UNODC Holds National Training Seminar on ICSANT for Criminal Justice and Other Authorities
of Ukraine
The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) provides States with a legal framework to enhance their criminal justice systems and address certain unlawful actions by non-State actors involving nuclear or radioactive material, or nuclear facilities for terrorist or other criminal purposes. Successful implementation of ICSANT is essential to ensuring robust prevention and response measures against nuclear and radiological terrorism.
As part of its efforts to support States in developing strong and sustainable legal frameworks, UNODC works to build and enhance national capacities for preventing and responding to crimes under ICSANT.
On 28 February 2025 in Zilina, Slovakia, UNODC held a national seminar on ICSANT for Ukrainian criminal justice officials. The seminar sought to sensitize criminal justice practitioners to the effective implementation of the Convention and equip them with the necessary understanding and knowledge to effectively investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate offences involving nuclear or other radioactive material, or nuclear facilities.
This seminar was conducted as part of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Research Institute’s (UNICRI) Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) criminalization workshop, which focused on improving Ukraine’s capabilities in CBRN investigations, prosecutions, and adjudications. The event took place on 27 and 28 February 2025, building on the previous successful collaboration between UNODC and UNICRI for a similar activity for the
Republic of Moldova and further contributed to effective coordination and complementarity of technical assistance under the EU-funded initiatives.
It brought together 30 participants, including representatives from Ukraine’s Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office, Laboratory of Quality and Safety of Agriculture Products, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, National Guard, National Police, Novovorontsovskyi District Court, Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office, Office of the Prosecutor General, Prosecutor’s Training Center, Security Service, State Border Guard Service, State Ecological Inspection, State Emergency Service and State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate.
The seminar deepened participants' understanding of the international legal framework against CBRN terrorism, including the vital provisions of ICSANT and its links to and synergies with other relevant legal instruments. Ukrainian stakeholders also learned about UNODC’s mandate and the available legislative tools for assisting in the prevention of CBRN terrorism.
Following presentations by UNODC and the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Moldova, participants took part in a fictional case study that explored an investigation and response to radiological crime. The case study highlighted ICSANT’s provisions on criminalization, jurisdiction, and international cooperation, while stressing the need for effective multi-agency communication, coordination and cooperation.
This seminar marked the fifth and final event in a series of training sessions organized for judicial education and training centers under the European Union-funded project, "Supporting the Universalization and Effective Implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism."
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