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Second Workshop in Myanmar to prepare the National Action Plan to mitigate CBRN risks

EU CBRN Risk Mitigation CoE Initiative

Myanmar -


 




Funded by the European Union

On the 16th and 17th of October a workshop was held in Myanmar to work on preparing a National Action Plan to mitigate threats from Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) materials. More than 30 high-level officials from different Union Ministries, including Dr. Zaw Win from the Ministry of Science and Technology and Dr. Soe Naing from the Ministry of Information and Dr. Htay Htay Tin from the Ministry of Health, worked alongside international experts to share experience on ways to minimise risks related to CBRN materials and agents.

The EU recognises that CBRN security is complex: legal, technical and organizational capabilities are central. The two-day workshop was part of the European Union CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative. By sharing good practices, developing guidelines, and identifying requirements in order to deploy resources that respond to identified needs, the initiative promotes and supports the development and implementation of national CBRN policies and creates a network of regional initiatives. In doing so the Centres of Excellence Initiative aims to strengthen regional security by increasing local ownership, local expertise and long-term sustainability of policies and practices related to CBRN risk mitigation.

The main objective of this workshop, the second of its kind, was for the National CBRN team and international experts to present and review the draft National CBRN Action Plan, with a particular focus on identification of priorities to ensure Myanmar's security.

Through a series of activities, including specific projects, the Centres of Excellence initiative will support Myanmar in developing a national vision in CRBN risk reduction and assist in strengthening its national capacities for prevention, detection, preparedness and response to CBRN threats. The initiative also facilitates the identification and implementation of projects and ensures that capacity building is part of a coordinated and sustainable approach.

The threat from nuclear, biological, and chemical agents has always been an important issue – now more than ever. Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear security is of interest to every state. As Myanmar opens up to the rest of the world, this risk too must be shared.

The EU CBRN CoE Initiative is jointly implemented by the European Union and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), and entirely financed by the EU. The Initiative involves 48 countries in 8 regions of the world – and South-East Asia is a success story with Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam participating.

For more information:

CBRN Centres of Excellence website:
http://www.cbrn-coe.eu/

European Commission, Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace website: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/fpi/what-we-do/instrument_contributing_to_stability_and_peace_en.htm