated and sustainable approach.
The 5th NACW’s Meeting was attended by 25 high-officials from different Cambodian Ministries such as the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry Mines and Energy, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Water resources and Meteorology, the Ministry of Economic and Finance, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Department of Technique, the Royal Gendarmeries and the Secretary General of NACW.
Within the framework of the European Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Centres of Excellence (EU CBRN CoE Initiative), UNICRI, together with the European Commission Joint Research Centre (EC JRC), has assisted the National CBRN Team of Cambodia in the development of National Action Plan through a series of workshops aimed at identifying needs, capabilities and priorities in the field of CBRN risk mitigation.
The EU CBRN CoE Risk Mitigation Initiative involves 55 countries in 8 regions of the world, is funded by the European Union and is jointly implemented by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC). The initiative has been developed with the technical support of relevant international and regional organizations, the EU Member States and other stakeholders, through coherent and effective cooperation at the national, regional and international level. The EU CBRN CoE Risk Mitigation Initiative aims at strengthening regional security and safety by sharing good practices and capabilities, by developing guidelines, by identifying and deploying resources to respond to the needs identified by partner countries and by supporting the development of national CBRN policies.