Strengthening multilateral cooperation to enhance nuclear security and counter terrorism (Counter-Terrorism Week Side Event)

Good afternoon.
Excellency' distinguished delegates, colleagues and friends on behalf of the co organizers from the European Union, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations Inter Regional Crime and Justice Research Institute, the United Nations Office of Trucks and Crime, and ourselves, United Nations Office of Counterrorism.
I am pleased to welcome you to the side event entitled Strengthening Multilateral Cooperation to Enhance Nuclear Security and Coterrorism, promoting the universalization and effective implementation of the International Convention for the suppression of Acts of nuclear terrorism, known as ENT.
As we mark the 20th anniversary of the United Nations global counter terrorism strategy, this discussion provides a timely opportunity to reflect on the importance of international cooperation in strengthening nuclear security and preventing acts of nuclear terrorism.
It allows us to highlight the value of EN as a cornerstone of the international legal framework against terrorism and to examine ways to advance the universalization and effective implementation.
I would like to thank all of our partners and speakers for joining us today and for the continued commitment to strengthening the global efforts against nuclear terrorism.
I would also like to acknowledge that we have a lot of people connected online and that the event is being broadcasted at UN web TV.
To begin our event, I am pleased to invite Mr.
Mao teco, Director of the United Nations Coterrosm Center of UN OCT, to deliver his opening remarks.
I Cm.
Thank you very much, Rik and good afternoon to everybody, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen.
On behalf of the UN Office of Counter Terrorism, it's really my pleasure to welcome you all to this side event during the fourth United Nations Counterterrorism Week.
I would like to start by expressing my strong and deep appreciation to our partners and the co organizers of these events, the European Union, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations Inter Regional Crime and Justice Research Institute, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
For their continued collaboration and commitment to strengthening global efforts to prevent and counter nuclear terrorism.
I also wish, of course, to thank all of the member states, international organizations, and the experts who are joining us today, both here in this room and online.
This year, counterterroris Week is taking place under the theme a future free from terrorism, consolidating the global commitment to multi stakeholder approaches to counter terrorism through member states leadership and action.
Few areas demonstrate the importance of this team more clearly than nuclear security and the prevention of nuclear terrorism.
The threat posed by terrorists and other non state actors seeking to acquire, develop, or use nuclear or other radioactive material remains a serious concern for the international community.
While the probability of a nuclear terrorist attack is low, the consequences of such an attack will be catastrophic.
Such an attack would cause loss of life, widespread social and economic disruption, environmental damage, and other long lasting impacts across borders and across generations.
Preventing such attacks require vigilance, preparedness, and above all, cooperation.
Prevention requires robust national capacities in every country.
It requires effective international partnerships.
It also requires strong legal frameworks and practical mechanisms for cooperation.
Prevention requires sustained political commitment to ensuring that no gaps exist to be exploited by those who seek to use radioactive or nuclear material for terrorist or criminal purposes.
International Convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism or EXN is a cornerstone of these efforts.
As one of the 19 universal legal instruments against terrorism, EXN provides a comprehensive legal framework for criminalizing acts involving nuclear and other radioactive material, facilitating international cooperation in investigations and prosecutions, and strengthening collective responses to evolving threats.
Convention is relevant to all states, which is why universalization is critical.
In fact, ExN addresses not only nuclear material, but also other radioactive material used daily in medicine, industry, agriculture, and scientific research.
Such materials are present in every country, making effective legal and institutional safeguards a shared responsibility.
While significant progress has been achieved since the convention entered into force, Universal adherence remains an unfinished task.
More than one third of the United Nations member states have yet to become parties for exam.
Universalization is therefore not simply a legal objective, it is a security imperative.
Over the past seven years, UNIC and UNODC with the general support of the European Union have worked together, in line, of course, with the International Atomic Agency and Uniq to advance the Uization and effective implementation of EXN through dedicated global projects.
These initiatives have supported legislative assistance, provide capacity building, regional international dialogue and technical cooperation with member states literally across the entire globe.
The results demonstrate the value of multilateral action.
Through partnership with member states, UN counters compact partners, regional counterparts in the European Union or in the African Union and many others, we have been able to strengthen awareness, build expertise, and support concrete progress towards adherence and implementation, but important work remains ahead.
As terrorist threats continue to evolve and technological developments create new challenges and opportunities, international cooperation must continue to adapt.
We must strengthen information sharing, promote coordinated assistance, enhance legal preparedness, and ensure that the international framework remains fit for purpose.
This year also marks two important milestones.
We commemorate the 20th anniversary of the UN Global counterterroris strategy, a landmark document that guides international counterterrorist methods.
Of course, we also look ahead to the adoption and implementation of the ninth review, which reaffirms the commitment of member states to prevent terrorists from acquiring nuclear chemical and biological materials.
Today's discussion offers an opportunity to take stock of progress achieved, identify remaining gaps, and consider practical ways forward.
It is also an opportunity to reaffirm a fundamental principle that no state can address the threat of nuclear terrorism alone, only through effective multilateral cooperation, shared responsibility, and sustained commitment To international law, can we ensure that nuclear and other radioactive materials are never used to advance terrorist objectives? I hope today's discussion will further strengthen momentum towards, of course, the full universalization and effective implementation of EN.
I thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Medco, for those opening remarks and I'll turn the floor to miss Xiao Huang L, representative of UNODCs New York Liaison Office to provide her opening remarks.
Miss Lee.
Thank you, moderator for giving me the floor.
Excellency distinguished delegates and dear colleagues.
It's my great pleasure on behalf of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, also referred to as your ODC to welcome you all to this side event on promoting the universal adherence and effective implementation of EcoSN.
It's also my honor and UNODC honor to co organize this event together with EU IAEAUOCT and Uniq.
I would also like to express our appreciation to the European Union for funding this activity and for continuously supporting our efforts to promote Eccent.
This event is yet another testament to the EU and UNODC longstanding cooperation on Eccent which dates back to 2019.
As Mr.
We mentioned just now that nuclear technology and radioactive materials deliver important benefits in areas such as medicine, agriculture, and research and industry.
At the same time, there remains a risk that they could be acquired or misused by non state actors for terrorist, terrorist or other criminal purpose, given the transnational nature and potentially devastating consequences of radiological and nuclear terrorism.
All these must establish robust national legal policy frameworks to prevent and combat such threats.
EN is one of the 19 international legal instruments against terrorism that ODC is mandated to promote by the resolutions of the general assembly.
