International Conference on Nuclear Security: Enhancing Global Efforts
Vienna, Austria
1–5 July 2013
Conference ID:
43046
(CN-203)
Announcement
Revision 1, May 2013
A. Background
The risk that nuclear or other radioactive material could be used in malicious acts remains high and is regarded as a serious threat to international peace and security. It is well recognized that the responsibility for nuclear security rests entirely with each State and that appropriate and effective national systems for nuclear security are vital in facilitating the peaceful use of nuclear energy and enhancing global efforts to combat nuclear terrorism.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has provided assistance to States and supported their national efforts to establish and improve nuclear security since the early 1970s when it began providing ad hoc training in physical protection. In 1975, the IAEA issued a set of recommendations in this area entitled The Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (IAEA document INFCIRC/225), which has subsequently been revised five times (the most recent revision, the fifth, was published in 2011 as IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 13). In 1997, following reports of illicit trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive materials, a specific programme entitled “Security of Material” was established. The IAEA’s first comprehensive action plan to protect against nuclear terrorism was approved in March 2002 by its Board of Governors, and two further Nuclear Security Plans were approved in 2005 and 2009 respectively.
The objective of the current Nuclear Security Plan, for 2010–2013, is “to contribute to global efforts to achieve worldwide, effective security wherever nuclear or other radioactive material is in use, storage and/or transport, and of associated facilities, by supporting States, upon request, in their efforts to establish and maintain effective nuclear security through assistance in capacity building, guidance, human resource development, sustainability and risk reduction. The objective is also to assist adherence to and implementation of nuclear security related international legal instruments; and to strengthen the international cooperation and coordination of assistance given through bilateral programmes and other international initiatives in a manner which also would contribute to enabling the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear energy and of such applications with radioactive substances.”
The IAEA’s General Conference has recognized the IAEA as having a leading role in nuclear security, as well as the need to improve cooperation and coordination of international efforts in this field. The General Conference has further noted the IAEA’s central role in developing comprehensive nuclear security guidance documents and, on request, providing assistance to Member States in the implementation of this guidance. Consistent with these roles, and with the need for the involvement of all Member States in international nuclear security related activities and initiatives, the IAEA is convening an International Conference on Nuclear Security, to be held in Vienna, Austria, from 1 to 5 July 2013. This conference will not only provide a timely global forum in which the progress made in strengthening nuclear security worldwide can be reviewed and future developments discussed, but its results will also serve as important input in the preparation of the IAEA’s next Nuclear Security Plan, for 2014–2017.
B. Purpose and Objectives
This conference is being convened to review the international community’s experience and achievements to date in strengthening nuclear security, to enhance understanding of current approaches to nuclear security worldwide and identify trends, and to provide a global forum for ministers, policymakers and senior officials to formulate views on the future directions and priorities for nuclear security. The conference is an ideal forum for:
• Retrospective analysis of the progress of international nuclear security efforts to date. The conference will provide for the presentation and discussion of the international experience, achievements and lessons learned to date.
• Review of the current status of international nuclear security efforts and existing approaches, of emerging trends and areas that may still need to be addressed.
• Consideration of medium and long term objectives and priorities for international nuclear security efforts and how current approaches may evolve to address these and to meet future challenges. In particular, the conference will provide a forum to consider how the IAEA and other international organizations and agencies can best assist States.
• Helping the IAEA to define directions and priorities for its Nuclear Security Plan 2014–2017 and in the longer term planning and implementation of its nuclear security programme.
C. Themes and Topics
Consistent with the objectives set out above, the overall themes for the conference will be the past, present and future of nuclear security worldwide:
• What has been achieved and learned to date;
• The current status of nuclear security as a discipline, including new trends and emerging issues;
• What should international nuclear security efforts aim to achieve in the future, and what additional actions or improvements in approach are needed to achieve this; and
• What is the best framework for coordinating and carrying out the various roles and actions needed at the international level.
These themes will be discussed at a high level during the main sessions of the conference, and in more detail in separate parallel technical sessions, in the context of different topical areas of nuclear security, as shown in the outline programme in Section E below.
D. Target Audience
The conference is aimed at ministers, senior government officials, high level participants from all of the areas and agencies involved in making policy for and managing nuclear security, and technical and legal experts working in all areas of nuclear security.
This includes senior officials and policymakers responsible for, and experts and representatives from the wide range of technical disciplines and specialist organizations that contribute to, nuclear security, including (but not necessarily limited to): international and regional organizations with relevant competencies; national governmental authorities; national security and crisis management agencies; regulatory bodies and other competent authorities; law enforcement and border control agencies; and industries and other entities engaged in activities relevant to nuclear security.
