The risk of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) weapons or related materials being used by non-State actors for terrorist or other criminal purposes is one of the gravest concerns of our time. In response, the international community is pursuing a common legislative framework to counter this threat.
Over recent years, UNODC has increasingly scaled up its support to Member States by:
Seven of the nineteen international legal instruments against terrorism deal, to varying degrees, with CBRN terrorism:
9. eLearning module on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism
The module, a self-paced learning tool, examines the key provisions of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and is intended to promote awareness of the need to adhere to this Convention and to incorporate its requirements into national legislation. Upon successful completion, participants receive a personalized certificate. The module is available in all six UN official languages and Portuguese. For registration, please contact: unodc-icsant@un.org.
UNODC cooperates with international organizations to increase awareness and promote universalization of the international legal instruments that deal with chemical and biological terrorism, in addition to radiological and nuclear terrorism:
December 2024
UNODC’s CBRN Terrorism Prevention Programme launched a campaign to encourage those States parties that have not yet fulfilled their obligation under article 7.4 of ICSANT to do so.
On 6 December 2024, UNODC gathered over 20 national stakeholders from Suriname at a national workshop to promote ICSANT. Coorganized with the Government of Suriname and funded by the Government of Canada, the event was opened by Ms. Krishnakoemarie Mathoera, Minister of Defence.
On 3 December 2024, Seychelles deposited its instrument of ratification of the ICSANT with the United Nations Secretary-General. On 2 January 2025, the country will become the 126th party to the Convention.
November 2024
On 26-28 November 2024, UNODC conducted a regional criminal investigation and mock trial on ICSANT for States parties from Central Asia. Co‑hosted with Uzbekistan and funded by the Government of Canada, the event brought together criminal justice officials of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
On 8 November 2024, UNODC hosted a webinar on nuclear forensics case study, the fifth webinar in its ongoing webinar series on key aspects of the ICSANT.
On 8 November 2024, UNODC conducted a national seminar on ICSANT in Moldova to train criminal justice officers and other national stakeholders on the effective implementation of the Convention.
September 2024
On 25 September 2024, Mozambique deposited its instrument of ratification of ICSANT. This event culminates over a decade of excellent cooperation between the country and UNODC on ICSANT.
From 10 to 13 September 2024, UNODC, with the support of the Government Canada, held the first UNODC ICSANT Universalization Youth Academy in Vienna
On 6 September 2024, UNODC held a webinar in Russian on nuclear forensics and ICSANT. It was the fourth event in a webinar series funded by the European Union.
August 2024
On 13-15 August UNODC conducted a training activity and held bilateral meetings in Mozambique to facilitate the ratification of ICSANT.
July 2024
In the aftermath of a chemical terrorist attack, first responders need to detect hazardous chemicals & preserve evidence while maintaining their and the public's safety. UNODC organized a simulation exercise in Indonesia to enhance the skills of officials and first responders.
On 16‑17 July 2024, in cooperation with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, UNODC conducted a seminar on ICSANT in Nigeria.
On 5 July 2024, UNODC held a webinar on nuclear forensics and ICSANT. It was the third event in a webinar series funded by the European Union.
June 2024
As part of a series of regional criminal investigation and mock trial exercises, UNODC organized a regional training entitled “Criminal Investigation and Mock Trial on ICSANT for States parties from South-Eastern Europe in Tirana.
On 25 June 2024, UNODC contributed to the 27th Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group annual meeting, which took place in Manchester, United Kingdom.
On 7 June 2024, UNODC held an event on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance during its Webinar Series on ICSANT.
On 6 June 2024, UNODC contributed to the Australia Group Plenary, which took place on 3‑7 June 2024 in Paris, France.
May 2024
On 30 May 2024, UNODC conducted a country visit to Bulgaria to promote adherence to the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.
UNODC launched its Repository of National Legislation for Implementing the Criminalization Provisions of ICSANT, CPPNM & A/CPPNM at IAEA's International Conference on Nuclear Security (ICONS).
On 22 May 2024, UNODC held a high-level side-event in the margins of ICONS 2024 to illustrate the importance of adhering to and effectively implementing ICSANT through selected tools and activities developed under projects funded by the Government of Canada and the European Union.
