Nuclear and other radioactive materials are commonly used in many countries in the fields of agriculture, medicine, industry, research and power production. While their peaceful use is important for improving the quality of people’s lives, the risk of these materials falling in the wrong hands and being used for malicious purposes is also significant. Any country can be a target of such crimes, regardless of nuclear or other radioactive material being present in its territory.
Given the transboundary nature of the threat posed by radiological and nuclear terrorism and the grave consequences it may have globally, all States need to establish robust and sustainable legal frameworks for countering it.
It is with this aim of preventing and responding to nuclear terrorism that the international community adopted the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) in 2005. ICSANT currently has 125 States parties. As a key international legal instrument for ensuring a strong nuclear security architecture worldwide, universal adherence still remains an important goal.
As part of its long-standing efforts to promote universalization of the Convention, UNODC conducted a national workshop on facilitating adherence to and implementation of ICSANT in Suriname on 6 December 2024. Funded by the Government of Canada, this event was co-hosted with the Government of Suriname and built on UNODC’s cooperation with the Suriname Non-Proliferation Authority (SNA) under the Ministry of Defence.
In her opening remarks, Her Excellency Ms. Krishnakoemarie Mathoera, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Suriname, highlighted that adherence to the Convention will not only strengthen Suriname’s national security but also contribute to international peace and stability. Minister Mathoera pointed out that “by raising awareness amongst key national stakeholders [through this workshop], the Ministry of Defense hopes to pave the way for adherence to the ICSANT”. His Excellency Mr. Sebastian Sigouin, Ambassador of Canada to Suriname, echoed in his opening statement that all States “have a shared responsibility to ensure that nuclear security is as strong as possible, and […] that there are no gaps in the international nuclear security framework that can be exploited [by criminals, including terrorists]”. In this regard, he reaffirmed Canada’s strong support for fostering cooperation at the regional and international levels to address the threat of nuclear terrorism. Reflecting on the importance of joint and coordinated efforts in responding to nuclear terrorism risks, Mr. Artem Lazarev, Programme Officer, UNODC, reiterated UNODC’s commitment to provide tailored technical and legislative assistance to States, including Suriname, in adhering to and effectively implementing ICSANT.
In this context, the workshop contributed to raising awareness on ICSANT of over 20 stakeholders representing relevant key national authorities, including the Directorate of National Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice and Police, the National Assembly (Parliament), the National Armed Forces (Military Police), and the Office of the Attorney General. In particular, UNODC’s experts presented the Convention’s key provisions related to criminalization, jurisdiction, international cooperation, and extradition, as well as relevant assistance that the Office can provide to support Suriname’s adherence to, and implementation of, ICSANT. Through an interactive scenario-based discussion, the workshop also demonstrated the benefits of joining ICSANT including by facilitating international cooperation through the exchange of information on nuclear security threats, as well as prosecution and extradition of alleged offenders. Lastly, the meeting also allowed the national stakeholders to discuss the adherence process at the national level and steps to be taken towards this aim.
