COUNTERING CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR TERRORISM

The risk of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) weapons or related materials being used by non-State actors for terrorist or other criminal purposes is one of the gravest concerns of our time. In response, the international community is pursuing a common legislative framework to counter this threat.

Over recent years, UNODC has increasingly scaled up its support to Member States by:

Raising awareness on the importance and benefits of adhering to and fully implementing the international legal instruments against CBRN terrorism;
Assisting national policy makers and legislators in drafting and reviewing their relevant legislation upon their request;
Conducting capacity-building of criminal justice officials to ensure effective investigation, prosecution and adjudication of CBRN-related terrorism offences;
Developing and disseminating training tools; and
Enhancing international cooperation in criminal matters related to CBRN terrorism.

Legal framework

Seven of the nineteen international legal instruments against terrorism deal, to varying degrees, with CBRN terrorism:

By incorporating the seven international legal instruments related to CBRN terrorism into national legislation, Member States are better able to fufil thir obligations set forth by United Nations Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) on the risk of proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons by non-State actors.

Mandate

The promotion of the universal adoption and effective implementation of these legal instruments is among UNODC’s highest priorities.

UNODC’s mandate in this regard was most recently reaffirmed by General Assembly resolution A/RES/74/175. The General Assembly requested UNODC “to continue, within its mandate, to develop its specialized knowledge of the international legal framework for combating chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism as enshrined in the conventions and protocols on terrorism in order to continue to provide assistance to requesting Member States in preventing and countering those forms of terrorism.”

Technical assistance tools

1. Legal training curriculum module on The International Legal Framework against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism. This training tool promotes awareness of the need to adhere to the international legal instruments against CBRN terrorism and to incorporate their provisions into national legislation. It examines the relevant international instruments and showcases their importance as effective tools to prevent CBRN terrorism. The module is also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish.

2. eLearning module on The International Legal Framework against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism. This self-paced learning tool hosted on UNODC’s eLearning platform aims to familiarise policy-makers and counter-terrorism practitioners with the requirements of the international legal instruments against CBRN terrorism. It can also assist legislative drafters and criminal justice officials with their effective implementation. The eLearning module is available in all six UN official languages, as well as in Portuguese. Upon successful completion, participants receive a personalized certificate. For registration, please contact unodc-cbrn@un.org.

3. Webinar series on Countering Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism: International Legal Approaches and Criminal Justice Responses. This series of webinars, delivered through UNODC’s Counter-Terrorism Learning Platform, aims to:

strengthen the capacity of UN Member States to detect and respond to the threat of non-State actors acquiring CBRN materials or weapons;
raise awareness of the international legal framework against CBRN terrorism; and
enhance capacities in investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating CBRN terrorism cases.

4. Model legislative provisions on nuclear terrorism: Jointly developed with the International Atomic Energy Agency, this tool can assist States with the incorporation of the criminalisation provisions of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its 2005 Amendment, and the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings.

The model legislative provisions are also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish. They are further available in section 14.3.1 of the IAEA Handbook on Nuclear Law, Implementing Legislation.

5. Website on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT). The website on ICSANT is intended to serve as a repository of all relevant resources on the Convention at the disposal of UN Member States.

6. ICSANT Training Manual: The manual on fictional cases related to offences under ICSANT is focused on article 2 of the Convention, which sets forth the criminalization requirements that need to be transposed by States parties in their national legislation. The various types of conduct that States parties are to criminalize are examined in detail, together with their salient features. The manual on fictional cases related to offences under ICSANT is focused on article 2 of the Convention, which sets forth the criminalisation requirements that need to be transposed into member states’ national legislation. The various types of conduct that States parties are to criminalise are examined in detail, together with their salient features. The manual presents a series of scenarios in the form of: (a) a concise description of a fictional case focused on a distinctive feature of the Convention; (b) a series of questions; and (c) an analysis of the case in the form of answers to the questions posed. The analysis of fictional cases is designed to illustrate the main elements of the offences established by the Convention, with a view to familiarising the reader with the wide array of acts which constitute a crime under ICSANT.

