Specialized training course for UN experts begins in Umeå
NEWS
During 25 May to 5 June 2009, a training course for United Nations experts for investigations of the alleged use of chemical, biological and toxin weapons will be held in Umeå, Sweden. The course is organised by the European CBRNE Center at Umeå University, which is a centre that studies the security and vulnerability of society, with an emphasis concerning major incidents involving chemical, biological radio/nuclear and explosive compounds.
Over the past couple of years, UN member states have nominated over 200 leading experts in biological and chemical weapons to the General Assembly. They are to remain in constant readiness to investigate alleged use of various prohibited weapons. In addition, UN member states have nominated analytical laboratories and training courses to strengthen the efficacy of weapons inspections. The UN has subsequently chosen the CBRNE Centre and Umeå University to organise a training course which will include unique practical exercises in the field.
“In Umeå, we have several different areas of expert competencies which have no counterpart throughout Europe regarding protection against dangerous substances,” says Dzenan Sahovic, Director of the European CBRNE Center and PhD at the department of political science at Umeå University. “Therefore, we were selected as suitable to train UN experts, which is quite naturally a very prestigious honour,” he continues.
The unique training course is funded by the Government of Sweden and is organised by the European CBRNE Center in partnership with Västerbotten County Council, Swedish Defence Research Agency, and the National CBRN Defence Centre. Furthermore, participants include world-leading experts such as instructors, including from the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODC), World Health Organization (WHO), Interpol, Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
“So far, it is a basic course for the first group of 20 nominated experts. Our ambition is that this operation will grow over time, partly so that by all 200 weapons inspectors will undertake the training course and partly that we eventually have the confidence to organise additional training courses,” adds Dzenan Sahovic.
The European CBRNE Center is a research consortium consisting of Umeå University, The Swedish Defence Research Agency, Västerbotten County Council, the city of Umeå, the Swedish Armed Forces National CBRN Defence Centre and the Swedish National Fortification Agency. They have a vision of making Umeå University is the premier choice for further training of national and international CBRNE forensics professionals. For further information, contact: Dzenan Sahovic, Director of the European CBRNE CenterPhone: +46 (0)707865774 or +46 (0)703432934 E-mail: sahovic@cbrnecenter.eu
