Nuclear Terrorism Convention

Last updated

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 127 state parties, including the nuclear powers China, France, India, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. [1] Most recently, Ecuador 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).

In April 2005, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the draft International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism by consensus as Resolution A/RES/59/290 during its 91st plenary meeting. [3] Prior to that, negotiations were conducted through sessions of an Ad Hoc Working Group and the Legal (Sixth) Committee from 1999 to 2005—spanning the fifty‑fourth to fifty‑ninth General Assembly sessions—to finalize the text.

Following adoption, the Convention was opened for signature at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 14 September 2005 until 31 December 2006 in accordance with Article 24. It formally entered into force on 7 July 2007, which occurred 30 days after the deposit of the twenty‑second instrument of ratification in line with Article 25(1) of the Convention. [4]

Definition of the crime of nuclear terrorism [5]

The Convention defines offences as committed when a person unlawfully and intentionally engages in specific conduct involving radioactive material or nuclear facilities. This includes any person who possesses radioactive material or makes or possesses a device either with an intention to cause harm to human beings or to the environment. It further criminalizes any person who misuses radioactive material or poses a threat to any nuclear facility. The provisions of the convention establish a clear threshold of criminal liability based on both the unlawfulness of the conduct and the presence of specific harmful intents.

The Convention clearly defines its limits. It does not override existing international laws, especially those under the UN Charter or international humanitarian law. It also does not apply to the conduct of armed forces during armed conflict or to official military duties by State forces, as long as those actions are already covered by other international legal rules. Importantly, this exclusion doesn’t mean such acts are automatically lawful—they can still be prosecuted under other applicable laws. The Convention also avoids taking any position on whether the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons by States is legal. Overall, it works within existing international legal frameworks without changing the legal status of military actions or nuclear weapons.

States parties

As of May 2024, 124 states are parties to the convention. [6]

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 [A] 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 [B] 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.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 [C] 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 (official).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. [7]

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 (2025-).svg Syria 14 September 2005
Flag of Togo (3-2).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.

References

  1. ↑ Ratifications.
  2. ↑ "2025 UNODC Ecuador to Become the 127th State Party to the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism". United Nations : Office on Drugs and Crime. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  3. ↑ cil.nus.edu.sg https://cil.nus.edu.sg/databasecil/2005-international-convention-for-the-suppression-of-acts-of-nuclear-terrorism/?utm_source=chatgpt.com . Retrieved 2 November 2025.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ https://legal.un.org/avl/pdf/ha/icsant/icsant_ph_e.pdf?utm
  5. ↑ https://treaties.un.org/doc/source/RecentTexts/English_18_15.pdf
  6. ↑ "Disarmament Treaties Database: International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism". United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs . Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism". United Nations Treaty Collection. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.