Funded by the European Union
EU CBRN CoE Initiative: Official launch of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear National Action Plan of the Kingdom of Cambodia
Mitigating chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear risks in Cambodia
On 11 December 2017 the official launch of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) National Action Plan (NAP) of the Kingdom of Cambodia took place at a high level event organized in Phnom Penh. The event was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh.
In his remarks His Excellency Ambassador George Edgar, Head of the European Union Delegation to Cambodia, commended the national efforts to design the National Action Plan, which was developed with the support of the European Union (EU) CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CBRN CoE) Initiative.
During the opening, Mr. Francesco Marelli, Head of the CBRN Risk Mitigation and Security Governance Programme of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), highlighted the fact that Cambodia has now an important tool for national and international coordination and allocation of resources to strengthen the capacity to address CBRN risks.
The launching event represented an opportunity to acknowledge the important work carried out by the Cambodian CBRN National Team to elaborate this crucial policy document and to inform high-level policy makers from the Government and international partners about the relevance of CBRN risks and the country’s priorities in this area.
The key purpose of the National Action Plan is to articulate a national vision for CBRN risk mitigation and to identify priorities for strengthening capacities in this area. It also facilitates the identification and implementation of projects and ensures that capacity building is part of a coordinated and sustainable approach.
The CBRN National Action Plan was signed for ratification by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on 22 May 2017, as confirmed by the Council of Ministers. This document outlines the Kingdom of Cambodia’s priorities on CBRN risks and strategic objectives for capacity building. The Plan was developed by a group of representatives from relevant Ministries and Authorities who compose the CBRN National Team under the leadership of the CBRN National Focal Point, Lieutenant-General Ke Da of the National Authority for the Prohibition of CBRN Weapons (NACW). Through this assessment, a range of capacity-building actions has been identified for implementation with the support of national, regional and international partners.
The National Action Plan of Cambodia is based on an all-hazards approach that include risks related to criminal acts (CBRN proliferation, theft, sabotage, illicit trafficking and terrorism), accidental events (industrial accidents, waste treatment and transport incidents) and natural events (infectious disease outbreaks and CBRN releases caused by natural hazards). If not properly addressed, these events can have negative effects on health, the environment, agriculture, security, the economy and society as a whole, and have repercussions at regional and international levels.
The EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative (CBRN CoE)
The EU CBRN CoE Risk Mitigation Initiative currently involves 58 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 is developed with the technical support of relevant international and regional organisations, EU Member States, regional experts and other stakeholders, through coherent and effective cooperation at the national, regional and international level.
For more information:
CBRN Centres of Excellence website: http://www.cbrn-coe.eu/
European Commission, Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace website (see section about "Stable Situations"): http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/node/7350