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Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material strengthens nuclear security

New amendment on safeguarding nuclear facilities comes into force, strengthening a weak link in nuclear security, UN News Centre,  12 May 2016 – After nearly two decades, the Amendment to the United Nations –backed Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) entered into force on 8 May – strengthening nuclear security and reducing the threat of nuclear terrorism worldwide.

At an event marking the historic milestone, Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Agency (IAEA), said: “The entry into force of the Amendment demonstrates the determination of the international community to act together to strengthen nuclear security globally.”

On 8 April, the ratification of Panama brought the number of CPPNM adherences to 102, the threshold necessary to kick the agreement into effect in 30 days. The bolstered Convention,described by Mr. Amano as “the single most important step which the world can take to strengthen nuclear security,” will, among other things, reduce the risk of a terrorist attack on a nuclear power plant and make it more difficult to smuggle nuclear material.

As the only international legally-binding undertaking on the physical protection of nuclear material, the 1979 Convention established measures to prevent, detect and punish offenses.

The Amendment broadens the CPPNM by protecting nuclear facilities and material in domestic use, storage and transport. It also expands on identified offences, such as nuclear material theft, as well as introduces new ones, including nuclear material smuggling and nuclear facility sabotage.

Now that the Amendment has entered into force, new international notification and cooperation requirements will become fully operational, including enhanced information sharing between States in locating and recovering stolen material……..http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=53920#.VzTqW9J97Gg

May 13, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, safety