Preventing the Acquisition by Terrorists of Radioactive Materials and Sources

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 98e Preventing the risk of radiological terrorism, published in 2008.

What’s in this document?

9 operative paragraphs

Calls upon Member States to support international efforts to prevent the acquisition and use by terrorists of radioactive materials and sources, and, if necessary, suppress such acts, in accordance with their national legal authorities and legislation and consistent with international law;

Urges Member States to take and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent the acquisition and use by terrorists of radioactive materials and sources, as well as terrorist attacks on nuclear plants and facilities which would result in radioactive releases, and, if necessary, suppress such acts, in particular by taking effective measures to account for, secure and physically protect such materials and sources in accordance with their international obligations;

Encourages Member States to enhance their national capacities with appropriate means of detection and related architecture or systems, including through international cooperation and assistance in conformity with international law and regulations, with a view to reflecting and preventing the illicit trafficking of radioactive materials and sources;

Welcomes the entry into force on 7 July 2007 of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism,1 and invites all Member States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify this instrument as soon as possible, in accordance with their legal and constitutional processes;

Invites Member States, in particular those producing and distributing radioactive sources, to support and endorse the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency to enhance the safety and security of radioactive sources, as described in General Conference resolution GC(51)/RES/11 and to enhance the security of radioactive sources as described in the Agency’s Nuclear Security Plan for 2006–2009,6 urges all States to work towards following the guidance contained in the Agency’s Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources,4 including, as appropriate, the guidance on the import and export of radioactive sources, noting that the guidance is supplementary to the Code, and encourages Member States to notify the Director General of the Agency of their intention to do so pursuant to General Conference resolution GC(48)/RES/10;⁹

⁹Ibid., Forty-eighth Regular Session, 20–24 September 2004 (GC(48)/RES/DEC(2004)).

Recognizes the value of information exchange on national approaches to controlling radioactive sources, and takes note of the endorsement by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency of a proposal for a formalized process for a voluntary periodic exchange on information and lessons learned and for the evaluation of progress made by States towards implementing the provisions of the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources;

Welcomes the efforts undertaken by Member States, including through international cooperation under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency, to search for, locate and secure unsecured and/or uncontrolled (“orphan”) radioactive sources within their State jurisdiction or territory;

Encourages cooperation among and between Member States and through relevant international and, where appropriate, regional organizations aimed at strengthening national capacities in this regard;

Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session an item entitled “Preventing the acquisition by terrorists of radioactive materials and sources”.

Preventing the Acquisition by Terrorists of Radioactive Materials and Sources

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

Table of contents