Nuclear Terrorism Convention

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Nuclear Terrorism Convention
International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism
Type Anti-terrorism, international criminal law
Drafted13 April 2005
Signed14 September 2005 (2005-09-14)
Location New York City, United States
Effective7 July 2007
Condition22 ratifications
Signatories115
Parties124
Depositary United Nations Secretary-General
LanguagesArabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish

The Nuclear Terrorism Convention (formally, the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism) is a 2005 United Nations treaty designed to criminalize acts of nuclear terrorism and to promote police and judicial cooperation to prevent, investigate and punish those acts. As of January 2024, the convention has 115 signatories and 124 state parties, including the nuclear powers China, France, India, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. [1] Most recently, Palau ratified the convention on January 19, 2024. [2]

Contents

The Convention covers a broad range of acts and possible targets, including nuclear power plants and nuclear reactors; covers threats and attempts to commit such crimes or to participate in them, as an accomplice; stipulates that offenders shall be either extradited or prosecuted; encourages States to cooperate in preventing terrorist attacks by sharing information and assisting each other in connection with criminal investigations and extradition proceedings; and, deals with both crisis situations, assisting States to solve the situations and post-crisis situations by rendering nuclear material safe through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Definition of the crime of nuclear terrorism

Article 2 of the convention defines the offence of Nuclear terrorism as follows:

1. Any person commits an offence within the meaning of this Convention if that person unlawfully and intentionally:

(a) Possesses radioactive material or makes or possesses a device:

(i) With the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury; or
(ii) With the intent to cause substantial damage to property or to the environment;

(b) Uses in any way radioactive material or a device, or uses or damages a nuclear facility in a manner which releases or risks the release of radioactive material:

(i) With the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury; or
(ii) With the intent to cause substantial damage to property or to the environment; or
(iii) With the intent to compel a natural or legal person, an international organization or a State to do or refrain from doing an act. [3]

At the same time, article 4 expressly excludes the application of the convention to the use of nuclear devices during armed conflicts, without recognizing though the legality of the use of nuclear weapons:

1. Nothing in this Convention shall affect other rights, obligations and responsibilities of States and individuals under international law, in particular the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international humanitarian law.

2. The activities of armed forces during an armed conflict, as those terms are understood under international humanitarian law, which are governed by that law are not governed by this Convention, and the activities undertaken by military forces of a State in the exercise of their official duties, inasmuch as they are governed by other rules of international law, are not governed by this Convention.

3. The provisions of paragraph 2 of the present article shall not be interpreted as condoning or making lawful otherwise unlawful acts, or precluding prosecution under other laws.

4. This Convention does not address, nor can it be interpreted as addressing, in any way, the issue of the legality of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons by States. [4]

States parties

As of May 2024, 124 states are parties to the Convention. [5]

