On 19 January 2024, Palau deposited its instrument of ratification of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) with the United Nations Secretary-General. On 18 February 2024, the country will become the 124th party to the Convention.
ICSANT is a cornerstone of the multilateral efforts for preventing nuclear and other radioactive material from being used for terrorist and other criminal activities and for investigating relevant offences. By adhering and effectively implementing the Convention, any country – regardless of its size or scale of use nuclear technology – contributes to improving its national security and security worldwide.
UNODC was honoured to work closely with the Government of Palau to promote the benefits of being party to ICSANT and facilitate the country’s adherence to the Convention since 2014. In December of that year, a senior official from the country participated in a workshop on the international legal framework against nuclear terrorism (including ICSANT) for countries in Asia and the Pacific, which was organized by UNODC and funded by the Government of the United Kingdom. More recently, high‑level representatives of Palau participated in two UNODC events on universalization and effective implementation of ICSANT for countries in the Pacific, funded by the European Union: an in‑person regional workshop (8-10 May 2023, Fiji) and an online regional workshop (14 November 2023).
As the number of States becoming party to ICSANT continues to grow, the safe havens for terrorists and other criminal actors acquiring nuclear or other radioactive material will continue to diminish.
More on the topic:
UNODC Workshop for the Pacific: The Importance of Joining and Effectively Implementing ICSANT
UNODC Supports Pacific Countries Become Party to and Effectively Implement ICSANT
