The Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill , 2022
The primary objective of the WMD Act, of 2005 is to provide integrated legislation prohibiting unlawful activities in relation to all three types of WMD i.e delivery systems, related materials and equipment and technologies
This amendment expands the scope to include the prohibition of financing activity related to WMD delivery systems
The act was passed to meet an international obligation enforced by UN security council resolution (UNSCR)1540 of 2004
UNSCR 1540
UN security council has passed this resolution to address the growing threat of non-state actors accessing WMD material, equipment and technology to use it in terrorism
This is a binding obligation on all UN members under Chapter VII of the UN charter
So, nations were mandated to take action against all the WMD activities to counter the terrorism
UNSCR1540 has enforced three primary obligations upon states
- Not to provide any sort of support to non-state players in seeking WMD materials or their means of delivery
- Adopt and enforce laws criminalising the possession and acquiring of such items by non-state actors
- To adopt and enforce domestic controls over relevant materials, in order to prevent their proliferation
Additional Enforcements through Amendment
The amendment expands the scope to restrict financial activities related to all WMD and their activities.
To prevent such financing, Government should have the authority to freeze or attach funds, financial assets, or economic sources of suspected individuals
It prohibits a person from making finances or related services available for other persons indulging in such activity