E. Programme Structure
The general structure of the programme is indicated in the table below.
| |
Ministerial & Plenary Sessions |
Technical Sessions |
| 1 July |
M1. Ministerial session |
No technical sessions |
| 2 July |
M2. Introduction*
M3. Implementing and enhancing the international nuclear security framework |
TA2. Information and cyber security
TA3. Enhancing nuclear security regimes |
TB2. Safety-security interfaces
TB3. Threat characterization and assessment |
| 3 July |
M4. Nuclear material and nuclear facilities
M5. Radioactive sources and associated facilities |
TA4. Security of radioactive sources
TA5. Structured capacity building |
TB4. Education and training
TB5. Enhancing nuclear security regimes II |
| 4 July |
M6. International cooperation & assistance, and the role of the IAEA
M7. Building and sustaining a nuclear security culture |
TA6. Detection and response architecture
TA7. Nuclear forensics |
TB6. Nuclear security at nuclear facilities
TB7. Detection and response architecture II |
| 5 July |
M8. Addressing the illicit trafficking threat
M9. Closing session |
No technical sessions |
| * If the ministerial session continues into a second day, the introductory session M2 will start afterwards. |
The conference will open with a plenary session at which ministers will be invited to deliver national statements. It is anticipated that ministers will also agree and issue a joint declaration at the end of the first day of the conference.
The remainder of the conference will comprise a main, high level session aimed at senior officials and policymakers, in parallel with more detailed technical sessions aimed at specialists.
The main session will open with addresses by representatives of the IAEA, cooperating organizations and other relevant organizations, and high level keynote presentations. The main session will continue with a combination of invited presentations, submitted papers and panel discussions addressing the main themes and topics of the conference. Parallel technical sessions will include submitted papers and discussions on specific topics. The final plenary session on the last day of the conference will be dedicated to review and discussion of conclusions and recommendations of the conference.
There will also be poster session and an exhibition, and sufficient time will be dedicated to discussion and interaction with colleagues.
F. Extended Synopses, Papers and Conference Proceedings
Selected contributed papers on issues falling within the topics defined in Section C will be presented in the technical sessions.
F.1. Submission of synopses
The deadline for submission of synopses has passed.
F.2. Acceptance of synopses for oral presentation and poster presentation
Given the number of synopses received and the need to provide ample time for discussion, the number of papers that will be presented orally is limited. Authors whose accepted papers are not presented orally will have the opportunity to present their papers as posters.
Accepted contributed papers will be published in the proceedings of the conference.
F.3. Proceedings
The proceedings of the conference will be published by the IAEA as soon as possible after its conclusion.
G. Participation
All persons wishing to participate in the conference are requested to register online in advance. In addition, they must send a completed Participation Form (Form A) as soon as possible to the competent official authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs or National Atomic Energy Authority) for subsequent transmission to the IAEA.
A participant will be accepted only if the Participation Form is transmitted through the Government of a Member State of the IAEA or by an organization invited to participate.
Information for participants is available on the conference web page (see Section P).
H. Expenditures
No registration fee is charged to participants.
The IAEA is generally not in a position to bear the travel and other costs of designated participants in the conference, and the deadline for applications for grants has now passed.
I. Distribution of Documents
A preliminary programme will be posted on the conference web page as soon as possible. The final programme and the “Book of Extended Synopses” will be available free of charge upon registration at the conference.
J. Working Language
The working language of the conference will be English.
K. Accommodation
Detailed information on accommodation and other administrative details is available on the conference web page.
L. Visas
Designated participants who require a visa to enter Austria should submit the necessary application to the nearest diplomatic or consular representative of Austria at least four weeks before they travel to Austria. Since Austria is a Schengen State, persons requiring a visa will have to apply for a Schengen visa. In States where Austria has no diplomatic mission, visas can be obtained from the consular authority of a Schengen Partner State representing Austria in the country in question.
M. Channels of Communication
The Participation Form and, as applicable, the Form for Submission of a Paper, and the Grant Application Form, should be sent to the competent national authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs or National Atomic Energy Authority) for official transmission to the IAEA.
N. Key Deadlines
Registration to participate in the conference will remain open until the start of the conference. Deadlines for submission of synopses and for applications for grants have now passed.
O. IAEA Secretariat for the Conference
Scientific Secretaries:
Mr Khammar Mrabit
Director, Office of Nuclear Security
Department of Nuclear Safety and Security
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100
1400 VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Tel.: +43 1 2600 22299
Email: K.Mrabit@iaea.org
Mr Ian Barraclough
Office of Nuclear Security
Department of Nuclear Safety and Security
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100
1400 VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Tel.: +43 1 2600 21794
Email: I.Barraclough@iaea.org
Email address for submission of extended synopses: NuclearSecurity2013@iaea.org
Administration and organization:
Martina Neuhold
Conference Services Section
Division of Conference and Document Services
IAEA-CN-203
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100
1400 VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Tel.: +43 1 2600 21314
Email: M.Neuhold@iaea.org
Subsequent correspondence on scientific matters should be sent to the Scientific Secretary, and correspondence on administrative matters to the Conference Services Section.
P. Conference Web Page
The IAEA web page for the conference is as follows:
http://www-pub.iaea.org/iaeameetings/43046/International-Conference-on-Nuclear-Security-Enhancing-Global-Efforts
It will be updated regularly with new information, and participants are encouraged to check it on a regular basis.
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