In a significant step forward for the ATLAS project, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) has successfully concluded the first train-the-trainers event held in Tunis, Tunisia, from 11 to 15 September 2023. The event, which was a key milestone of the ATLAS project, aimed to strengthen Tunisia's capacity to prevent chemical weapons attacks by non-state actors through enhanced intelligence-sharing and inter-agency cooperation mechanisms.
In today’s globally interconnected, technologically advanced society, science (and Chemistry as a sub-discipline) is fundamental to our daily life. While women continue to play an increasingly important role in the chemical sciences, they are still underrepresented in many important chemical safety and security functions.
The proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons, materials and their means of delivery represents a pressing threat to international peace and security. Actors involved in the financing of such activities look to exploit loopholes in the global financial system to move and raise funds to develop CBRN programmes.
UNICRI, in cooperation with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, administers the International Network on Biotechnology (INB), a global network of academic and research institutions committed to advancing education and raising awareness about responsible life science. The INB experts exchange views and possible actions to support governments and relevant sectors of civil society (including academia, research institutions, technology companies) with a focus on emerging developments in the life sciences and biotechnology.
The first hours and days following a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) event are essential to assess the problem, mobilize appropriate national resources and experts and provide an adequate and timely international response. This cross-sectoral assistance is crucial to save lives, ease suffering, and mitigate the effects of contamination; it should therefore reach the crisis area in the shortest possible timeframe.
Successfully prosecuting a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) crime, such as the deliberate acquisition, stockpiling, production, transfer, or use/misuse of CBRN material, is a uniquely challenging process.
On 12 to 13 July 2023, 37 officers from over 15 Ukrainian state agencies, including the State Border Guard Service, the State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management, the National Security and Defense Council, the Ministry of Defense, the Security Service and the National Police, completed a two-day in-person training in Kyiv entitled “Stop the virus of disinformation.”
On 20 June 2023, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) hosted its first online training session to reinforce and expand Tunisian officials’ knowledge of chemical weapons and chemical security.
Twelve trainees from eight state authorities with different mandates pertaining to preventing, countering, and responding to chemical risks participated in the training.
On 21 June 2023, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) conducted its first online training session to reinforce and expand Moroccan officials’ knowledge of chemical weapons and chemical security.
Advancements in technology are happening at an exponential rate. Science, technology and innovation can play a pivotal role in development and in facilitating efforts to address issues of global concern, but they can also pose new security challenges if used for malicious purposes.
