UNODC Raises Awareness and Builds Capacity on ICSANT in South-East Asia
Cooperation, at both the regional and international level, is crucial to ensure that the most serious crimes transcending borders and affecting several jurisdictions do not go unpunished. Offences involving nuclear or other radioactive material, radioactive devices or nuclear facilities are no exception in this regard, and require the harmonization of legislation, mutual legal assistance among States in connection with investigations and judicial proceedings, and the exchange of relevant information.
The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) is a key legal instrument designed precisely to address these needs, by establishing a set of measures and mechanisms to prevent and suppress radiological or nuclear crimes.
Under the European Union-funded project “Union support to promote the universalization and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism” and recognizing the importance of bringing together stakeholders from the same region, UNODC conducted several regional workshops, most recently in Bangkok, Thailand on 21-22 June 2023. The event gathered 39 participants from seven countries in South-East Asia (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam), as well as two observers.
Representing a range of institutions with operational, policy and decision-making responsibilities, participants learned about the core provisions of ICSANT and the benefits that adherence to this Convention brings, as well as its interlinkages with other relevant international legal instruments in the field of nuclear security. They were also briefed about the wide array of technical and legislative assistance services made available by UNODC and other international entities, and they engaged in discussions revolving around a fictional scenario aimed to demonstrate the practical advantages deriving from the effective implementation of the Convention.
In her video message, Ms. Marjolijn van Deelen (Special Envoy for Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, European External Action Service) highlighted that “ICSANT is a cornerstone of the rules-based international order. Since its creation […] it has evolved into a key instrument that helps us reduce the risks linked to nuclear proliferation by non-State actors […] We’ve been a proud and profound supporter of ICSANT and its many projects building on the vast experience accumulated by […] UNODC […]”
Throughout the event, UNODC experts emphasized that 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, and that it also poses serious challenges for national justice systems. In fact, while national courts are responsible for trying perpetrators, the activities leading to acts of radiological or nuclear terrorism will often take place across numerous countries, thus making effective international cooperation in criminal matters essential to investigate and prosecute these cases.
The workshop benefited from the participation of experts representing other international organizations (namely, the 1540 Committee Group of Experts, the International Atomic Energy Agency, INTERPOL, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs), as well as civil society (the Nuclear Threat Initiative and the Stimson Center). This inter-agency cooperation is a tangible demonstration of the multi-disciplinary nature of nuclear security, and it underlines the importance of working together to tackle a threat – such as those posed by acts of nuclear or radiological terrorism – that knows no borders and that requires a concerted effort by the international community.
