At GC64, ARCAL Representatives Launch New Regional Agenda for 2020–2030

Refocusing Programme Priorities

With more than 65 representatives and project counterparts in attendance, the meeting gave participants an opportunity to revisit and recommit themselves to ARCAL’s gender-mainstreaming efforts, which have been a cornerstone of the regional agreement’s ambitions in recent years.

“Since I became IAEA Director General last December, I have been committed to putting gender equality at the centre of everything we do—I want to tap into the best talent, energy and ideas,” said Director General Grossi, who drew attention in his opening remarks to the growing participation of women and young girls in the field of nuclear science. “I strongly welcome ARCAL’s efforts to increase the role played by women in its work and in the nuclear field more generally.”

“Last year, ARCAL launched a series of annual workshops for young professional women and, this year, ARCAL launched its first project with a gender perspective,” said Ambassador Sanchez Lorenzo.  “The aim of this project is to support equal female participation in nuclear science and technology by empowering women and promoting their contribution to technical, scientific and leadership roles in the field.”

The first virtual event organized under the newly-launched project took place on 12 September.

“It gives me great pleasure to hear about the genesis of an ARCAL project which precisely supports women, and to hear about the great transition occurring in the organization, as well as the growth in the employment of women,” said Luis Javier Campuzano Pina, Secretary of the Board and Permanent Representative of Mexico to the IAEA, “and I believe this is the path we need to follow.”

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic was also an important topic at the meeting, both as regards the consequences for the implementation of the regional programme, and in relation to IAEA support in the fight against the virus. In coordination with Permanent Missions and nationally-designated laboratories, all 21 ARCAL countries have received assistance from the IAEA for the detection of COVID-19.

Background

ARCAL is an Agreement between most IAEA Member States in the Latin America and the Caribbean region for technical and economic cooperation to promote the use of nuclear techniques for peace and development

The Regional Cooperation Agreement for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean was established in 1984. It provides a framework for Member State collaboration with the support of the IAEA and other international sources of cooperation. The Agreement addresses key development priorities in the region, focusing on pressing needs related to food security, human health, environment, energy, industry and radiological safety.

At present, 21 countries are party to the ARCAL Agreement:  Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Since 2007, Spain has participated as a strategic partner of ARCAL.