It is an essential tool for preventing and responding to terrorist and other criminal conduct involving nuclear or other radioactive material and for improving nuclear security worldwide.
Since ECN was adopted on 22,005, UNODC has been providing states with relevant legal, technical and operational support to promote its universal adherence and effective implementation on the projects funded by Canada, the European Union, and the United States of America.
Our work is to the grant.
First, we support universal adherence to exam by engaging with state not yet a party to the convention.
Since 2023, seven states has joined Exam with direct support from UNODC.
Second, we assist states in effectively implementing the convention through legislative assistance, capacity building and development of tools and the complementary projects respectfully funded by Canada, the European Union and the US UNODC has developed a dedicated website for the convention to share relevant information and resources and also promoted the designation of points of a contact by these parties and promoted their cooperation.
UODC also trained criminal justice and other relevant officials to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate relevant terrorist and criminal cases in this regard and expanded outreach and awareness raising activities to policymakers, practitioners, and diplomats.
Yesterday at the next conference room, we organized together with our donors from US the and seminar to raise awareness on the convention.
So I would also like to share that throughout the above mentioned efforts, UODC regularly cooperates and coordinate with multilateral partners.
For example, with U OCT and also the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, we held high level side event at the margins of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on preventing and suppressing nuclear terrorism while respecting human rights.
And also together with IAEA, we joined forces in promoting the legal framework for nuclear security through a series of seminars.
So we have developed and disseminated specialized guidance for criminal justice officials on radiological and nuclear terrorism with unique R and other partners through a prosecutor guide to radiological and nuclear terrorism and crimes.
And also with Interpolse through its radiological and nuclear terrorism prevention unit, we held the Pb Cub exercise on Ein for Southeast Asia.
So, ladies and gentlemen, the convention currently has 127 states parties.
It's still far from reaching universality.
So we still need to work together to achieve the universalization of the convention, and UDC will remain commitment to join forces with our partners to support member states in this regard.
And also, I wish you a fruitful and successful discussion.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, miss Lee, for these opening remarks.
And I have the pleasure of inviting miss Elena Bklova, Director of the Division of Nuclear Security, Department of Nuclear Safety and Security of IEA to deliver her remarks.
Thank you very much.
Excellency, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, On behalf of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is my pleasure to welcome you to this jointly organized event.
From the beginning, I would like to highlight the importance of the international legal framework in achieving the highest levels of nuclear security globally.
The International Convention for the Suppression of the Acts of nuclear terrorism, together with the Convention on the Physical Protection of nuclear material and its amendment or CPP&M and its amendment, are key components of this framework empowering states against criminal acts involving nuclear and other radioactive material.
Effective nuclear security regimes are built on this legal framework.
This legal framework is essential because it sets the ground for international cooperation and assistance, and it also helps to ensure that those participating in criminal acts are brought to justice and are denied safe havens.
It goes without saying that the more countries join these conventions, the stronger the legal framework becomes and the stronger the international nuclear security regime becomes.
Ladies and gentlemen, the IA plays a recognized central role in strengthening the nuclear security framework globally and in coordinating international activities in this field.
As part of that role, the IA helps states adhere to and implement the instruments in the area of nuclear security through various legislative and technical assistance tools.
The CPPNM has been essential to nuclear security around the world since its entry into force on eight of February 1987.
The 2005 amendment expanded the scope of the CPPNM to cover nuclear facilities and nuclear material in domestic use, storage, and transport and provides a foundation to establish effective nuclear security regimes at the national level.
We already heard that this year marks several important anniversaries.
Let me add another one in the list because this year also marks tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the amendment of the CPPNM and we are delighted to witness a growing global commitment to this significant legal instrument.
As of today, there are 165 parties of the CPPNM of which 138 have joined the amendment.
The Director General of the IA has a role as depository of the CBP&M and its amendment.
In addition, the IA is, in fact, tasked with certain specific functions under the CPP&M and its amendment, as well as for EN.
These functions, approved by the IA Board of Governors are primarily related to facilitating international cooperation, information sharing, and assistant in the event of criminal acts having taken place.
Ladies and gentlemen, as we continue to advance the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology, The objective we are aiming at, it is important to acknowledge and address the risks associated with the potential misuse of nuclear and other radiactive material.
These nuclear security threats are real and they continue to evolve.
Since any state could be affected by an act of nuclear terrorism, all states have a responsibility to strengthen collective capacity to prevent such materials from being used to cause harm.
This is a risk we cannot take.
The establishment and maintenance of a strong legal framework to prevent and combat such criminal acts is a fundamental part of this effort, emphasizing criminal deterrence and accountability.
To conclude, the IA actively collaborates with member states and international organizations, including UNODC, UNIC and Uniq to promote further adherence to and full implementation of the nuclear Security International Legal framework, reinforcing the shared commitment to strengthening global nuclear security.
I thank you.
Thank you very much, miss Boko and also for the excellent cooperation that we're enjoying.
I now give the floor, finally to Mr.
Orin McCarthy, the New York Liaison Officer of Unqree.
Over to you.
Thank you, Ulrich.
Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of UNIC, the United Nations Inter Regal Crime and Justice Research Institute.
First of all, allow me to thank you and OCT and our fellow partners for organizing this important discussion and for their continued efforts to promote the universalization and effective implementation of Exam.
When we discuss nuclear security, much of the conversation understandably focuses on the legal frameworks, international commitments, and treaty obligations.
These are essential.
But ultimately, their success depends on implementation in practice.
EN provides the legal foundations, but translating its provisions into action requires operational preparedness, institutional coordination, and practical cooperation between the many actors responsible for the prevention, detection, and responding to nuclear and radiological threats.
From Uniq's perspective, this is where we focus our efforts.
Through both our nuclear security program and through the European Union CBRN Risk Mitigation Centers of Excellence Initiative, we work closely with member states to translate international commitments into practical capabilities.
Our focus is on strengthening capacities, improving coordination, and supporting the development of trusted networks amongst practitioners, primarily within the criminal justice space.
In the Middle East, for instance, we recently concluded the AR Z 2025 exercise, which is the third counterterrorism CBN field exercise in Lebanon, which focused on strengthening interagency cooperation to address radiological and nuclear threats.
This exercise brought together national authorities and more than ten international partners and organization to test and validate capacities developed over several years.
It highlighted how sustained cooperation, capacity building, and strengthening institutional resilience even in highly complex geopolitical environments is critical.
