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  1. Workshop on strengthening legal frameworks to combat CBRN terrorism gathers 16 countries representatives

Workshop on strengthening legal frameworks to combat CBRN terrorism gathers 16 countries representatives

A three-day ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Strengthening legal frameworks to combat Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) terrorism took place from 16 to 18 April 2024, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 

The workshop aimed at strengthening the capacities of the ARF participants to better prevent, detect, and respond to CBRN terrorism threats, which pose grave challenges to national, regional, and global peace and security.

This operational level workshop included presentations, panel discussions, and a tabletop exercise exploring ways for ARF participants and international organizations to enhance cooperation and coordination in addressing CBRN terrorism and related non-State actor nonproliferation issues. These included strengthening legal framework implementation and operationalization. 

The participants had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the key international legal instruments including the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, or ICSANT. They learned more about criminalization, jurisdiction over specified offenses, obligations to extradite and prosecute, and cooperation both at the national and international levels. 

The workshop entitled “Steppe Lotus” was organized by the Governments of Mongolia, the United States of America and Viet Nam, in collaboration with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and co-funded by the European Union.

The workshop gathered close to 70 participants from 16 countries, and experts from the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Justice, Indonesia, Mongolia, Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNNL), Viet Nam, UNOCT and UNODC.

Background

The event was part of the European Union and the United Nations joint project on Promoting Universalization and Effective Implementation of ICSANT. The project funded by the European Union is implemented within the framework of the UNOCT Global Programme on Countering Terrorist Use of Weapons and supports requesting Member States in capacity building to strengthen legal frameworks and enhance nuclear security. The project also encourages the ratification and effective implementation of the ICSANT Convention.

ICSANT was adopted in 2005 by consensus by the United Nations General Assembly. It entered into force in 2007 and currently has 124 States Party. 

In December 2022, the General Assembly reiterated its concern about the growing risk of linkages between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) (). In particular, the General Assembly recognized that terrorists may seek to acquire WMD and appealed to all Member States to consider ratification of ICSANT while encouraging States Party to review their implementation. 
 

 

For more information, visit: /counterterrorism/cct/chemical-biological-radiological...

or contact: oct-ctweapons@un.org

 

Mongolia’s State Secretary, Mr. Ankhbayar Nyamdorj opened the workshop by reminding that ARF is committed to addressing and countering CBRN terrorism and the workshop is a forum to learn and work together for effective and sustainable solutions that transcend borders.   
Mr. Matthew Ference, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Mongolia stressed that countering CBRN terrorism is a no-fail mission that requires a united front with a strong legal framework.
The Deputy Director General of the ASEAN Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, Ms. Le Thi Thu, highlighted the importance of multilateralism in countering CBRN terrorism and called for enhanced capacity building with international and regional organizations.
H.E. Ms. Axelle Nicaise, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Mongolia insisted on the vitality of universalizing instruments such as the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).
Mr. Mauro Miedico, UNCCT Director, underlined that adhering to relevant conventions, such as ICSANT, is essential to address those threats and that UNOCT continues to support Member States to take and strengthen measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction.
Mr. Roberto Arbitrio, UNODC’s Terrorism Prevention Branch Chief, reaffirmed the value of international conventions given the issues CBRN terrorism poses in terms of jurisdictions and legal systems.