Over 57 ministers and more than 2000 experts from over 130
countries and 35 international organizations are meeting at IAEA
headquarters this week to reaffirm their common commitment for
strengthening nuclear security globally. At the
International Conference on Nuclear Security: Sustaining and Strengthening Efforts
(ICONS 2020), taking place from 10 to 14 February in Vienna,
participants will also take stock of their efforts to ensure the
security of nuclear material and technology.
“Nuclear security applies to every country, whether it does or does
not have nuclear and other radioactive material,” said IAEA Director
General Rafael Mariano Grossi in his opening statement at the event.
“Threats to nuclear security know no borders and the IAEA is the focal
point for international cooperation to ensure that we can all work
together to address and respond to this global challenge.”
The aim of nuclear security is to prevent, detect and respond to
potential nuclear security events if terrorists or other malicious
actors get hold of nuclear or other radioactive material or sabotage
associated activities.
Earlier today, delegates
adopted a declaration
to enhance global nuclear security and counter the threat of nuclear
terrorism and other malicious acts. In the declaration, IAEA Member
States reaffirmed the common goals of nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear
disarmament and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and recognized that
nuclear security contributes to international peace and security. Read
the full text of the ministerial declaration here.
“The contribution of the IAEA to global peace, security and
development is pivotal. I am confident that today’s outcomes will be
reflected in the IAEA’s 2022 to 2025 Nuclear Security Plan. This is our
chance to shape the vision which will channel Member States’ efforts and
the work of the IAEA to ensure nuclear security in the coming years,”
said Bogdan Aurescu, Romania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, co-president
of the Conference.
As the world’s only ministerial-level international conference on
nuclear security, this platform brings together ministers, policy
makers, technical and legal experts to discuss and identify specific
issues to further enhance nuclear security and to address the key role
it plays to ensure the sustainability of benefits from the peaceful
applications of nuclear technology.
“As an inclusive international platform for nuclear security issues,
ICONS is a truly unique opportunity for the international community to
take ownership of strengthening nuclear security on national and
multilateral basis,” said Federico Alfaro Boyd, Viceminister of Foreign
Affairs of Panama, Co-President of the Conference.
At over 50 technical sessions during the week, experts will explore a
large range of technical and scientific questions, such as confronting
insider threat by workers or others with legitimate access to nuclear
installations and material, increasing transport security, and the use
of emerging technologies. Other sessions include the deterrence benefits
of criminalizing offenses to unauthorized access and use of materials;
the IAEA’s technical support to countries; physical, cyber and human
elements of national nuclear security regimes; and the importance of
integrating nuclear security into human resources development programs
at nuclear installations and other facilities where radioactive material
is used.