Similarly, across Central Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia, we have supported training activities, exercises, and regional cooperation initiatives designed to strengthen preparedness and improve operational responses.
As a further example, last December, in partnership with UN OCT, we convened a regional tabletop exercise in Tashkent, bringing together authorities from Kazakstan Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan to test intelligence sharing and operational and cooperation mechanisms relevant to the implementation of the convention.
Next week in anda, together with you and OCT once again, we will support a regional exercise involving Benin, Cameroon, Cultivir, and Senegal, focus on testing operational responses and strengthening regional preparedness.
While the context differs, the objective remains the same, ensuring that the principles contained within IN are translated into practical capabilities and effective cooperation mechanisms.
Increasingly, however, this also requires attention to emerging challenges.
Preventing acts of nuclear terrorism depends not only on effective law enforcement cooperation, but also on stronger public private partnerships, which are essential to secure supply chains, identify suspicious procurement networks, and detect proliferation financing activities before sensitive materials can be diverted for malicious purposes.
Ladies and gentlemen, preventing acts of nuclear terrorism requires legal frameworks, but it also requires sustained cooperation, regular exercises, information sharing, and continued investment in the people and institutions responsible for implementing these commitments on the ground.
UNIC remains committed to supporting member states in this regard and to working closely with UN OCT, as well as our other partners in UN ODA, UNODC, the IAEA, European Commission, Interpol, and the many more that play a role in strengthening international cooperation and operational preparedness.
On behalf of UNIC, thank you once again.
Thank you very much for those remarks, Lauren.
With that, we will move to our first segment on focusing on how Exan contributes to strengthen nuclear security and counterterrorism efforts globally.
It will be presented by the two implementing partners of the Exan Pro, the two Marias.
I'm conscious of the time and want to make sure that we have time also to hear from our guests, so grateful if both of you can keep it crisp and short.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, the participants.
I promise I will be brief.
We just want to walk you a little bit about a very practical presentation on xN.
I think we have understood from our main speakers in the opening remarks that radiological nuclear terrorism is a threat, but now we want to get into more of the practical details of how this impacts member states and also regional security and stability.
So with that said, we will start with a small video, a short video on a case study on Tajikistan and how this project help make progress towards the universalization of action, but also effective implementation.
So just a very 2 minutes bear with me with the video.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
This is an example of how through this project, we have been supporting member states from the ratification process or adherence process to effective implementation.
We wanted to share that.
Then I wanted to brief you a little bit about my presentation and how it's structured.
Just to understand a little bit more Extent, I will work with you through what, why, who, and when.
Hopefully this will be interesting presentation for you.
One third of state are still not party to Extent.
20 years after the adoption of Ian, substantial progress has been achieved.
Today around two thirds of states have joined the convention, demonstrating a broad international recognition of the importance of preventing and responding to acts of nuclear terrorism.
However, the universalization has yet to be fully realized.
Although there is a widespread support for the objectives of the convention, the challenge today is reaching the remaining states that have not yet adhered and have an understanding what is preventing this progress.
This really matters because every additional state party strengthen the global legal framework for preventing, investigating and prosecuting acts involving radioactive and nuclear materials.
If support for the convention is broadly shared, why have some states still not joined? Moving into the why.
UCT through this project in partnership with the non governmental organization Ver Verti has conducted a study and it has been distributed.
You have it on your table.
This is the study, so we are launching it today after a series of regional events with the African Union, the Organization of American States, and also on the Silence of the NPT.
We produced this study just to understand the reasons and challenges for states for not joining EN, as well as the effective implementation practices.
Study found that barriers are largely practical rather than political and the study is available online, but also, as I mentioned before, it's hard copies are distributed here today.
There is also a link in the presentation.
So in terms of barriers, so we have the structure of the study divided into which are the problems and which are the solutions.
So if we are to talk about the awareness gap, many officials are simply unfamiliar with Dxcent, its benefits and its support available for help to join.
For instance, in the survey conducted for the study, 71% of respondents identify a general lack of awareness.
Second, there is a relevance gap.
Sorry, I'm going to go through all with my presentation.
Second, there is a relevance gap.
Some states, particularly those without nuclear facilities, do not immediately see how the convention applies to them.
Even through radioactive materials are widely used in areas such as medicine, agriculture, and industry, and I think this has been highlighted by many speakers prior to my intervention.
Third, there is a capacity gap, legal reviews, inter ministerial consultations, and legislative drafting all required time and expertise that might be limited.
There is also, finally, an assistance gap.
Support exists, but many states are not fully aware of these tools, expertise, and assistance that are available to them.
In fact, 62% of the survey respondents of this study said that avenues for assistance were not sufficiently publicized.
But the good news is that also through the study, we have found some solutions.
When we talk about awareness raising, to address this awareness gap, states themselves highlighted the value of outreach and awareness raising activities.
Activities such as the one we're having today discussing with member states the relevance and importance and the practicalities of the convention implementation are very important.
For instance, to address the relevance gap, member states also identify the regional workshop tabletop exercises help demonstrate the relevance of Ns at the operational level.
When we talk about capacity gap, states emphasize the importance of practical training and legal assistance.
Lastly, to address the assistance gap, states identify the need for accessible tools such as model legislation, legal analysis tool, and sustained support throughout the process.
Member states have told us clear needs, and that's what is reflected on the study.
So who? Moving to who.
Everybody plays a role.
Achieving universality and effective implementation is not the responsibility of a single actor.
I take a moment here to reflect about the theme of this City Week and the importance of multilateralism and working hand by hand with partners.
Extend full potential could be achieved only if all the stakeholders take action.
For instance, we have states that are not yet party.
They can take the first step by initiating national discussions, requesting support, and joining the convention.
For instance, state parties have the obligation to effectively implement EN, but they could also have a multiplier effect by sharing experiences with other member states, lessons learned and practical examples of implementation.
International organizations.
We can contribute in providing inter assistance, training, legal expertise, and partner with international community to enhance safety and security and of course, promote accent.
Importantly, partners and donors.
They can help us to sustain a long term support that many states require.
The main idea here is that universalization advances most effectively when every stakeholder contributes where they can and we generate a greater impact.
So how? OCT, with the funding of the European Union and in collaboration with UNODC have been implementing work to promote and support universalization of Exan and its effective implementation since 2019, sorry.
One important lesson from the project is that progress really comes from a single workshop or one single event.
Instead, successful assistant follows a journey.
It often begins with awareness raising and national discussions that build understanding and political support.
