Crimes involving radioactive material may be less common than other terrorist or criminal acts, yet the threat of occurrence of such crimes is real. Global trends indicate that criminal groups, including terrorists, are actively seeking nuclear or other radioactive material to be used for malicious purposes. The transnational nature of the threat posed by radiological and nuclear terrorism requires a unanimous and coordinated response from the international community and Member States.
In this regard, it is critical that Member States have adequate legal frameworks in place to address such risks and strong national justice systems to effectively implement these frameworks.
The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) is an essential tool for preventing criminal acts, including terrorist acts, involving nuclear or other radioactive material and improving nuclear security worldwide. It sets forth mechanisms designed to facilitate and strengthen international cooperation in criminal matters related to the offences it establishes. The effective implementation of this instrument facilitates international cooperation, including the exchange of information on relevant radiological and nuclear threats and the prosecution or extradition of alleged offenders.
Through its legislative and technical assistance initiatives, UNODC supports States to adhere to ICSANT and works with State parties to the Convention to enhance the capacities of their criminal justice officials to effectively investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate crimes involving nuclear or other radioactive material, while also promoting international cooperation in criminal matters.
Building on its longstanding collaboration with the Government of Thailand in preventing nuclear terrorism and strengthening nuclear security, the CBRN Terrorism Prevention Programme of UNODC’s Terrorism Prevention Branch has partnered with the Office of the Attorney General of Thailand to co-organize a national seminar on ICSANT for prosecutors. This event also served as a follow-up to UNODC’s Regional Workshop on Promoting the Universalization and Effective Implementation of ICSANT for South-East Asia, which was held in Bangkok, Thailand in June 2023, where participants expressly requested UNODC to conduct additional training on the Convention.
During the national seminar, held at the Thailand Institute of Justice in Bangkok on 24-25 February 2025, 40 prosecutors from Thailand were trained, including from local provinces, on the effective implementation of the Convention. The training also provided participants with the knowledge and skills required to effectively investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate offences involving nuclear or other radioactive material, or nuclear facilities.
The event was opened by Mr Jumpon Phansumrit (Deputy Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General of Thailand), Ms Francesca Arato (Team Leader, Regional Team for Asia and the Pacific, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, European Commission, Delegation of the European Union to Thailand), and Mr Benedikt Hoffmann (Deputy Regional Representative, UNODC Regional Office for South-East Asia and the Pacific). In his opening remarks, Mr Phansumrit reiterated Thailand’s commitment to implement its obligations under ICSANT and, in this regard, highlighted the importance of enhancing the knowledge and skills of prosecutors to effectively prevent and respond to nuclear terrorism acts. Ms Arato emphasized the essential role of the prosecutors “… in ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice and that the legal system effectively addresses these complex issues”. She further noted that it is through such joint efforts with Thailand, UNODC, and other international partners that “we are building a stronger, more effective global network to address nuclear terrorism”. Complementing these remarks, Mr Hoffmann, in turn, expressed UNODC’s readiness to continue to provide tailored legal and technical assistance to Member States, including Thailand, on the effective implementation of the Convention, in line with its mandate entrusted by the United Nations General Assembly.
In this context, the national seminar allowed for discussions on the importance of establishing and effectively implementing necessary legal frameworks and promoting regional and international cooperation to address the challenges of nuclear and radiological crimes. The event started with a discussion of the threat landscape related to nuclear terrorism and other criminal acts involving nuclear or other radioactive material, followed by a presentation on specific elements of the offences criminalized by ICSANT, as well as mechanisms it establishes to prevent and counter the threat. Participants also engaged in an interactive exercise putting theory into practice through a fictional yet realistic scenario that demonstrated the application of the Convention’s key provisions. The event also provided a platform for the prosecutors, UNODC, and invited national and international experts (including INTERPOL) to exchange views on challenges and good practices related to the national implementation of ICSANT and discuss further cooperation and capacity-building opportunities.
This national seminar was the fourth in a series of trainings for judicial education and training centres under a project funded by the European Union “Supporting the universalisation and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism”.[1]
More on the topic: UNODC Holds First National Training Seminar in Montenegro for Judicial and Prosecution Training Centres on ICSANT
---------------------------------------------
