VERTIC attends an inception workshop on the African Union WMD Model Law
NIM Programme Director Sonia Drobysz participated in an inception workshop on the African Union Weapons of Mass Destruction Model Law in Vienna, Austria, during 13-14 December.
The African Union Member States encouraged the African Union Commission to develop a comprehensive model law on WMD that will aim to assist States, with both common and civil law systems, in setting up legislation in full compliance with relevant regional and international instruments related to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It will serve as a working tool to understand the full scope of obligations, assess the gaps in domestic legislation, and adjust the model provisions to the particularities of national legal systems.
The objective of the inception workshop was to present the preliminary results of the review and analysis of the relevant instruments, existing model legislation, and selected national legislation, along with recommendations on the gaps that need to be addressed. Experts from international organisations including the 1540 Committee, IAEA, OPCW, UNODC, CTBTO, OIE, European Union, Caricom, UNODA, GET Consortium and VERTIC, as well as African States shared their experience in implementing international instruments on WMD and in providing legislative assistance to strengthen national legal frameworks. Participants also discussed the way forward including the expected finalisation of the AU Model Law by the end of 2019.
Sonia presented on VERTIC’s experience in developing and using model legislation.
