Virtual Workshop – Horn of Africa: Promoting Universalization and Effective Implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT)
15 September 2021 – The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) concluded a three-day virtual workshop on strengthening cooperation in nuclear security detection and response in the Horn of Africa in collaboration with the European Union.
The event brought together participants from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda. The audience was mainly composed of representatives from Ministries or agencies in charge of border control, customs, law enforcement, radiation protection, as well as intelligence services, nuclear regulators and first responders.
The objective of the event was to examine the nuclear terrorism threat and best practices in detecting and responding to illicit trafficking of radiological and nuclear materials at State borders and within the State. How to best integrate these measures within national security framework was also discussed. Through virtual scenarios participants explored the international assistance available to States and learn how the implementation of ICSANT and other relevant international legal instruments can strengthen nuclear security at borders and help facilitate international cooperation.
The workshop discussions were enriched by the participation of international experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency, INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Customs Organisation as well as from Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, The Philippines, Uganda and the United States.
The event was part of the European Union and the United Nations joint project on Promoting Universalization and Effective Implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT). ICSANT was adopted in 2005 by consensus by the United Nations General Assembly. It entered into force in 2007 and currently has 117 Parties. The project funded by the European Union assists requesting Member States build the capacity to strengthen their legal frameworks and enhance their nuclear security. It also seeks to enhance awareness of the importance of ratification and encourage an effective implementation of the Convention.
UNOCT was established in June 2017 to provide leadership on the implementation of General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates, to enhance coordination and coherence through the Global Counter-Terrorism Compact, and to strengthen the delivery of the United Nations counter-terrorism capacity building assistance to Member States, through UNCCT.