Delegates from over 25 countries gather in Paris to discuss Radiological/Nuclear Detection and Links to Traditional National Security
Paris, France - The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and France, in collaboration with the United States, and through funding of the European Union and Finland, concluded a two and a half day Lutetia Tabletop Exercise and Workshop on Radiological/Nuclear (R/N) detection and links to traditional national security on 16 March 2023, in Paris, France.
The event gathered close to 70 participants from 25 countries relevant national agencies, including R/N regulatory authorities, intelligence, and law enforcement as well as representatives from International Organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
During the opening session, France indicated that links between detection based on information and traditional national security architecture were critical to address the threat in an efficient manner. France also noted that they organized this meeting in order to share best practices, lessons learnt from past experiences and thus, strengthen cooperation, regionally and internationally. Moreover, France highlighted that the meeting was to be hold in both French and English with simultaneous interpretation to maximize exchanges between experts.
In addition, UNOCT highlighted that the development of robust detection capabilities and the enhancement of the coordination of information within States and at borders is crucial to prevent and protect against the malevolent use of radiological and nuclear materials.
The United States further stressed that this exercise came at a crucial moment when the need for strong cooperation and information sharing against R/N threats is clearer than ever before.
The two-and-a-half-day international event included presentations, panel discussions and a tabletop exercise focused on how information can support the detection of R/N material out of regulatory control in the context of broader national security architectures. Through scenarios, participants learned how to identify specificities, commonalities, and interactions across conventional security architectures and nuclear security detection architectures. Participants also examined how international conventions such as the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) and domestic regulations related to national security support nuclear security detection architecture requirements. Additionally, participants exercised the coordination of information across multiple stakeholder organizations to generate actionable recommendations and improve time sensitive operations.
Background
The event was part of the European Union and the United Nations joint project on Promoting Universalization and Effective Implementation of ICSANT. ICSANT was adopted in 2005 by consensus by the UN General Assembly, entered into force in 2007, and currently has 120 Parties. UNCCT implements this global ICSANT project in partnership with UNODC. The project supports requesting Member States in capacity building to strengthen their legal frameworks and enhance their nuclear security. It also seeks to enhance appreciation of the importance of ratification and encourage effective implementation of the Convention.
More specifically, the UNCCT-led component of the project include:
- National advocacy events with Parliamentarians, relevant Ministries and national entities
- Regional workshops on border nuclear security
- a Global Academic Study on the reasons and challenges for non-adherence to ICSANT
- a Global High-Level Conference at the United Nations Headquarters
For more information, visit the WMD/CBRN webpage or contact oct-info@un.org