UNODC has elaborated model laws as tools of technical assistance, to assist governments with the incorporation of their obligations under international treaties into national legislative provisions. The model laws aim to facilitate, as appropriate, the review and amendment of existing legislation, as well as the adoption of new legislation. Model laws focus on the substantive obligations arising from the international treaties rather than on the form, which ought to be tailor-made to the needs of each State. The model provisions are meant to help with, but not to substitute the national process of drafting a law.

Jointly with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UNODC’s Terrorism Prevention Branch developed in 2009 model criminal provisions to cover the offences set forth in ICSANT, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and the Amendment thereto. The rationale for the merger is that the offences to be found in these Conventions deal with the same offences to a great extent. The document addresses them in an integrated and coordinated manner. The model provisions are also contained in the IAEA Handbook on Nuclear Law: Implementing Legislation (Chapter 14.3.1).

UNODC stands ready to continue to provide tailor-made legislative drafting assistance to States, upon request and subject to availability of funds. For more information and assistance requests, please email: unodc-icsant@un.org