State partySignedAccessedEntry into force
Flag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan 29 December 200525 March 201324 April 2013
Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 23 November 200521 August 202320 September 2023
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 3 March 20112 April 2011
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda 1 December 200931 December 2009
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 14 September 20058 April 20168 May 2016
Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 15 September 200522 September 201022 October 2010
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 14 September 200516 March 201215 April 2012
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 15 September 200514 September 20067 July 2007
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 15 September 200528 January 200927 February 2009
Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 4 May 20103 June 2010
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 7 June 20077 July 2007
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 15 September 200513 March 20077 July 2007
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 14 September 20052 October 20091 November 2009
Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 15 September 20052 November 20172 December 2017
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 7 December 200529 June 201729 July 2017
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 12 July 202112 July 2021
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 16 September 200525 September 200925 October 2009
Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi 29 March 200624 September 200824 October 2008
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 14 September 200521 November 201321 December 2013
Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic 19 February 200820 March 2008
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 22 September 200527 September 201020 March 2008
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China [upper-alpha 1] 14 September 20058 November 20108 December 2010
Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros 12 March 20077 July 2007
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo 14 November 202314 December 2023
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 15 September 200521 February 201323 March 2013
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Côte d'Ivoire 12 March 201211 April 2012
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 16 September 200530 May 20077 July 2007
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 17 June 200917 July 2009
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 15 September 200528 January 200827 February 2008
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 15 September 200525 July 20067 July 2007
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo, Democratic Republic of the 23 September 201023 October 2010
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark [upper-alpha 2] 14 September 200520 March 20077 July 2007
Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti 14 June 200625 April 201425 May 2014
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 11 June 200811 July 2008
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 16 September 200527 November 20067 July 2007
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 15 May 200814 June 2008
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 14 September 200513 January 200912 February 2009
Flag of France.svg  France 14 September 200511 September 201311 October 2013
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 15 September 20051 October 200731 October 2007
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 23 April 201023 May 2010
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 15 September 20058 February 20089 March 2008
Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 20 September 200526 September 201825 October 2018
Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau 6 August 20085 September 2008
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 14 September 200512 April 20077 July 2007
Flag of India.svg  India 24 July 20061 December 20067 July 2007
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 30 September 201430 October 2014
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 13 May 201312 June 2013
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 14 September 200521 October 201620 November 2016
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 5 December 200627 December 201326 January 2014
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 15 September 20053 August 20072 September 2007
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 16 November 200529 January 201628 February 2016
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 16 September 200531 July 20082 September 2007
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 15 September 200513 April 20067 July 2007
Flag of Kiribati.svg  Kiribati 15 September 200526 September 200826 October 2008
Flag of South Korea.svg  Korea, South 16 September 200529 May 201428 June 2014
Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 16 September 20055 September 20135 October 2013
Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan 5 May 20062 October 20071 November 2007
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 16 September 200525 July 20067 July 2007
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 23 September 200513 November 20067 July 2007
Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho 16 September 200522 September 201022 October 2010
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 16 September 200522 December 200821 January 2009
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein 16 September 200525 September 200921 January 2009
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 16 September 200519 July 200718 August 2007
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 15 September 20052 October 20081 November 2008
Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar 15 September 200515 February 201717 March 2017
Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi 7 October 20096 November 2009
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 5 November 20095 December 2009
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 15 September 200526 September 201226 October 2012
Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania 28 April 200828 May 2008
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 12 January 200627 June 20067 July 2007
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 16 September 200518 April 200818 May 2008
Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia 3 November 20056 October 20067 July 2007
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 23 October 200613 February 201915 March 2019
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 19 April 200631 March 201030 April 2010
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 2 September 20162 October 2016
Flag of Nauru.svg  Nauru 24 August 201023 September 2010
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 16 September 200530 June 201030 July 2010
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand [upper-alpha 3] 14 September 200518 March 201617 April 2016
Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua 15 September 200525 February 200927 March 2009
Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 2 July 20081 August 2008
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 25 September 201225 October 2012
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 16 September 200519 March 20077 July 2007
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 16 September 200520 February 201422 March 2014
Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 21 October 202220 November 2022
Flag of Palau.svg  Palau 15 September 200519 January 202418 February 2024
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 21 February 200621 June 200721 July 2007
Flag of Paraguay.svg  Paraguay 16 September 200529 January 200928 February 2009
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru 14 September 200529 May 200928 June 2009
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 14 September 20058 April 20108 May 2010
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 21 September 200525 September 201425 October 2014
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 16 February 200615 January 201414 February 2014
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 14 September 200524 January 20077 July 2007
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 14 September 200529 January 20077 July 2007
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg  Saint Kitts and Nevis 13 August 202011 September 2020
Flag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia 12 November 201212 December 2012
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8 July 20107 August 2010
Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino 16 December 201415 January 2015
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 26 December 20067 December 20076 January 2008
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 15 September 200526 September 20067 July 2007
Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 1 December 20062 August 20171 September 2017
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 15 September 200523 March 20067 July 2007
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 14 September 200517 December 200916 January 2010
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 24 September 200924 October 2009
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 14 September 20059 May 20077 July 2007
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 14 September 200522 February 20077 July 2007
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 14 September 200527 September 200727 October 2007
Flag of Palestine.svg  State of Palestine 29 December 2017
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 14 September 200518 August 201417 September 2014
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 14 September 200515 October 200814 November 2008
Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan 14 September 200529 June 202229 July 2022
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 14 September 20052 May 20191 June 2019
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 28 September 201028 October 2010
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 14 September 200524 September 201224 October 2012
Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan 28 March 200827 April 2008
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 14 September 200525 September 200725 October 2007
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 10 January 20089 February 2008
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 14 September 200524 September 200924 October 2009
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 14 September 200530 September 201530 October 2015
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 16 September 20054 March 20163 April 2016
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan 29 April 200829 May 2008
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 27 September 201627 October 2016
Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 13 October 201412 November 2014
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 7 April 20177 May 2017
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 28 September 202328 October 2023

Signatories which are not parties

The following states have signed, but not ratified, the Convention. [6]

StateSigned
Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra 11 May 2006
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 14 September 2005
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 21 September 2005
Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia 7 December 2006
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 1 November 2006
Flag of East Timor.svg  East Timor 16 September 2005
Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador 15 September 2005
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 20 September 2005
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 14 September 2005
Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 15 September 2005
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 6 November 2006
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 15 September 2005
Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 16 September 2005
Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana 15 September 2005
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 16 September 2005
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 15 September 2005
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 27 December 2006
Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia 16 September 2005
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 16 September 2005
Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius 14 September 2005
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 14 September 2005
Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 1 May 2006
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 15 September 2005
Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda 6 March 2006
Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg  São Tomé and Príncipe 19 December 2005
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 21 September 2005
Flag of Seychelles.svg  Seychelles 7 October 2005
Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 14 September 2005
Flag of Syria.svg  Syria 14 September 2005
Flag of Togo.svg  Togo 15 September 2005

See also

Notes

  1. The Convention does not apply to Hong Kong.
  2. The Convention does not apply to the Faroe Islands or Greenland.
  3. The Convention does not apply to Tokelau.

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References

  1. Ratifications.
  2. "2024 Palau". United Nations : Office on Drugs and Crime. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  3. Nuclear Terrorism Convention, art. 1.
  4. Nuclear Terrorism Convention, art. 4.
  5. "Disarmament Treaties Database: International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism". United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs . Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  6. "International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism". United Nations Treaty Collection. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.

Further reading