A robust legal framework is necessary for the establishment of strong and effective nuclear security regimes. UNODC cooperates with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to help States adhere to, and implement, key international legal instruments such as the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) and the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM). These instruments are complementary and reduce the likelihood of safe havens for acts of nuclear terrorism. They provide States Parties to them with tools to effectively prevent and suppress such acts.
UNODC recently contributed to an IAEA Regional Workshop to Promote the Universalization of the A/CPPNM for Africa, which was held virtually on 13 and 14 December 2021.
UNODC and the IAEA addressed the main provisions of ICSANT and the A/CPPNM, explained the synergies and differences between these instruments and discussed the benefits they offer to States Parties.
Both organizations promoted adherence to these instruments and encouraged States already party to them to implement their provisions in their national legislation. UNODC also provided an overview of its technical and legislative assistance programme and available resources, including the newly developed UNODC ICSANT website.
UNODC’s contribution to the workshop, including the provision of interpretation in Arabic, was made possible with funding from the European Union within the framework of UNODC’s project on “Union support for the universalization and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism”