The effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) is crucial in the global effort to prevent and respond to unlawful acts involving radioactive material, including nuclear terrorism. As the threat of such acts continues to evolve, ICSANT provides a robust legal framework that criminalizes relevant conduct, allows States parties to establish their jurisdiction and mandates international cooperation in investigating and prosecuting such cases.
On 26-28 November 2024, the CBRN Terrorism Prevention Programme of UNODC’s Terrorism Prevention Branch conducted a regional capacity-building event for Central Asian countries on ICSANT with a focus on criminal investigations and mock trials.The eventbrought together 35 participants representing supreme courts, police, prosecution authorities, national security entities, nuclear regulatory authorities and other relevant officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Co‑hosted with Uzbekistan and funded by the Government of Canada, the event was conducted in Russian.
By working through a complex fictional case, participants were able to explore ICSANT‑related investigation, prosecution and adjudication processes from multiple perspectives. This helped deepen participants’ understanding of the Convention’s provisions and their application to detect, prevent, suppress and investigate crimes in a fictional yet realistic scenario related to nuclear terrorism.
The event also included a series of presentations and panel discussions led by UNODC staff, international experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency, INTERPOL, Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, as well as national experts from Kazakhstan, the Republic of Moldova and the United States of America. These experts shared their knowledge and experiences on the unique issues surrounding the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases involving radioactive material, including illicit trafficking of radioactive material, radiological crime scene management and nuclear forensics. In particular, experts highlighted the challenges of identifying and securing evidence of nuclear-related crimes, emphasizing the importance of nuclear forensics, international cooperation and information-sharing. Discussions also focused on the role of effective presentation of evidence for building a robust case that can withstand legal scrutiny. Participants learned how to work together across disciplines and balance scientific and nuclear forensic data with legal arguments.
In conclusion, the event paved the way for more effective implementation of ICSANT by strengthening cooperation at the national and regional level and enhancing a greater collective response across the region of Central Asia to the threat of nuclear terrorism and other criminal acts involving radioactive material.
