Regardless of a country’s status of development, size, geographic location, status of nuclear infrastructure, presence - or lack thereof - of nuclear material on its territory, all countries can be affected by illicit acts involving nuclear or other radioactive material. Therefore, it is imperative that countries establish and maintain robust nuclear security regimes.
At the foundation of an effective nuclear security system is a strong legal framework, designed to secure radioactive material and nuclear facilities, criminalize related offences and bring perpetrators to justice. The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) is a key component of such a framework.
Despite the crucial role it plays in the international nuclear security architecture, this Convention – which currently comprises 124 States parties – is still far from being universal.
As part of its efforts to promote relevant international legal instruments under a project funded by Canada, UNODC conducted a country visit to Nepal, which is not yet party to ICSANT, on 18-19 March 2024. Bilateral consultations were held with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and the Office of the Attorney General to explain the core provisions of and benefits of adherence to ICSANT. The meetings provided an opportunity to disseminate relevant UNODC material (including factsheets, leaflets and the text of the Convention) which had been translated by UNODC into Nepali. This effort to facilitate the understanding of the instrument and of UNODC’s role was especially praised and welcomed by national authorities.
The national visit was conducted in combination with UNODC’s contribution to a parliamentary session on nuclear and radiological security which took place on 18 March 2024 and was organized by the NGO Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA). The workshop gathered 30 participants, including members of Nepal’s Federal Parliament and representatives from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and offered an additional avenue to raise awareness on ICSANT and promote UNODC’s role in this regard.
