In line with relevant United Nations (UN) resolutions, such as UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 2807 on youth, peace and security, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), through its Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB), seeks to empower young leaders globally to prevent and respond to terrorism. This includes leveraging the unique role of youth in government, who can contribute fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to develop long-term commitment to international counter-terrorism legal instruments. Early-career public officials are particularly well placed to support efforts to advance adherence when equipped with the necessary knowledge and advocacy skills.
Against this backdrop, from 5 to 8 May, UNODC held the third International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) Universalization Youth Academy (ICSANT Academy), funded by the Government of Canada, to provide participants with a stronger understanding of the benefits of adherence to the Convention and to enhance their ability to advocate for it at the national level.
The event was the third iteration of an initiative designed to prepare government officials aged 35 and under from States not yet Party to the Convention to become champions for ICSANT in their respective countries. The Academy also drew on lessons and experiences from the 2024 and 2025 editions.
The 2026 ICSANT Academy brought together eight selected officials from Angola, Cabo Verde, Chad, Ghana, Micronesia (Federated States of), Samoa, South Sudan and Vanuatu, representing a range of national institutions and agencies involved in the treaty adherence process in their respective countries.
Ms. Angela Veitch, Counsellor and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Canada to the International Organizations in Vienna, welcomed participants to Vienna and stressed that “Canada is proud to support efforts to strengthen global nuclear security by promoting the universalization and effective implementation of ICSANT and related legal frameworks. Initiatives like this Academy help build the next generation of champions who will carry this work forward.”
Ms. María Lorenzo Sobrado, Head of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Terrorism Prevention Programme of the Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB) of UNODC, noted the accomplishments of the 2024 and 2025 ICSANT Academy classes to promote adherence to the Convention and highlighted that “[b]ecoming party to a Treaty is, however, just one very important of several steps. Robust national legal frameworks need to be in place, and relevant stakeholders need to be trained in their implementation. UNODC’s TPB CBRN Programme continues to be at the forefront of these efforts through outreach, provision of legislative assistance and capacity-building of criminal justice officials.”
Over the course of four days, UNODC’s CBRN Terrorism Prevention Programme staff delivered presentations on the international legal framework to counter CBRN terrorism, ICSANT’s criminalization provisions, and the technical and legislative assistance that UNODC makes available to States through projects funded by Canada and the European Union (EU). UNODC also led an interactive case study on the Convention to emphasize the practical benefits of being a State Party.
Representatives from the Group of Experts (GoE) established pursuant to UNSCR 1540 (2004), INTERPOL, Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP), as well as other nuclear security and social media advocacy experts, delivered tailored presentations. The sessions covered, inter alia, nuclear and other radioactive material and its peaceful uses, the role of international organizations and civil society, the complementarities between ICSANT and UNSCR 1540 (2004) and related assistance mechanisms, as well as approaches and tools for effective social media advocacy. Together, these presentations provided participants with a broader understanding of the nuclear security and advocacy landscape. Experts from the Global Affairs Canada Weapons Threat Reduction Programme (WTRP/GAC), the 1540 GoE, INTERPOL, UNODC’s CBRN Terrorism Prevention Programme and VCDNP engaged with participants throughout the ICSANT Academy and shared technical advice and real-world insights during the presentations and discussions.
A session on gender mainstreaming and ICSANT featured Ms. Julia Gibson, Acting Deputy Director for Nuclear and Radiological Security at WTRP/GAC, Ms. Fariza Mukanova, Gender Focal Point of UNODC’s CBRN Terrorism Prevention Programme, Ms. Lisa Dardis of the Gender Team of the Office of the Executive Director of UNODC and Ms. Federica Dall’Arche, Senior Research Associate at VCDNP. The session examined gender perspectives in the fields of nuclear security and prevention of nuclear terrorism, particularly in the context of the Convention, as well as UNODC’s strategic framework on mainstreaming gender and work to support States in integrating gender perspectives across UNODC’s mandate areas, including in counter-terrorism. It also highlighted the gender- differentiated effects of radiation, as well as Canadian priorities and strategies to promote the meaningful participation of women in the nuclear field.
A hallmark of the ICSANT Academy is its mentorship sessions with leading figures from the diplomatic, counter-terrorism and nuclear security fields. This year featured H.E. Ms. Eglantina Gjermeni, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Albania to the United Nations Office at Vienna, H.E. Mr. Carl Hallergard, Head of the Delegation of the EU to the United Nations Office at Vienna, Ms. Angela Veitch and Ms. Julia Gibson of Canada, Ms. Catherine Colthart, Assistant Director for CBRNE and Vulnerable Targets at INTERPOL and Ms. Laura Rockwood of VCDNP. Speakers shared insights from their professional and personal experiences and offered advice on how to navigate challenges. ICSANT Academy students engaged directly with senior decision makers, who shared lessons learned and practical advice on how to become effective advocates for ICSANT. The ICSANT Academy afforded participants the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice through sessions dedicated to the development of cabinet memoranda on ICSANT and social media advocacy campaigns to encourage adherence to the Convention. These sessions provided functional skills they could use upon their return to their capitals to support national adherence efforts. Groups drew upon their diverse backgrounds and national contexts. On the last day, each presented a draft cabinet memorandum and a social media campaign on adherence to the Convention.
The final session of the ICSANT Academy focused on next steps. Two graduates from the 2025 class spoke about the efforts they have continued to make to promote adherence to the Convention following their participation in the Academy. Ms. Karen Girón Abadía, First Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in the Directorate of Multilateral Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, highlighted her work with the UNODC CBRN Terrorism Prevention Programme. This included a national visit to the country in 2025 to promote ICSANT and a mock trial on ICSANT for Spanish-speaking countries in South America, held in Bogotá in 2026 with funding from the Government of Canada, in which Colombia participated as an observer.
Ms. Fatou Angélique Bessin, Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the United Nations Office at Vienna, also shared her experience and spoke about her work to advance adherence to the Convention. She highlighted coordination efforts undertaken with policy and decision-makers in Burkina Faso to help initiate the national adherence process.
The 2026 class joins nearly 30 graduates from the 2024 and 2025 editions of the ICSANT Academy, with whom UNODC continues to engage on matters related to adherence to the Convention within their respective governments. The ICSANT Academy continues to build and inspire the next generation of ICSANT champions.