This is also followed by legal review to identify gaps and national legislation.
States can also receive support in drafting legislation and completing ratification procedures or adherence procedures.
Finally, the implementation assistant helps to ensure that legal obligations are translated into practice, and also practical trainings can follow to build capacity.
So moving on to when? Sorry.
Just 1 minute.
Basically through this initiative, more than 1,000 officials from over 120 member states have participated in the training and capacity building, but the most important is not the 1,000, the number, but behind every participant, there is a policymaker, a legal adviser, a prosecutor, a diplomat, or technical experts who returns home with the knowledge needed.
Uh, so just mostly to conclude, we want to promote that we're working with the European Union and UNODC in the next phase of this project.
So it's expected approval from next week from the European Council.
But very quickly, from OCT side, we will be working on visibility and advocacy events like today one.
For instance, this is an example.
We had a side event of the MPT and you see the special envoy of the European Union sitting next tomorrow, and also Ambassador Okeke from the IA and a representative of the Tikistan.
So that's how we collaborate together.
We will be also working in regional workshops and tabletop exercises, so we will be having three.
I think this is of interest for member states in different regions of the world.
We normally focus on detection, forensics response and mitigation.
My presentation will be available of whoever wants to reach so no problems.
And three regional and sub regional peer to peer workshops as we advance with the project, we noticed that it's very important that member states talk to each other and share experiences, and we will have one national training as well from our rich portfolio of training that we have been disseminated to the project.
With that, I thank you and I hope I'll make it on time moderator.
Thank you.
Just.
Thank you very much, Maria.
I'll turn it now to the other Maria Maria Lorenzo Serrao, who is the head of the CBRN Terrorism Prevention Program of UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch.
Over to you, Maria.
Thank you very much, Ulrich.
Good afternoon, everyone.
Excellency, panelists, esteemed colleagues.
It is a great pleasure to be here today and to brief you on the work that UNODC has been carrying out for 21 years since the adoption of Exam in 2005.
We do so thanks to our donors, European Union, sponsors of this event today, Canada and the United States of America.
You know this is delighted to discuss our work among so many partners and states we work with, the world of this city week comes to mind, multilateralism.
I will just give you a brief overview of the work that we are doing and why we are doing it.
Exan has some common key provisions on criminalization, jurisdiction, and international cooperation.
This is common to all international legal instruments against terrorism.
Our functions related to EN are now under the umbrella of us being the Secretariat for everything that is non depository functions.
We are in charge of a Providing states with assistance with regard to the designation of competent authorities and liaison points, to assist them also with regard to the optional jurisdiction, also with the outcomes of national proceedings, and with regard to the competent authorities and liaison points that I was mentioning before, We held in March this year the first meeting of competent authorities and liaison points, which was very successful.
It was the culmination of a campaign that we launched to revitalize these points of contact because when we started out of the 120 something at the time, states parties to kan, only 20 had designated focal points and now that number thanks to this campaign has greatly increased.
We are also holding kan does not foresee um, conference of states parties.
But for the past three main anniversaries, we have been holding high level events to commemorate entry into force.
The next one, the 20th anniversary of the entry into force will take place next year in Vienna.
Our mandate to work on xN is reiterated on a regular basis by the General Assembly and is conferred to us by the member states, of course.
As I mentioned before, these are donors that enable us to assist states with the universalization and effective implementation of xN.
We started years ago focusing, of course, on universalization and raising awareness and while we keep doing that, we have been moving on as it is demanded by states parties to help them on how to effectively implement the convention through legislative assistance, through tabletop exercises, through mock trials, through a variety of means always adapted to the needs of the different states at the regional, at the national level.
Here I will show you just some select activities on what we have been doing for many years on universalization.
Trust that the presentation will be circulated because you see the hyperlinks where you can find all the details on each of these events.
You can see, for example, as an example of our excellent cooperation with the IAA, our joint events to promote universalization of FXN and the amendment to the CPP&M Here you can also see some of our country visits, regional workshops, our youth academy to promote the convention among diplomats of states not yet Party and high level seminars like the one we had yesterday funded by the US in Bienna, Nairobi, Geneva, New York, to raise awareness among new diplomats who might not be familiar, we also do some regional events.
Recently, we had a webinar on exam for Con countries in cooperation with Caron.
Here, I would like to show you the seven most recent adherence to EN, which happened as a direct result of very close cooperation and accompanying of UNODC of the recipient states.
The most recent adherence was the one of Ecuador in February 2025.
How about effective implementation? I will show you also a snapshot of our select activities.
We do judicial trainings for national judicial trainings for judges and prosecutors.
We also do mock trials where we bring together frontline officers, law enforcement, nuclear forensic experts, judges, prosecutors, and we walk them through a fictional case where we end up with a real mock trial where the case is adjudicated.
We are also doing tabletop exercises with our border management brand and in cooperation with Interpol and we also bring experts from the IIE and other relevant stakeholders, where what we do is also through a fictional scenario, show what should be done in the case of the detection of a radioactive source and a crime that happens under exam.
I mentioned before the first meeting of the points of contact in our website, you can find all the information on this.
Right now, we increase the number 20-69 points of contact.
We have a long way to go.
There are some states in the room that I have already recognized as parties, but they have not yet designated a point of contact, so I will be trying to discuss with you bilaterally.
Here you have our tools for effective implementation, which you can find in our website, the most recent are some developed understanding of the European Union on model legislative provisions that we have developed years ago, on synergies among the xN, CPP andM and its amendment, complementarities with resolution 15 40, jurisdictional aspects of xN.
By the way, you have a QR where you can access our website, which which has all this information and more available in all six UN official languages.
Our latest tool is a video on the procedural history of EN.
Here you have the QR to see directly.
It's also available through subtitles in all UN official languages, and it features practitioners, experts, representatives of member states and here we see the special envoy of the European Union.
This is the website, I mentioned before, it has received over 140,000 visits and it's really a repository of all information existing on xan, not only in all six UN official languages, but also many documents have been translated at the request of states and thanks to our donors in many other languages.
Very briefly, this is our last slide, our mandate.
We are headquartered in Vienna, but we have a very vast full presence which help us deliver in a timely manner and have effective collaboration with national authorities, also the effective partnerships with relevant partners, all of these in the table, for instance.
We are the depository of conventions against organized crime, which means that Exan which also covers acts committed with a criminal intent other than terrorist benefits from the in house expertise we also have on other types of crimes.
