The Republic of Tajikistan ratifies the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism

New York, 27 June 2022 – Tajikistan became the 119th State Party of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), which is one of the 19 international legal instruments to prevent terrorist acts. 

The deposit of the instrument of ratification took place during a ceremony organized by the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs at the United Nations Treaty Section in New York.  Dr. Jehangir Khan, Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), attended the event on behalf of Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of UNOCT and Executive Director of UNCCT.

The risk of terrorists gaining access to nuclear and radiological materials is a significant threat to humanity and international peace and security which requires increased vigilance. 

Mr. Voronkov congratulated the Republic of Tajikistan on the “historic ratification of ICSANT” and called for universal adherence to ICSANT to address this potential threat. He further noted UNCCT’s contribution to the ratification process, including through the organization of the National Advocacy Event with Tajikistan Parliamentarians in February 2021 to raise awareness on the Convention.

The General Assembly unanimously approved ICSANT in April 2005 and the treaty entered into force in July 2007. Tajikistan signed the Convention in 2005. The Convention obliges State Parties to extradite or prosecute alleged offenders. It also calls for cooperation among State Parties to prevent terrorist attacks by sharing information and assisting each other with criminal investigations and extraditions. 

Tajikistan has listed acceding to all international counter-terrorism instruments and treaties as a priority in its National Strategy and Action Plan Countering Extremism and Terrorism for 2021-2025. 

The event was organized within the framework of the project on Promoting Universalization and Effective Implementation of ICSANT, which is funded by the European Union and jointly implemented with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The project assists requesting Member States with capacity-building to strengthen their legal frameworks and enhance national nuclear security. It also encourages effective implementation of the Convention and seeks to enhance appreciation of the importance of ratification. 

UNOCT was established in June 2017 to provide leadership on the implementation of General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates, enhance coordination and coherence through the Global Counter-Terrorism Compact and, through UNCCT, strengthen the delivery of the United Nations counter-terrorism capacity building assistance to Member States.

For more information, visit www.un.org/counterterrorism/cct/chemical-biological-radiological or contact oct-info@un.org