What synergies exist among the nuclear security instruments to counter terrorism? What are the differences among these instruments? How does a State being a party to them contribute to international, regional and national peace and security?
UNODC examined and provided answers to these questions through a regional lens during a webinar on "Strengthening Global Nuclear Security: Promoting Universalization of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its Amendment (A/CPPNM)” organized by the African Center for Science and International Security (AFRICSIS) on 22 March 2024. The event was attended by representatives from Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The webinar was opened by the Director of AFRICSIS, the Executive Secretary of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy and a representative from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. It included presentations from INTERPOL, UNODC, the IAEA and the United Kingdom. Presentations by representatives from Kenya, Ghana and Zimbabwe showcased regional perspectives on the benefits of being a party to the A/CPPNM. UNODC presented on its work to promote universalization and implementation of the CPPNM and A/CPPNM and synergies with the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. UNODC also shared available legislative and technical assistance under its Canada and European Union-funded programming. Additionally, UNODC made its eLearning module on ICSANT available to participants prior to the event. The module can be accessed in all six UN official languages here.