We have a proven track record of work for the past two decades in promoting ex and extensive expertise in counterterrorism in the area of preventing radiological and nuclear.
A terrorism, plus we are a multilingual team that speaks more than 11 languages, and this has proven very effective in terms of surpassing language barriers that sometimes are one of the impediments to becoming party to Exam.
With this, I thank you very much.
I invite you to avail yourself of all the documents we have developed and here you also have our email addresses in case you have any questions or would like more information.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Maria and also for keeping within the time.
Much appreciated.
We will now turn to of international partnerships and institutional synergies in advancing nuclear security objectives.
I'm delighted to give the floor back to miss Bukloa over to you.
Thank you very much, Excellency, Distinguished delegates.
Let me now contribute to presenting the full picture of the topic which were discussing during this side event by building on what was already provided by our collaborators with whom we closely work together with you to this important topic.
Well, first of all, let me mention that we are all living in the times with rapid technological changes, I think everybody would agree, but also with evolving security threats.
In such situation, international community must remain united even more than ever to prevent nuclear terrorism and to make sure that all of us together assist member states in addressing their needs in this area.
This is why international cooperation is so important and it's also important within the topics we are discussing today.
Exams also additional angle which I mentioned already regarding CPPNM and its amendment.
You heard already the word universalization in the previous presentations, and I would like also to add a little bit more explanation of how does IA is utilizing its central role in strengthening nuclear security globally by coordinating international assistance for universalization of amended CPPNM.
There are different tools which we are utilizing and you have information about some of these tools in front of you on the table.
Of course, this starts from capacity building efforts and there are various training courses on all subjects of nuclear security, which we are providing by Meat's request nationally, regionally and internationally.
There are also peer reviews and you have a brochure in front of you with abbreviation of PAS, it's International Physical Protection Advisory Service.
Even by the title, you see the direct relevance to the conventions, for example, CPP&M and its amendment.
And we also have a frame within which together with countries, we assess what is a country need and how is the best to achieve it based on prioritization done by the country.
This frame is also an abbreviated way called ISSP, Integrated Nuclear Security Sustainability Plan.
Within this plan, it's multi year plan, we together with the countries, with the recipients and with the donors, work towards achieving the objectives.
Just give you a few numbers of the extent and the breadth of activities which we are doing.
94 member states of the IA have signed SSSP plans.
110 IPAS missions were already conducted since its beginning in 90s of the last century.
For the extent of capacity building which we are doing, only for last year, as an example, around 4,000 trainees benefited from our training courses through more than 150 events which we conducted.
Many of these events are conducted with expertise of international organizations with which we collaborate and there is always ongoing dialogue of how can we do it even better, even more effective in order to avoid duplications of efforts? Because I think it's essential everyone would agree with this.
Now, I would like also to say that I think for both EN and CPP and A and its amendment, there is an important emphasis on the international cooperation.
And this is essential, this international cooperation, first of all, for the reason of information sharing and operational coordination.
There were quite a few examples presented already by UnisT I know YouC about the events which we conducted jointly.
It goes without saying is a demonstration of how it works together and the importance of this operational coordination.
And also, I mentioned already coordination among international organizations.
This is similarly important.
Talking about capacity building, I would like also to mention the existence of a very unique facility which IAEA put together and inaugurated in October of 2023.
It's IAA's Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Center, the only international training center in nuclear security.
Many of the participants from countries around these tables were already there.
I'm pretty sure to say this because since the start of the operation in October 2023, already more than 4,000 participants from 1337 member states were trained there through around 140 events.
You see we are not yet three years in operation, but it's already quite a significant numbers.
Part of these events are also train the trainers, which means amplifying the outcomes and increasing the knowledge in countries.
All of this is to implement CPP&M and its amendment and also contribute to EN because as I say, these are very important pillars of legal framework for nuclear security.
I think that all of us would agree that universalization adherence to these important legal instruments, it's very important for strengthening nuclear security.
But let me bring another angle of why it is important.
It's important to strengthen public confidence in the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology.
We are talking about peaceful uses of nuclear science of technology.
We are talking about increased number of countries who build their nuclear power programs.
Well, SMR, if I bring on the table, so this is also topic of discussion.
Public confidence is essential and our efforts on universalization on presenting and explaining robust legal framework for nuclear security regime is important for the public.
Raising awareness was mentioned overall, but it's also valid for the public.
Through raising awareness, we are increasing the public confidence.
I would like to conclude by saying that IA stands ready to continue supporting member states through legal and technical assistance, guidance and training.
As I mentioned, several examples are on your table.
Please feel free to reach out to us.
How can we assist and work together even better? Because together, we can ensure that nuclear and other radiactive material remain secure, allowing the expansion of peaceful uses of nuclear technology for the benefit of sustainable development.
Thank you.
Thank you very much again, Mr.
Mala, for that very interesting insight to the work of IAA on this topic.
With that, I invite miss Mariette Del Cama Munoz Gonzalez, Director of counterterrorism at Interpol to share perspectives on international law enforcement cooperation in preventing and responding to threats involving nuclear and other radioactive materials.
Over to you.
Thank you very much for giving me the floor.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.
On behalf of Interpol, allow me to extend our appreciation to our esteemed colleagues at UNO City, UNODC, Uniq, the agency, and the European Union for organizing this important event and for giving us the opportunity to contribute in recognition of the key role of law enforcement in nuclear security.
We will all agree that the consequences of a malicious incident involving radioactive materials would be unique and far reaching.
With the global movement of criminals and terrorists, law enforcement agencies must be prepared to counter and respond to deliberate incidents or the consequences of unintentional incidents.
Regardless of whether a country has radioactive materials or facilities, radioactive material can and is being trafficked across borders, whether it is for criminal or terrorism intention or for unlawful disposal as waste.
Reports of incidents involving radioactive materials persist across multiple regions worldwide.
Whether the Americas, Europe, Asia, or the Middle East, no region is immune to the threat.
Any regulatory gaps or any security vulnerabilities can potentially grant criminals access to these materials.
In 2025 alone, Interpol learned of 416 radiological and nuclear incidents globally, ranging from unauthorized shipment and disposal to theft and cyber related incidents.
Indeed, thanks to a dedicated team of experts and its GGP project, Interpol closely monitors the occurrence of radiological and nuclear incidents.
Our incident collection strategy includes direct reporting from law enforcement, agencies of Interpols 196 member countries, in person bilateral or coordination meetings, and open source media reports scanning.