April 2024
On 23-26 April, UNODC contributed to a Table-Top Exercise on Nuclear Forensics and Relevant Legal Frameworks.
On 16-18 April 2024, UNODC contributed to the ASEAN regional forum (ARF) workshop “Steppe Lotus” on strengthening legal frameworks to combat CBRN terrorism.
On 12 April 2024, UNODC held the first event of a webinar series which focused on a prosecutorial perspective on ICSANT.
March 2024
On 19 March 2024, UNODC contributed to OPCW’s training workshop on preventing illicit transfers of chemicals.
On 18-19 March, 2024, On 18-19 March 2024, UNODC conducted a national visit to Nepal to promote relevant international legal instruments and contributed to a parliamentary session on nuclear and radiological security.
On 4‑6 March 2024, UNODC conducted a country visit to Sao Tome and Principe to facilitate the ratification of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.
February 2024
On 16 February 2024, UNODC conducted the second session of its virtual speaker series, which focused on international cooperation on nuclear forensics and the relevance of ICSANT.
On 12 February 2024, UNODC contributed to the national parliamentary session on nuclear and radiological security convened by Parliamentarians for Global Action in Harare, Zimbabwe.
January 2024
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.
UNODC launched a virtual speaker series on ICSANT and nuclear terrorism funded by the Government of Canada. The first event of the series was hosted on 19 January 2024 and focused on the topic of border management in the context of ICSANT
December 2023
On 12-14 December 2023, UNODC recently participated in an International Air Law Treaty Workshop, organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Legal Affairs and External Relations Bureau and hosted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) at the Singapore Aviation Academy.
On 12-13 December 2023, UNODC contributed to the first European Union CBRN Centres of Excellence–African Union Forum on mitigating risks related to CBRN materials, which was held by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute on 12-13 December 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
On 11 and 12 December 2023, UNODC conducted a seminar in Montenegro, the first within a series of national seminars for judicial and prosecution training centres, under the new EU Project Union Support for the universalisation and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT). The seminar brought together judges from across the country, prosecutors, inspectors, a representative of the national ecotoxicological research centre, and other government officials.
November 2023
On 4 December 2023, UNODC held an event, the fourth within a series of online regional workshops, under the new EU Project Union Support for the universalisation and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).
On 22 November 2023, UNODC conducted an online meeting with representatives of Brunei Darussalam on facilitating adherence to and implementation of ICSANT.
On 15 November, Parliamentarians for Global Action convened an event in Yaoundé, Cameroon to foster dialogue and action to address nuclear security concerns. UNODC presented virtually on the importance of adhering to and implementing the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).
On 14 November 2023, UNODC held an event, the third within a series of online regional workshops, under the new EU Project Union Support for the universalisation and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT). The workshop was addressed to countries in the Pacific that are not yet party to ICSANT.
On 14 November 2023, the Republic of the Congo deposited its instrument of accession to ICSANT and will soon become the 123rd State party to it. For over five years, UNODC has been working with the country to facilitate its adherence to the Convention.
October 2023
On 6 October 2023, UNODC held an online regional workshops, the second in the series, targeting French-speaking African countries not party to ICSANT and bringing together senior policy and decision makers from the region.
September 2023
On 28 September 2023, Zimbabwe deposited its instrument of accession to ICSANT and will soon become 122nd State party to this Convention. This event culminates over five years of excellent cooperation between the country and UNODC.
To support Member States’ response to these threats, UNODC conducted its first online regional workshop on 20 September 2023 under the new EU Project Union Support for the universalisation and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT). The workshop brought together over 60 participants from some 20 countries in the African region.
On 18 September in Vienna, Austria, UNODC, in cooperation with UNOCT and the European Union (EU), launched the new EU project Union Support for the Universalisation and Effective implementation of ICSANT. The event, attended by more than 60 participants representing 34 Member States.
August 2023
UNODC's dedicated efforts have propelled the Republic of Albania to become the 121st party to the ICSANT Convention. This achievement, backed by the European Union, underscores UNODC's pivotal role in strengthening Albanian institutions against the specter of nuclear terrorism, effectively reducing havens for such criminal activities.
