KATHMANDU, NEPAL
On 18th March, 2024, and with the kind support of the Weapons Threat Reduction Program (WTRP) of Global Affairs Canada (GAC WTRP), PGA's International Peace and Security Program (IPSP) organized a National Parliamentary Session on Promoting Nuclear and Radiological Security in Kathmandu, Nepal.
While Nepal is already a State Party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and has signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) as well as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), to date action is still pending with respect to several other crucial international conventions and treaties which promote nuclear and radiological security.
Opened with Welcome Remarks from long-time PGA Member, Hon. Ramesh Lekhak, this Workshop was convened in order to provide a space for representatives from both the Executive Branch of Government (the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology) as well as senior representatives from the most prominent political parties in the Legislative branch of Government of Nepal (from the Federal Parliament) to share information, observations and views, in particular in connection with the possibility of Nepal joining the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), its Amendment (A/CPPNM) as well as the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).
With a Keynote Address by the Hon. Speaker of the Federal Parliament, Hon. Dev Raj Ghamire, this Workshop also allowed for an opportunity for participants to received several in-depth presentations from experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) (Virtual) as well as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (in person) in connection with the aforementioned international instruments. A representative from the United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD), based in Kathmandu, also attended the Workshop. The gender differentiated impact of the use of nuclear and radiological weapons, or release of nuclear or radiological material, specifically the disproportionately adverse impact of such actions on women, was also highlighted in a presentation made by PGA during the course of the event. Nine female legislators participated in this Workshop and also participated during several lively interactive, Question and Answer sessions.
A formal presentation and Closing Remarks were delivered by Ms. Pramila Bajracharya, Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST), Nepal
PGA's International Peace and Security Program is now developing a set of brief potential Points of Action, to be shared shortly with MPs in attendance, for consideration, in terms of possible follow-up steps that they may wish to consider taking, subsequent to the organization of this Workshop.
PGA is very grateful to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) of the Government of Nepal and the Federal Parliament of Nepal for their kind cooperation and collaboration in the organization of this Workshop as well as to Global Affairs Canada for their equally kind funding support, without which it would not have been possible to organize this successful event.