Interpol also built on the reporting by regulators to the agency, liaising with law enforcement to get a detailed account of investigations to ensure threats are appropriately understood and categorized.
Further, we are proactively gathering information through four very active regional information sharing working groups, the Black Sea and Caucasus, the Central Asia, the Southern Africa, and the Southeast Asia one.
By fostering a trust based environment at the regional level, Project Geiger has successfully encouraged law enforcement agencies to share intelligence, allowing the country to we threat and risk and ensure they have or built an effective response and investigative capability.
For example, in May 2025, during the Southern Africa working group, six concrete cases linked to the illicit use of radioactive materials rev reported for the first time to an international organization.
In return and with the states permission, we proactively share the collected information with other member countries through secure channels, including analytical reports, digests, bulletins, and our notice system to ensure that they are equipped with the latest insights and knowledge.
To give law enforcement the ability to perform their work, an appropriate legal framework is essential.
Being party to ENT and the amendment CPPM and adopting comprehensive nuclear legislation will help build a national emergency response structure capable of providing acute and rapid coordinated response when an incident occurs.
Thanks to the criminalization of key offenses in your national criminal or penal legislation, your law enforcement agencies will be able to conduct investigations, and it will also ensure your country doesn't serve inadtly as safe havens for criminals, lowering the risk that non state actors exploit these substances to destabilize national institutions.
Further, transnational cases and investigations require consistent legal frameworks and mechanisms for criminal justice systems to be able to work together.
Being party to XN and the amendments CPP andM and fully implementing them will give your law enforcement the ability to detain and bring offenders to justice.
Finally, detecting and investigating radiological and nuclear incidents demands highly specialized skills within law enforcement.
Whenever a new law is adopted, it naturally drives the need to enhance law enforcement capabilities to the level required for its enforcement.
Interpol plays a vital role in this process.
We identify and prioritize member countries facing the highest radiological and nuclear threats and engage with them long term, provide a measurable intelligence driven support tailored to their needs.
For example, in 2025, alone, we organized 12 training sessions benefiting over 280 individuals, better preparing them to deliver an effective end to end response to nuclear security incidents.
This could not be possible with the support of Global Affairs Canada, Department, UK Department of Energy Security, and NetZero, and the US Department of Energy, which I would like to thank In this technical field, law enforcement cannot act alone.
Multi stakeholder engagement is essential to address the threat effectively.
At the international level, collaboration among all relevant organizations is equally critical.
Interpol works closely with partners like UNODC, the agency, and UN OCT.
In that contribution to its others training and awareness programs ensure that the law enforcement voice is included and understood by the scientific and technical community.
Coordination through platforms such as the border monitoring working group and the agency, information exchange mechanism also ensures coherence among us.
Together, through shared expertise, coordinated action, and unwavering commitment, we can build a safer, more secure future for all.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, miss Munoz Gonzalez, for emphasizing the importance of operational cooperation in this regard.
We will now turn to some of the member state perspectives on regional approaches to promoting EN adherence and implementation.
And since we have a video statement, I would like to defer first to His Excellency D and invite Mr.
Stanislav Vasilko ambassador at large, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakstan to take the floor.
Thank you.
Chair, it's my honor to address to you excellent distinguished colleagues and distinguished friends.
I saw, let's say, not colleague but brother.
You see our diplomatic world is not so big, so we It's a good opportunity to meet here one more time.
Yesterday, I have been in the UN office in ODC, one more time, diplomatic very close.
Let me briefly inform you about Kazakhstan's position and what we are doing in this sphere.
First of all, Kazakstan welcomes the convening of these timely discussions on strengthening multilateral cooperation to enhance nuclear security on counterterrorism.
For my country, this topic is not an obstruct.
Kazakhstan made a historical choice to close the same Plaatinsk nuclear test site and voluntary renounce the nuclear arsenal inherited after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Since then, nuclear disarmament, non proliferation, and nuclear security have been central pillars for Kazakstan's foreign policy.
Today, the threat of nuclear terrorism remains one of the most serious risks to international peace and security.
It is a low probability for extremely high impact threats.
Even a single incident involving radiactive material sabotage of a nuclear facility or the use of ideologic dispersal device would have consequences far beyond national borders.
That is why my country Kazakhstan considers exam as essential part of the global counterterrorism architecture.
Kurdistan signed Exam in 2005.
As previous speakers has announced, this year is one more anniversary and ratified in 2008.
The convention now has 127 states parties, but unionization has not yet been achieved.
This gap matters.
Terrorist networks exploit legal, institutional, and operational gaps.
A fragmented legal framework weakens our collective ability to prevent, investigate, prosecute, and punish acts involving nuclear and radioactive materials.
In our view, the value of exam lies in three practical areas.
First of all, it's criminalized concrete acts related to nuclear terrorism, including possession, use, sure, attempt, and participation.
This is important because prevention starts with clear domestic criminal legislation.
Second, it creates a basic for judicial, extradition, and mutual legal assistance.
Nuclear terrorism cannot be addressed by one country all alone.
Evidence, suspect materials and financial chains may be located in different jurisdictions.
EN help states cooperate through established legal channels.
Third, it links counterterrorism with nuclear security.
The convention complements other instruments, including the convention of the Fyical Protection of nuclear material and these amendments, as well as IAR guidance and the system mechanism.
From Kazakhstan perspective, universalization of EN should be accompanied by effective implementation.
Ratification is necessary, but is only the first step.
We believe that implementation should focus on several concrete priorities.
15 priorities.
First, states should review and where necessary, update national criminal legislation to ensure that all offense under examt are fully covered.
This concludes not only the actual use of radiactive material, but also street attempt accomplice liability and unlawful procession.
Second, states should strengthen border customs and law enforcement capabilities to detect and interdict illicit trafficking of nuclear and addictive materials.
This requires equipment, training, information sharing, and clear operational protocol.
Third, national authorities must be able to investigate nuclear security related offenses.
Prosecutors, judges, and investigators need special knowledge.
As many countries, the challenge is not political will, but technical and legal capacity.
Fourth, states should improve coordination between nuclear regulators, intelligence service, law enforcement, customs, emergency response authorities and prosecutors.
Nuclear Security cannot function in institutional silos.
Fifth, international organizations should continue providing targeted assistance.
We highly value the role of the United Nations Office of Counterterrorism, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the other partners in supporting legislative reviews, capacity building and technical cooperation.
Kayah also supports stronger regional cooperation.
