The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), with the financial support of the United States Department of State, is pleased to announce the launch of a new e-journal exclusively dedicated to advancing the objectives of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540 (2004) (UNSCR 1540).
UNSCR 1540 and its successor resolutions are crucial mechanisms to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their means of delivery by non-State actors. However, the challenges in comprehending, implementing, and adapting to the resolutions’ provisions persist. It is within this context that UNICRI proposes the publication of the UNSCR 1540-themed e-journal as a means to bridge knowledge gaps, promote dialogue, and strengthen global efforts in preventing the proliferation of WMDs. UNICRI will publish three English-language issues per year of the e-journal.
We therefore invite practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and all those involved in the implementation of UNSCR 1540, as well as in counter-proliferation more widely, to contribute articles, interviews, opinion pieces, case studies, news items and event notifications for publication.
This call for contributions aims to bring together a diverse range of perspectives to enrich the discourse on the implementation and impact of UNSCR 1540 in addressing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and related materials.
Submission Guidelines:
Original research articles, case studies, policy analyses, and review articles are welcomed, as are interviews and opinion pieces. Typical content may include articles sharing best practices, experiences, and innovative strategies regarding the implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004) and related initiatives. Additionally, commentaries on UNSCR 1540-related literature are encouraged. There will also be a section dedicated to UNSCR 1540-related news items and event notifications; submissions of this nature are also welcome.
The inaugural theme of the first issue will be the “20 Years of UNSCR 1540”, marking two decades since the resolution’s adoption. We encourage submissions related to this topic, including:
– The enduring importance and relevance of UNSCR 1540 in today’s context.
– Reflections on the achievements of UNSCR 1540 to date.
– Challenges, lessons learned, and best practices from the past 20 years.
– Regional approaches to non-proliferation: Case studies from the two decades.
– The future of non-proliferation: Prospects and challenges beyond 20 years of UNSCR 1540.
– Expanding the outreach of UNSCR 1540: What international organizations can do to better support the resolution
Emerging areas of concern for UNSCR 1540, including counter-proliferation financing, new technologies and cybersecurity are also of great interest.
Article submissions should not exceed 1,500 words and should adhere to the journal’s style, formatting, and citation guidelines. The journal follows the UN Editorial Manual, available here: https://www.un.org/dgacm/en/content/editorial-manual
Event notifications and news items should not exceed 150 words.
Interested contributors are invited to send their contributions to UNICRI-1540compass@un.org. For inclusion in the first issue, please send contributions no later than 20 February 2024.
