Â鶹APP

The Â鶹APP Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), through its Â鶹APP Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT), organized on 12 May 2026, at the Â鶹APP Headquarters in New York, a side-event entitled ¡°Advancing the Fight Against Nuclear Terrorism: Recommendations and tools for the universalization and implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT),¡± which took place on the margins of the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

The event brought together high-level speakers from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Â鶹APP Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), the Â鶹APP Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and Member States.
When it comes to acts of nuclear terrorism, Mr. Mauro Miedico, Director of UNCCT, emphasized that ¡°the humanitarian, environmental, and economic consequences of such acts would be catastrophic, and would undermine international peace and security.¡±

Mr. Stephan Klement, Special Envoy for Non-Proliferation and Disarmament of the European Union reminded that ¡°from the perspective of the European Union, promoting the universalisation and effective implementation of ICSANT is a clear priority.¡±

Referring to ICSANT and the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material as amended, Ms. Vivian Okeke, Representative of the Director General of the IAEA and Director of the IAEA Liaison Office to the Â鶹APP in New York underlined that those instruments ¡°provide a framework for establishing effective nuclear security regimes, forming a basis for international cooperation and assistance [¡­]¡±

Amid growing global security concerns, the event highlighted urgent international efforts to strengthen the legal framework aimed at preventing terrorism involving nuclear and other radioactive materials.

A key feature of the event was the presentation of findings from a comprehensive study conducted by the Verification Research, Training and Information Centre (VERTIC), in collaboration with UNOCT, analyzes global trends in adherence to ICSANT. The study also identifies political, legal, and capacity-related challenges faced by States that have not yet joined the Convention.

Bringing together Member States and international partners, the event contributed to:

• Highlight global and regional trends in ICSANT adherence
• Examine barriers to universalization
• Introduce practical tools to support implementation
• Fostere dialogue and cooperation to strengthen global action

Background

The event was conducted within the framework joint project of the Â鶹APP and the European Union on Supporting Universalization and Effective Implementation of ICSANT. The project is funded by the European Union and implemented jointly by UNOCT and the Â鶹APP Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

was adopted in 2005 by consensus by the Â鶹APP General Assembly, entered into force in 2007, and has 127 States Parties as of May 2026.

In December 2023, the General Assembly reiterated its concern about the growing risk of linkages between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) (A/RES/78/43). In particular, the General Assembly recognized that terrorists may seek to acquire WMD and appealed to all Member States to consider adherence to ICSANT while encouraging States Parties to review their implementation.