The manual is also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and Portugese.

7. Factsheet on ICSANT containing succinct description of main obligations of States Parties under ICSANT, the benefits and process of joining, as well as UNODC assistance with adherence to - and implementation of - ICSANT.

The factsheet is also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish and Portugese.

8. Leaflet on criminalisation requirements and other relevant provisions of ICSANT.

The leaflet is also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and Portugese.

9. eLearning module on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism
The module, a self-paced learning tool, examines the key provisions of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and is intended to promote awareness of the need to adhere to this Convention and to incorporate its requirements into national legislation. Upon successful completion, participants receive a personalized certificate. The module is available in all six UN official languages and Portuguese. For registration, please contact: unodc-icsant@un.org.

RADIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR TERRORISM

UNODC is currently conducting two major projects aimed at preventing and countering the threat of radiological and nuclear terrorism:

Union Support for the Universalization and Effective Implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (funded by the European Union and jointly implemented with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism)

UNODC’s outreach and technical assistance efforts have yielded concrete results. This has led to demonstrably enhanced awareness of the importance of the international legal framework against radiological and nuclear terrorism among UN Member States, and to an increased adherence to the relevant instruments. UNODC’s key role in this regard has been recognized in several fora.

Chemical and biological terrorism

UNODC cooperates with international organizations to increase awareness and promote universalization of the international legal instruments that deal with chemical and biological terrorism, in addition to radiological and nuclear terrorism:

Amid mounting concerns over the potential use of biological agents by terrorist groups, UNODC held an online event on the international legal framework against biological terrorism in September 2020. The event aimed to raise awareness on the existing international legal instruments that address the threat of biological terrorism, and discussed their synergies and complementarities.

UNODC has developed a Legal training curriculum module on The International Legal Framework against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism. This training tool promotes awareness of the need to adhere to the international legal instruments against CBRN terrorism and to incorporate their provisions into national legislation. It examines the relevant international instruments and showcases their importance as effective tools to prevent CBRN terrorism. The module is also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish.

UNODC has also developed an eLearning module on The International Legal Framework against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism. This self-paced learning tool hosted on UNODC’s eLearning platform aims to familiarise policy-makers and counter-terrorism practitioners with the requirements of the international legal instruments against CBRN terrorism. It can also assist legislative drafters and criminal justice officials with their effective implementation. The eLearning module is available in all six UN official languages, as well as in Portuguese.

UNODC is currently conducting a project on preventing and responding to chemical weapons incidents in Indonesia.

Building a Safer South-East Asia by Preventing and Responding to the Use of Chemical Weapons by Terrorists and other Non-State Actors in Indonesia. (funded by the United States of America and jointly implemented with the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI))

Relevant events

September 2023

To support Member States’ response to these threats, UNODC conducted its first online regional workshop on 20 September 2023 under the new EU Project Union Support for the universalisation and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT). The workshop brought together over 60 participants from some 20 countries in the African region.

On 18 September in Vienna, Austria, UNODC, in cooperation with UNOCT and the European Union (EU), launched the new EU project Union Support for the Universalisation and Effective implementation of ICSANT. The event, attended by more than 60 participants representing 34 Member States.

August 2023

UNODC's dedicated efforts have propelled the Republic of Albania to become the 121st party to the ICSANT Convention. This achievement, backed by the European Union, underscores UNODC's pivotal role in strengthening Albanian institutions against the specter of nuclear terrorism, effectively reducing havens for such criminal activities.

June 2023

UNODC co-organized a tabletop exercise to identify and demonstrate effective regional and international cooperation mechanisms for investigating and prosecuting radiological and nuclear crimes.

UNODC conducted several regional workshops on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), most recently in Bangkok, Thailand on 21-22 June 2023, which gathered 39 participants from seven countries in South-East Asia (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam), as well as two observers.

