13 participants from 8 countries, the Central African Republic - Somalia, Burkina Faso, the Gambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Nigeria and Togo, as well as representatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) took part in this Virtual Regional Parliamentary Webinar, kindly supported by Global Affairs Canada. This Webinar is a first of a series of 8 virtual projects in 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 to promote greater universality 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, Director of the International Peace and Security Program of PGA, providing an extensive overview of the importance of the subject matter of the Webinar in 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 presentation from Ms. Maria Lorenzo Sobrado, Head 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 reviewed for the benefit of all Participants
The second 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.
Mr. Florian Delsert, Program Associate, International Peace and Security Program, PGA subsequently made a short 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, both directly and indirectly, are disproportionately impacted by Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).
Hon. Beatrice Epaye, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of Central African Republic, made a substantive and informative contribution to the proceedings of this Webinar, recalling her own past contributions leading to ratification of the Biological Weapons Convention by the Central African Republic as well as submission of its First Report to the UNSCR 1540 Committee, in which she played a central role. Hon. Epaye recalled the sense of lack of urgency at the time, but with Covid-19, there is now a greater appreciation for, and understanding of, the importance of not leaving unaddressed grave threats to humanity.
A rich, extensive interactive session subsequently ensued among all participants, many inquiring about steps they could take in their own countries to promote greater adherence to the three treaties in question, taking into account also the continuing commission of acts of terrorism in certain African States and the need to also engage at respective regional levels as well. The Director of the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe also informed all Participants that his office was currently working on internal processes in seeking to make progress towards accession to the CPPNM and its Amendment.
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 contact directly the representatives from UNODC and IAEA who participated in this Webinar. A follow-up Regional Africa Parliamentary Webinar for these participants, allowing them to share lessons learnt and experiences gained, pursuant to this Webinar, will by organized by PGA in approximately 6 months’ time.
