On October 26, 2021, PGA’s International Peace and Security Program organized a Regional South and South-East Asian Parliamentary Webinar promoting Nuclear and Radiological Security, kindly supported by Global Affairs Canada. Participants joined this Webinar from Cambodia, the Maldives (National Counter-Terrorism Division of Ministry of Defense) and the Philippines. Due to time difference constraints, representatives form the UNODC and the IAEA could not attend the webinar but made a significant contribution by recording their presentations.
This Webinar was the third in a series of 8 such Webinars, two in each of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean which PGA will organize over the course of the next 12 months, aimed at facilitating and encouraging parliamentary diplomacy among female and male parliamentarians to promote greater universality and implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials (CPPNM) and its Amendment (ACPPNM).
The Webinar was opened by Mr. Peter Barcroft, Senior Director of PGA's International Peace and Security Program, providing an extensive overview of the contemporaneous importance of the subject matter of the event, also within the context of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the concomitant need for improved emergency preparedness to address several ongoing, existential threats. The importance of promoting the Women Peace and Security Agenda, mobilizing more women parliamentarians in this arena, was also underscored.
The first video presentation from Ms. Francesca Andrian, Associate Program Officer of the CBRN Terrorism Prevention Program of the UNODC, introduced the participants to the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) and UNODC’s related assistance programs and activities. The numerous benefits and advantages of joining ICSANT were also subsequently highlighted. The relevance and importance of ICSANT also in the context of implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 and the role of parliamentarians in its implementation – as set out in UN Security Council Resolution 2325 (2016) was also reflected upon for the benefit of all Participants.
The second video presentation was made by Mr. Jonathan Herbach, Legal Officer – Nuclear and Treaty Law Section at the Office of Legal Affairs of the IAEA, who conducted an in-depth review of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its Amendment, the numerous, substantial benefits accruing to States Parties as well as sharing with participants the wide range of peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology currently being deployed by IAEA, including in addressing zoonotic diseases.
Subsequently, a representative from the National Counter Terrorism Centre of the Maldives suggested to hold more webinars and relevant activities to inform parliamentarians and government officials about those 3 treaties but also issues in regard to Nuclear and Radiological Security.
Lastly, and before concluding, Mr. Florian Delsert, Program Associate, International Peace and Security Program, PGA made a brief presentation setting out a number of different, pragmatic steps that Parliamentarians can take to promote universalization of ICSANT, CPPNM and its Amendment, as well as sharing with participants how Women, and their health, both directly and indirectly, are disproportionately impacted by Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), hence the importance also of greater mobilization of female parliamentarians in this arena.
PGA’s IPSP Team will continue to stay in contact with the Workshop Participants/Registrants in the coming months to encourage ongoing follow-up actions, as appropriate, as well as providing requisite advocacy advice. PGA also encouraged participants to reach out and directly contact the representatives from UNODC and IAEA who participated in this Webinar.
For further information on PGA International Peace and Security Program's Global Parliamentary Campaign to Promote Nuclear and Radiological Security, please click here
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