On 27 June 2023, UNODC conducted a country visit to Brunei Darussalam on 27 June 2023 in cooperation with the country’s Prime Minister’s Office. During the visit, UNODC held a meeting with around 30 stakeholders from relevant institutions.

May 2023

On 8-10 May 2023, UNODC conducted a workshop on promoting the universalization and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism for the Pacific region, which gathered participants from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

March 2023
On 14-15 March 2023, UNODC contributed expertise at a workshop organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), jointly with the Government of Kenya and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), for IGAD Member States (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda).

On 21-22 March 2023, UNODC held a regional workshop in Vienna to support Member States' efforts in strengthening the capacities of their criminal justice systems for the effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ISCANT) in South-Eastern Europe countries.

On 28-31 March 2023, UNODC provided expertise to the IAEA regional workshop to promote the universalization of the convention on the physical protection of nuclear material (CPPNM) and its amendment (A/CPPNM), which took place in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and gathered more than 30 participants from over 20 African States.

February 2023
On 7 February 2023, UNODC contributed to a national workshop for Mauritius to raise awareness on nuclear security for senior officials in the country.

On 14 February 2023, as part of its outreach efforts to promote the universalization of this key legal instrument, UNODC conducted a country visit to the Republic of Maldives, with a view to encouraging the country’s policy and decision-makers to consider adhering to the Convention.

On 16-17 February 2023, UNODC contributed to a high-level meeting on facilitating adherence to the A/CPPNM in Africa organized by the African Center for Science and International Security (AFRICSIS) in Accra.

December 2022
On 29 November-1 December 2022, UNODC held a pilot criminal investigation and mock trial training exercise on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), with the financial and in-kind support of the Government of Canada.

On 6-7 December, UNODC conducted a national workshop in Ghana to promote adherence to, and effective implementation of, the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT)

On 12 December 2022, to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism’s entry into force, UNODC, the Government of Canada and the European Union (EU) co-hosted a high-level event to discuss progress made since then, celebrate the Convention’s successes, and chart the future of promoting ICSANT and strengthening the global nuclear security architecture.

November 2022
On 22-23 November 2022, UNODC conducted a country visit to Iceland. The meeting offered a platform to familiarize Iceland‘s national stakeholders with the key provisions of ICSANT, benefits of adherence, and UNODC‘s available technical and legal assistance.

October 2022
In October 2022, UNODC visited to the United Republic of Tanzania to facilitate adherence to and implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.

On 17 October 2022, UNODC met with representatives from Cambodia to discuss the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. UNODC presented on the benefits of adherence to the Convention, as well as UNODC technical assistance available under its CBRN Terrorism Prevention Programme.

On 11 October 2022, the Terrorism Prevention Branch of UNODC conducted a country visit to Malaysia to facilitate adherence to and implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.

September 2022
On 26-27 September 2022, UNODC conducted a country visit to Ireland to promote adherence to, and effective implementation of, ICSANT. The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism contributes to a safer world by, inter alia, requiring its Parties to criminalize certain conduct involving nuclear or other radioactive material. Universalization and effective implementation of this Convention will ensure that there is no safe haven for alleged perpetrators.

June 2022
On 15-16 June 2022, UNODC conducted a country visit to Albania to promote adherence to, and implementation of, ICSANT.

As part of its programme to prevent and suppress chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism, UNODC launched in June 2022 the eLearning module on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).

On 28 June 2022 UNODC delivered a national workshop for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) on facilitating adherence to, and implementation of, ICSANT.

February 2022
From 23 - 25 February 2021, UNODC contributed to the IAEA international seminar on the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its Amendment (A/CPPNM) and provided substantive expertise by delivering lectures on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), its synergies with the CPPNM and A/CPPNM, as well as UNODC’s relevant assistance programmes.

December 2021
On 13 and 14 December 2021, UNODC contributed to an IAEA Regional Workshop to Promote the Universalization of the A/CPPNM for Africa.