June 2023
UNODC co-organized a tabletop exercise to identify and demonstrate effective regional and international cooperation mechanisms for investigating and prosecuting radiological and nuclear crimes.
UNODC conducted several regional workshops on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), most recently in Bangkok, Thailand on 21-22 June 2023, which gathered 39 participants from seven countries in South-East Asia (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam), as well as two observers.
On 27 June 2023, UNODC conducted a country visit to Brunei Darussalam on 27 June 2023 in cooperation with the country’s Prime Minister’s Office. During the visit, UNODC held a meeting with around 30 stakeholders from relevant institutions.
May 2023
On 8-10 May 2023, UNODC conducted a workshop on promoting the universalization and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism for the Pacific region, which gathered participants from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
March 2023
On 14-15 March 2023, UNODC contributed expertise at a workshop organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), jointly with the Government of Kenya and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), for IGAD Member States (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda).
On 21-22 March 2023, UNODC held a regional workshop in Vienna to support Member States' efforts in strengthening the capacities of their criminal justice systems for the effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ISCANT) in South-Eastern Europe countries.
On 28-31 March 2023, UNODC provided expertise to the IAEA regional workshop to promote the universalization of the convention on the physical protection of nuclear material (CPPNM) and its amendment (A/CPPNM), which took place in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and gathered more than 30 participants from over 20 African States.
February 2023
On 7 February 2023, UNODC contributed to a national workshop for Mauritius to raise awareness on nuclear security for senior officials in the country.
On 14 February 2023, as part of its outreach efforts to promote the universalization of this key legal instrument, UNODC conducted a country visit to the Republic of Maldives, with a view to encouraging the country’s policy and decision-makers to consider adhering to the Convention.
On 16-17 February 2023, UNODC contributed to a high-level meeting on facilitating adherence to the A/CPPNM in Africa organized by the African Center for Science and International Security (AFRICSIS) in Accra.
December 2022
On 29 November-1 December 2022, UNODC held a pilot criminal investigation and mock trial training exercise on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), with the financial and in-kind support of the Government of Canada.
On 6-7 December, UNODC conducted a national workshop in Ghana to promote adherence to, and effective implementation of, the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT)
On 12 December 2022, to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism’s entry into force, UNODC, the Government of Canada and the European Union (EU) co-hosted a high-level event to discuss progress made since then, celebrate the Convention’s successes, and chart the future of promoting ICSANT and strengthening the global nuclear security architecture.
November 2022
On 22-23 November 2022, UNODC conducted a country visit to Iceland. The meeting offered a platform to familiarize Iceland‘s national stakeholders with the key provisions of ICSANT, benefits of adherence, and UNODC‘s available technical and legal assistance.
October 2022
In October 2022, UNODC visited to the United Republic of Tanzania to facilitate adherence to and implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.
On 17 October 2022, UNODC met with representatives from Cambodia to discuss the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. UNODC presented on the benefits of adherence to the Convention, as well as UNODC technical assistance available under its CBRN Terrorism Prevention Programme.
On 11 October 2022, the Terrorism Prevention Branch of UNODC conducted a country visit to Malaysia to facilitate adherence to and implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.
September 2022
On 26-27 September 2022, UNODC conducted a country visit to Ireland to promote adherence to, and effective implementation of, ICSANT. The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism contributes to a safer world by, inter alia, requiring its Parties to criminalize certain conduct involving nuclear or other radioactive material. Universalization and effective implementation of this Convention will ensure that there is no safe haven for alleged perpetrators.
June 2022
On 15-16 June 2022, UNODC conducted a country visit to Albania to promote adherence to, and implementation of, ICSANT.
As part of its programme to prevent and suppress chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism, UNODC launched in June 2022 the eLearning module on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).
On 28 June 2022 UNODC delivered a national workshop for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) on facilitating adherence to, and implementation of, ICSANT.
February 2022
From 23 - 25 February 2021, UNODC contributed to the IAEA international seminar on the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its Amendment (A/CPPNM) and provided substantive expertise by delivering lectures on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), its synergies with the CPPNM and A/CPPNM, as well as UNODC’s relevant assistance programmes.
