Given the transnational nature of the threat, regional approaches are key in preventing terrorists and other criminals from carrying out acts related to chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological (CBRN) terrorism.
The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) and other international legal instruments to counter CBRN terrorism (such as, inter alia, the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings and the Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Relating to International Civil Aviation) are essential in contributing to both regional and international security by preventing and suppressing terrorist and other criminal conduct involving, to varying degrees, CBRN weapons and related material.
These instruments can benefit States parties through the facilitation of international cooperation mechanisms, including information exchange related to offences, mutual legal assistance, prosecution and extradition.
To enhance cooperation and coordination among Member States and relevant international organizations in addressing CBRN terrorism, UNODC contributed to the ASEAN regional forum (ARF) workshop “Steppe Lotus” on strengthening legal frameworks to combat CBRN terrorism which took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on 16-18 April 2024.
“Steppe Lotus” aimed to identify and demonstrate effective regional and international cooperation mechanisms for investigating, prosecuting and responding to CBRN crimes and strengthening legal framework implementation.
The workshop was co-organized by the Governments of Mongolia, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the United States of America, in cooperation with UNODC and UNOCT.
“Steppe Lotus” brought together over 70 experts from border control, regulatory authorities, law enforcement, armed forces, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and other relevant agencies from Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam and the United States of America, as well as from UNODC and UNOCT.
During the three-day exercise, participants engaged in a fictional table-top exercise to enhance their knowledge and capacities in the following areas:
- applicability of the criminalization provisions of the CBRN legal instruments;
- benefits and challenges in preventing, and responding to, offences involving CBRN material, as well as sharing related information at the regional and international level;
- implementation tools on the international legal framework against CBRN terrorism developed by UNODC and other international partners;
- practical challenges related to international cooperation mechanisms in support of the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of terrorist and other criminal acts involving CBRN material, including extradition and mutual legal assistance.
UNODC’s contribution to the event was made possible thanks to the EU-funded project on “Promoting Universalization and Effective Implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism”.