November 2021
From 11-12 November 2021, UNODC and the IAEA held their first ever joint event to promote the universalization of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM) and ICSANT.

September 2021
UNODC delivered an online national workshop on ICSANT together with the Government of Grenada. The event was a follow-up to the regional workshop for selected CARICOM countries, which was held in Barbados in February 2020.

March 2021
International legal approaches and criminal justice responses to the threat of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism were the focus of a webinar series conducted by UNODC between 2020-2021.

December 2020
UNODC delivered a webinar on “The Implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT): The Experience of Cameroon”. The webinar was conducted in French and focused on one Member State’s experience with the adherence to and national implementation of the convention.

November 2020
UNODC delivered an online workshop for English-speaking African countries which are not yet party to ICSANT in order to promote the universalization and effective implementation of the Convention.

September 2020
UNODC delivered an online awareness-raising event on the International Legal Framework Against Biological Terrorism.

UNODC conducted two webinars, held in French and Spanish, on countering chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism. The webinars focused on UNSC resolution 1540 and its relationship to three instruments which are key components of the international legal framework on nuclear security: the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its 2005 Amendment.

July 2020
The Chief of UNODC’s Terrorism Prevention Branch, Mr. Masood Karimipour, virtually briefed the Council of Europe’s Working Party on Non-Proliferation (CONOP) on the progress made by UNODC on the implementation of Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1939 on Union Support for the Universalization and Effective Implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).

March 2020
UNODC, in cooperation with the IAEA, organized a country visit to Uganda to facilitate adherence to and implementation of the 2005 International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) and the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM).

February 2020
UNODC delivered a national workshop on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) in Manila, the Philippines.

UNODC and the Government of Barbados co-hosted, in Bridgetown, a regional workshop for selected CARICOM countries on the universalization and effective implementation of the 2005 International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its 2005 Amendment (ACPPNM).

UNODC hosted a side event on its contribution to the prevention of nuclear terrorism. The event took place during the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) International Conference on Nuclear Security: Sustaining and Strengthening Efforts (ICONS 2020), at the Vienna International Centre.

September 2019
UNODC delivered a cross-regional event on countering the financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (by non-State actors) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

June 2019
UNODC delivered a regional workshop to promote the universalization and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its 2005 Amendment for selected Latin American and Caribbean countries in Panama City.

May 2019
UNODC and UNOCT launched a project to promote the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) in Vienna.

April 2019
UNODC launched an e-Learning module on the international legal framework against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism

February 2019
UNODC held a national workshop on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its 2005 Amendment in Luanda, Angola.

March 2018
A global workshop on the universalization of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, and its Amendment was held in Vienna.

December 2017
Representatives of Governments and international organizations, including the UNODC, and other experts gathered in Vienna to mark the 10th anniversary of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).

May 2017
UNODC announces the publication of a training module The International Legal Framework against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism, ‘The International Legal Framework against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism’, part of UNODC’s counter-terrorism legal training curriculum, in the six official languages of the United Nations.

January 2017
The Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT), in partnership with Canada and UNODC, held the Vigilant Marmot Legal Frameworks Workshop in Bratislava, Slovakia.

December 2016
UNODC participated in IAEA's International Conference on Nuclear Security: Commitments and Actions held in Vienna, Austria.

May 2016
The Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material entered into force.

October 2015
UNODC, in cooperation with the IAEA, held a High-Level Workshop on the Promotion of the Entry into Force of the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material.

August 2015
UNODC helds an Expert Group Meeting on the Development of a Training Tool on the International Legal Framework against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism.

April 2015
UNODC participated in a regional dialogue on nuclear smuggling prosecutions, organized by the United States Department of State in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

December 2014
Senior officials from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Palau, Philippines, Tajikistan and Tonga gathered at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss two key international legal instruments against nuclear terrorism at a UNODC-organized workshop.

For more information on UNODC’s activities and available assistance in this area, please contact unodc-cbrn@un.org

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