December 2021
On 13 and 14 December 2021, UNODC contributed to an IAEA Regional Workshop to Promote the Universalization of the A/CPPNM for Africa.
November 2021
From 11-12 November 2021, UNODC and the IAEA held their first ever joint event to promote the universalization of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM) and ICSANT.
September 2021
UNODC delivered an online national workshop on ICSANT together with the Government of Grenada. The event was a follow-up to the regional workshop for selected CARICOM countries, which was held in Barbados in February 2020.
March 2021
International legal approaches and criminal justice responses to the threat of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism were the focus of a webinar series conducted by UNODC between 2020-2021.
December 2020
UNODC delivered a webinar on “The Implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT): The Experience of Cameroon”. The webinar was conducted in French and focused on one Member State’s experience with the adherence to and national implementation of the convention.
November 2020
UNODC delivered an online workshop for English-speaking African countries which are not yet party to ICSANT in order to promote the universalization and effective implementation of the Convention.
September 2020
UNODC delivered an online awareness-raising event on the International Legal Framework Against Biological Terrorism.
UNODC conducted two webinars, held in French and Spanish, on countering chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism. The webinars focused on UNSC resolution 1540 and its relationship to three instruments which are key components of the international legal framework on nuclear security: the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its 2005 Amendment.
July 2020
The Chief of UNODC’s Terrorism Prevention Branch, Mr. Masood Karimipour, virtually briefed the Council of Europe’s Working Party on Non-Proliferation (CONOP) on the progress made by UNODC on the implementation of Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1939 on Union Support for the Universalization and Effective Implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).
March 2020
UNODC, in cooperation with the IAEA, organized a country visit to Uganda to facilitate adherence to and implementation of the 2005 International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) and the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM).
February 2020
UNODC delivered a national workshop on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) in Manila, the Philippines.
UNODC and the Government of Barbados co-hosted, in Bridgetown, a regional workshop for selected CARICOM countries on the universalization and effective implementation of the 2005 International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its 2005 Amendment (ACPPNM).
UNODC hosted a side event on its contribution to the prevention of nuclear terrorism. The event took place during the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) International Conference on Nuclear Security: Sustaining and Strengthening Efforts (ICONS 2020), at the Vienna International Centre.
September 2019
UNODC delivered a cross-regional event on countering the financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (by non-State actors) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
June 2019
UNODC delivered a regional workshop to promote the universalization and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its 2005 Amendment for selected Latin American and Caribbean countries in Panama City.
May 2019
UNODC and UNOCT launched a project to promote the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) in Vienna.
April 2019
UNODC launched an e-Learning module on the international legal framework against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism
February 2019
UNODC held a national workshop on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its 2005 Amendment in Luanda, Angola.
March 2018
A global workshop on the universalization of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, and its Amendment was held in Vienna.
December 2017
Representatives of Governments and international organizations, including the UNODC, and other experts gathered in Vienna to mark the 10th anniversary of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).
May 2017
UNODC announces the publication of a training module The International Legal Framework against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism, ‘The International Legal Framework against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism’, part of UNODC’s counter-terrorism legal training curriculum, in the six official languages of the United Nations.
January 2017
The Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT), in partnership with Canada and UNODC, held the Vigilant Marmot Legal Frameworks Workshop in Bratislava, Slovakia.
December 2016
UNODC participated in IAEA's International Conference on Nuclear Security: Commitments and Actions held in Vienna, Austria.
May 2016
The Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material entered into force.
October 2015
UNODC, in cooperation with the IAEA, held a High-Level Workshop on the Promotion of the Entry into Force of the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material.
August 2015
UNODC helds an Expert Group Meeting on the Development of a Training Tool on the International Legal Framework against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism.
April 2015
UNODC participated in a regional dialogue on nuclear smuggling prosecutions, organized by the United States Department of State in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
December 2014
Senior officials from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Palau, Philippines, Tajikistan and Tonga gathered at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss two key international legal instruments against nuclear terrorism at a UNODC-organized workshop.
For more information on UNODC’s activities and available assistance in this area, please contact unodc-cbrn@un.org