In Central Asia, our countries have a direct interest in preventing the illicit movement of radiactive materials, strengthening border security and protecting critical infrastructure.
Regional dialogue, joint exercise, and practical information exchange can significantly enhance press.
Kayahstan has sought to contribute to global nuclear security through concrete action.
We host the IAEA enriched Uranium Bank in Osten, which becomes operational in 2019.
This project demonstrates that peaceful nuclear energy, non proliferation and nuclear security can reinforce each other when supported by trust, transparity, and multilateral cooperation.
We also attach importance to the Central Asian nuclear weapons free zone, which reflects our regional longstanding commitment to reducing nuclear risks.
Looking ahead, Kazan would like to underline three messages.
First, all states that have not yet joined Exam should consider doing as a matter of priority.
Universal participation would close legal safe havens and strengthen the principle of expedite or persecute.
Second, status parties should move from formal adherence to practical readiness.
Laws must be enforceable, institutions must be prepared, cooperation channels must work before a crisis occurs.
Third, nuclear security and counterterrorism must remain firmly multilateral.
No state is immune from this threat and no state can address it alone.
Kayah stands ready to work with member states, the United Nations agencies, regional partners to promote the effective implementation of Exam.
In conclusion, The goal is clear to ensure that nuclear and radioactive materials never fall into the hands of terrorists and that our legal institutional and operation system are strong enough to prevent detection and response to such threats.
I finish, but let me say a couple of words not about this topic.
I invite everyone to forthcoming side event that we are going to hold together with my Central Asian countries on 1st of July.
The topic will be Central Asian experiences on the persecution, rehabilitation and reintegration of returns from conflict zone.
We are happy that among others, one of the speaker will be women who has been in Syria in Al Camp, who had been reprated by Kazakh authorities six years ago, she will tell her real story.
Please come.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Excellency.
I'll be there, looking forward to it and thank you for your statement and also for the continuous support of Kazakhstan to our office.
Including to my team, we are very grateful, even if we lost one colleague just the other day who's going back to the ministry, I know.
With that, we will now watch the video statement from miss Christina Camacho Terran, the Director of Human Rights and Peace Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador.
I apologize.
We are running a little late, but I think we can wrap up within the next ten, 15 minutes.
Thank you.
Your Excellency, dear colleagues, good afternoon.
I would like to begin thanking the European Union, UNODC, and the co organizers for inviting Ecuador to this panel.
I am glad to bring Ecuador's approach to the universalization and implementation of the International Convention for the suppression of Acts of nuclear terrorism accent.
The Convention is a key instrument within the International Legal Framework against terrorism.
It establishes clear obligations to criminalize conduct related to the use or threat of use of nuclear and other radioactive materials, and it strengthens international cooperation in mutual legal assistance, extradition, and information exchange.
It was the first legally binding instrument to reach beyond nuclear material to radioactive material more broadly, sources used every day in medicine, industry, agriculture, and research and present in almost every country.
That is why the convention matters to all states, including those with no nuclear infrastructure, as the case of Ecuador.
In an increasingly complex security environment, the universalization of this convention remains a shared priority for the international community.
Ecuador deposited instrument of accession on the 7th of February 2025, becoming the most recent member and the 127th State Party.
We did so as an expression of our commitment to multilateralism and to combating terrorism in all its forms.
That step was the result of an important interinstitutional work to ensure the convention's compatibility with our national legal framework.
It was approved by the National Assembly and ratified by the Executive.
Later, it was incorporated into our domestic law.
Throughout the accession process, we relied on UNODC, in particular, its CBRN terrorism prevention program, and on the projects that UN OCT and UNODC have run with the support of the European Union and other partners since 2019, including an in country mission to Ecuador in June 2024.
Accession opened a process of progressive implementation.
Ecuador is assessing reforms to its criminal code to reinforce the criminalization of the misuse of nuclear or radioactive material for terrorist purposes and to strengthen our investigative and prosecutorial capacities.
This work follows three lines, adapting the legal framework, deepening international cooperation, and building institutional capacity.
Ecuador places this within a broader commitment to nonproliferation.
Security Council resolution 15 40 requires every state to adopt and enforce laws that keep nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and related materials away from non state actors.
2023-2024, Ector served as non permanent member of the Security Council.
During its tenure as chair of the 15 40 committee, Ecuador highlighted the difficulties in fully implementing the resolution due to several factors, including the lack of adequate financial resources, technical expertise, legal frameworks, and implementation capabilities.
In 2024, my country prepared and presented its first voluntary national action plan, 2027, 2025, 2028, for the implementation of resolution 15 40.
The plan's objective is to strengthen our national mechanisms against terrorism and keep dual use materials that could serve to develop weapons of mass destruction out of the reach of non state actors, including groups linked to terrorism.
A key lesson from Ector's experience is the importance of a comprehensive approach to implementation, combining legal and regulatory reforms with institutional capacity building and specialized training for justice operators.
These measures also have to respect human rights and due process.
Without doubt, international cooperation has been essential in closing technical and legal gaps.
My country has participated in regional training sessions, legislative workshops, simulation exercises, and exchanges of best practices which have significantly contributed to strengthening interinstitutional coordination and improving the operational understanding of the challenges associated with the implementation of ECNT.
For instance, last March, we took part in a UNODC regional exercise, a criminal investigation and mock trial based on the convention that tested coordination among our authorities.
I would like to underline that this side event falls in the year that marks 20 years of the United Nations global counterterrorism strategy and its ninth review.
It is a fitting moment to renew our commitment.
Ecuador's experience shows that accession is within the reach of every state and that the benefits are visible in a stronger national framework and in a firmer international regime against nuclear and radiological terrorism.
Ecuador reaffirms its commitment to multilaterlism, to international cooperation, and to the effective implementation of the universal counterterrorism instruments.
We encourage states that have not yet joined the convention to do so and to draw on the technical assistance available, including through UNODC, the International Agency, Atomic Energy Agency, and UN OCT.
Thank you very much.
We thank miss Camacho Terran for that statement and for the good example that they're setting in Ecuador for the ratification of excent.
We turn last on this session to Mr.
Idris Munillai Director of the African Union Coterrorism Center to provide a regional perspective on promoting adherence and implementation to Accent.
Thank you.
Over to you.
Thank you very much.
I'll try to be as brief as possible because I'm in the way of the closing remarks, I think being the last speaker in this side event.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished participants, allow me, first of all, to thank UCT and the co organizers for inviting the African Union to this side event and also allowing us the space and time to be able to share with you our regional perspective.
