The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will host a ministerial conference next week to discuss how to sustain and strengthen nuclear security around the world and reduce the threat of nuclear and other radioactive material being used for malicious purposes.
The International Conference on Nuclear Security: Sustaining and Strengthening Efforts, #ICONS2020, will take place from 10 to 14 February at IAEA headquarters in Vienna. Over 50 Ministers and high-level government officials will join other policymakers and experts to review the current status of international nuclear security and exchange views on future priorities. A ministerial declaration setting out Member States’ commitments to nuclear security is expected to be adopted on the first day.
Over 1,600 participants have registered to attend the conference, representing more than 130 IAEA Member States and 35 international, regional and non-governmental organizations.
The conference is the third IAEA ministerial conference on nuclear security, following those held in 2016 and 2013. The meeting is structured in two parts: a ministerial segment with national statements on the first two days, and a scientific and technical programme comprising policy discussions on key themes related to nuclear security, as well as parallel technical sessions on specialized issues. Topics to be covered throughout the week include: national legislative and regulatory frameworks, threat and risk assessments, insider threats and nuclear security culture, physical protection of nuclear and radioactive materials, combatting illicit trafficking, human resources development, and computer and information security.