Geopolitical Overview: Safety and Security in Western and Eastern Europe with Particular Reference to New Trends. Highlighting New Threats and an Innovative Approach to the Necessary Regional Knowledge Management Systems

Abstract

The use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorist organizations andother non-state actors is one of the biggest threats to internationalsecurity.In order to prevent such groups from obtaining the means to causedestruction and death on a major scale, it is imperative thatgovernments, international organizations and other stakeholders worktogether to prevent the illicit traffic of materials which could be usedin the production of WMDs.Therefore coordinated international action is needed to prevent thetrafficking of CBRN material, which could be used by rogue elements toproduce weapons.Drawing from the UN strategy, UNICRI has developed the worldwideprogramme Strengthening International Cooperation to Combat IllicitTrafficking and Criminal Use of CBRN Substances and Weapons.Within this framework UNICRI established regional Knowledge ManagementSystems with the objective of facilitating the flow of information amongstates, using the existing knowledge and data to develop commonstrategies and response mechanisms.