Weapons of Mass Destruction: Threats and Responses by United Nations

Weapons of Mass Destruction : Threats & Responses 

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When we think of weapons of mass destruction we often think of nuclear weapons but there are other types of weapons.

Your Challenge:

Your challenge is to understand more about Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and the efforts of the UN to stop their spread.

Follow this Process:

  1. Watch this video: Weapons of Mass Destruction

  2. Access Tokyo subway attack of 1995 and discuss in class the spread of weapons of mass destruction among terrorist groups. Why would the use of poisonous gas in a subway station be so dangerous? Have you heard publicity of the religious group involved since the event?

  3. Take this discussion deeper by looking at UN Security Council resolution 1540. This states “that the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery constitutes a threat to international peace and security. The resolution obliges States … to refrain from supporting by any means non-State actors from developing, acquiring, manufacturing, possessing, transporting, transferring or using nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their delivery systems.”
    How successful has this been? Are you aware of an attack by terrorists using nuclear, chemical and biological weapons since 2004/5? Are they using new methods of terror not covered by this resolution?

  4. Take action by considering whether there are practical steps that the UN can take to prevent recent terrorist attacks against citizens using vehicles in congested areas, bombs, knife attacks etc Would sharing information among members on terrorist groups assist in preventing such acts? Why might this prove difficult to achieve – is there universal agreement on who is a terrorist and who is a freedom fighter?

  5. Capture and share by working in groups of 4 to suggest some means for the UN to work on a wider definition of Resolution 1540 to cover new types of terrorist violence. Post your suggestions to this site.

Educator Notes

This is a good webquest for class discussion. New terrorist techniques make international (even national) action difficult. However, success in passing resolution 1540 shows joint international action is possible and effective. Bombings killing large numbers of civilians continue regularly in the Middle East conflicts and receive less publicity in the west.


To make it more accessible:
The enclosed environment of metro stations in Tokyo may need explaining to the class.

To make it more challenging:
Lead a discussion on how the requirement for unanimity in Security Council resolutions may make joint action challenging? Is unanimity of action a good or bad rule?


Useful links

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Tokyo subway attack of 1995
 UN Security Council resolution 1540