Um, globally, I think we heard that 69 nations or roughly 69 nations have yet to become party to accent.
Nearly 40% of that global gap sits on our continent.
This means Africa holds the key to changing the global matrix on nuclear counterterrorism.
By resolving our own internal legislative bottlenecks and accelerating ratification within the African Union, We don't just secure our own borders.
We single handedly close nearly 40% of the remaining legal vulnerabilities that are still hindering and impacting the global security net.
Indeed, when we talk about e scan, we are talking about a global net designed to catch non state criminal actors.
But a net is only as strong as the anchor points for Africa or the continent or the African continent, that anchor point is the Pinaba Treaty.
By establishing a nuclear weapon free zone, African member states did not just reject state level nuclear proliferation.
They drew in 1996, that is, a definitive line in the sand gas nuclear terrorism long before the I accountant or accent was adopted in 2005.
While the Pilinaba Treaty makes Africa a nuclear weapon free zone, it does not, however, make it a nuclear risk free zone.
Radioactive sources are used across the continent in hospitals, mining, agriculture, research, and industrial application.
Every African state has materials, facilities, or transport chain that require regulations and protections.
Meanwhile, across the Sahel and beyond, decentralized terrorist groups or networks exploit fragmentation between customs, border agencies, regulatory bodies, and law enforcement.
These are exactly the gaps accent was designed to close.
The barriers of accession are very well understood, and they are procedural, not political.
Competing legislative priorities, limited awareness among decision makers, coordination challenges across multiple national authorities.
However, we have member states that have done quite some effort in that respect.
Zimbabwe is one of them that demonstrated in 2024 that all of these can be overcome through sustained engagement.
We have Ghana also as another example that is actively competing or completing its ratification.
Having signed the convention nearly 20 years ago.
These are replicative or replicable paths, not exceptional cases.
Excellencies, Africa is not starting from scratch, that's clear and I hope I made it clear.
If not, then I have to go back to my first paragraph.
The institutional architecture under the Plinaba Treaty through ACON provides a ready foundation.
The OCT vertic legislative Analysis tool now offers states a practical instruments for mapping legal gaps.
And planning reforms and the African Union's own Continental strategic plan of action on counterterrorism, 2026, 2030 that we're leading in developing integrates ENT implementation within its legal harmonization and capacity building pillars.
What the AUCTC or the African Union Coterrosm Center asked for in this room is straightforward.
First, that ENT universalization and effective implementation in Africa be approached through partnership, peer exchange and targeted legislative assistance, not through pressure.
Second, that implementation support be embedded in existing national and regional counterterrorism systems rather than treat it as a standalone obligation.
Third, that AFCON, the AUCTC and regional economic communities be fully engaged as partners in delivering that support, not merely as recipients.
In that regard, the AUCTC has taken an active role in driving this agenda earlier this month on the 10th of June 2026 and I have to thank you for that.
Together with OCT, we convened over 100 participants from 21 African member states along AfCOn Interpol.
UNODC, UNODA vertek to take stock of where member states or where the continent stands in ex.
The picture that emerged was clear.
There is strong appetite among African member states for practical support, legislative guidance and peer exchange.
There is a growing recognition that the path to accession is more accessible that many had assumed.
That event was in itself a demonstration of the EU leadership on this field, and we intend to sustain the momentum through African Union Continental Plan of action, as I said earlier, and through continued engagement with every partner in this room, in particular those ones sitting at the high table.
The value of excent lies in prevention.
It allows states to act before a crisis, cooperate before a threat crosses borders, and prosecute before impunity becomes a vulnerability.
For Africa, this is about strengthening our own resilience and ensuring that the gaps between our systems do not become opportunities for those who seek to exploit them.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Lalli, for that excellent statement and for the excellent partnership that we have in this project and beyond.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are coming to the end, and I would like to invite miss Anna Strata, the special envoy for counterterrorism of the European External Action Service of the European Union to deliver the closing remarks, Madam.
Good afternoon.
I'm very glad to be able to join this very important event on behalf of the European Union.
The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of nuclear terrorism is a key pillar of global nuclear security.
It is also a clear example of what can be achieved through a rules based international system with the United Nations at its core.
We are very grateful to the United Nations Office of Counterterrorism through its UN City Center, global program on preventing terrorist use of weapons, and also to the UNODC Terrorist Prevention branch through its CBRN terrorism Prevention Program for their work to promote the universalization implementation of EN.
Your outreach and capacity building activities, many of them funded by the European Union, have already benefited dozens of countries around the world.
The work of UNOCT, UNODC, and also very importantly, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Uniq and Interpol remains indispensable for global nuclear security.
The convention remains the only legally binding international instrument that criminalizes malicious acts involving nuclear or other radioactive material.
It also provides the tools to bring perpetrators to justice.
It helps states build strong legal frameworks and strengthens international cooperation so that there are no safe havens for those who misuse such materials.
In today's increasingly complex and volatile global security environment, the risk of nuclear and radiological attacks, wherever by terrorist groups or other malicious actors can no longer be treated as remote or hypothetical.
Attempts to acquire, traffic or deploy radioactive materials underscores the urgent need for vigilance, preparedness, and robust legal frameworks.
In a context marked by evolving and multifaceted threats, the importance of the convention continues to grow.
The European Union is among the largest supporters of EXN, promoting its universalization and effective implementation in full respect of the rule of law and fundamental human rights.
Very soon, a new EU project in support of ExN again to be implemented by the UNODC and the UNOCT will be adopted.
Our aim remains to strengthen national capacity, enhance international cooperation, and collectively reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism while advancing the broader objectives of nuclear disarmament, non proliferation, and international security.
I would also once again like to thank UN OCT and UNODC for the very fruitful cooperation with the EU.
So far, it has resulted in various outreach events, learning and training tools, judicial education, tabletop exercises, and legislative assistance to interested states.
These tools are at your disposal on the UNODC EN website funded by the European Union.
Ladies and gentlemen, the European Union encourages all UN member states that have not yet done so to join the convention.
It is very important.
By doing so, you will help advance our shared goal of universalization of EN and strengthening the global nuclear security architecture worldwide.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, miss Esa, for those closing remarks and for the continued support of the European Union.
As mentioned, we are looking forward to starting a third phase of this EN project that we're implementing together with you and ODC.
I encourage all member states that require the assistance to reach out to us.
We look forward to working with you in the years to come.
This closes the event.
Thank you very much.