Everyone today benefits from the use of chemicals and radioactive materials to produce essential goods such as food, clothing, energy and medicines, but also from convenient and pleasurable products like tools, mobile phones, furniture and cosmetics. But these same materials and their waste can also be dangerous to our health, our environment and our security if not handled properly.
In particular, exposure to certain materials can lead to diseases in humans, animals and plants. These diseases can spread rapidly across regions and globally, due to our interconnected societies, a phenomenon referred to as biological risk. Together, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) materials are therefore also classified as hazardous materials.
How do we make sure that we enjoy the benefits of these CBRN agents, while avoiding (as much as possible) the risks?
On 29 and 30 April, the Government of Malawi hosted a national awareness-raising workshop on the risks related to CBRN hazards. The event was co-organised by the European Union CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative (EU CBRN CoE), which Malawi has been a partner of since 2015, the United Nations Office on Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI).
The event was jointly funded by the European Union, Spain and the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.
Opening the event, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malawi, Ms. Nancy Tembo, expressed appreciation for the fact that the discussions during the two-day workshop covered security questions and related international obligations, as well as the positive and peaceful applications of CBRN technologies.
The EU Ambassador to Malawi, Mr. Rune Skinnebach, highlighted that it is important to foster a shared understanding of CBRN risks and the measures required to mitigate them effectively. He also commended Malawi for adopting its first CBRN National Action Plan in December 2022, developed with support from the EU CBRN CoE Initiative.
Ms. Fenella Frost, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, speaking on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator for Malawi, Ms. Rebecca Adda-Dontoh, noted that as technologies advance, industrialisation grows and economies become more interwoven, the safe use, transportation and disposal of CBRN materials pose significant challenges for safety, security and the environment, and require greater collaboration across the globe.
The event gathered over 70 participants from a wide range of government institutions, regional organisations and international partners, who came together to exchange experiences, share insights and explore ways to support one other in addressing CBRN-related risks.
Among the participants were representatives from various entities, including the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 Committee (UNSCR 1540), the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit, and the EU CBRN Centres of Excellence Initiative.
Questions were raised such as: what are the international legal requirements in relation to CBRN materials; how do regional organisations support member states; what capacities does Malawi have in place and what are the priorities for the future?
The EU CBRN CoE works to build a safer and more secure world through cooperation with 63 Partner Countries (28 in Africa) across 8 regions. Central to this vision are regional expert networks, which both define and drive the delivery of tailored trainings dedicated to strengthening CBRN risk mitigation in the Partner Countries.
The EU CBRN CoE Initiative was launched in 2010 and is jointly implemented by the European Commission and UNICRI. It is dedicated to enhancing national capacities to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from CBRN events.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the EU CBRN CoE Initiative, which stands as a testament to the commitment of the European Union, the United Nations and all the partner countries to jointly make the world a safer place.
For further information, please visit: https://cbrn-risk-mitigation.network.europa.eu/eu-cbrn-centres-excellence_en
