UNODC Raises Awareness and Builds Capacity on ICSANT in South-East Asia
Cooperation, at both the regional and international level, is crucial to ensure that the
most serious crimes transcending borders and affecting several jurisdictions do not go unpunished. Offences involving nuclear
or other radioactive material, radioactive devices or nuclear facilities are no exception in this regard, and require the
harmonization of legislation, mutual legal assistance among States in connection with investigations and judicial proceedings,
and the exchange of relevant information.
The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) is
a key legal instrument designed precisely to address these needs, by establishing a set of measures and mechanisms to prevent
and suppress radiological or nuclear crimes.
Under the European Union-funded project “Union support to promote the universalization and
effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism” and recognizing
the importance of bringing together stakeholders from the same region, UNODC conducted several regional workshops, most recently
in Bangkok, Thailand on 21-22 June 2023. The event gathered 39 participants from seven countries in South-East Asia (Cambodia,
Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam), as well as two observers.
Representing a range of institutions with operational, policy and decision-making responsibilities,
participants learned about the core provisions of ICSANT and the benefits that adherence to this Convention brings, as well
as its interlinkages with other relevant international legal instruments in the field of nuclear security. They were also
briefed about the wide array of technical and legislative assistance services made available by UNODC and other international
entities, and they engaged in discussions revolving around a fictional scenario aimed to demonstrate the practical advantages
deriving from the effective implementation of the Convention.
In her video message, Ms. Marjolijn van Deelen (Special Envoy for Non-Proliferation and
Disarmament, European External Action Service) highlighted that “ICSANT is a cornerstone of the rules-based international
order. Since its creation […] it has evolved into a key instrument that helps us reduce the risks linked to nuclear proliferation
by non-State actors […] We’ve been a proud and profound supporter of ICSANT and its many projects building on the vast experience
accumulated by […] UNODC […]”
Throughout the event, UNODC experts emphasized that the transnational nature of the
threat posed by radiological and nuclear terrorism requires a unanimous and coordinated response from the international community
and Member States, and that it also poses serious challenges for national justice systems. In fact, while national courts
are responsible for trying perpetrators, the activities leading to acts of radiological or nuclear terrorism will often take
place across numerous countries, thus making effective international cooperation in criminal matters essential to investigate
and prosecute these cases.
The workshop benefited from the participation of experts representing other international
organizations (namely, the 1540 Committee Group of Experts, the International Atomic Energy Agency, INTERPOL, the United Nations
Office of Counter-Terrorism, and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific of the
United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs), as well as civil society (the Nuclear Threat Initiative and the Stimson Center).
This inter-agency cooperation is a tangible demonstration of the multi-disciplinary nature of nuclear security, and it underlines
the importance of working together to tackle a threat – such as those posed by acts of nuclear or radiological terrorism –
that knows no borders and that requires a concerted effort by the international community.
