An introductory course on nuclear law was held in Lima, Peru, from 12 to 15 June 2017, with the support of the IAEA. The objective of the 4-day course, which was organized by the Ministry of Energy and Mines in collaboration with the "Instituto Peruano de Energia Nuclear (IPEN)", was to provide lawyers and other officials from national institutions with a broad understanding on the different areas of nuclear law.
In her opening remarks, Ms Tabata Vivanco, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, expressed that “it is important that officials from different entities gain knowledge about nuclear law to contribute in the further development of our national legislation”. In turn, IPEN President Dr. Susana Petrick considered that “as Peru is developing new projects for the use of nuclear technologies, the course is very timely to help disseminate knowledge among Ministries and entities that are involved in the use or regulation of nuclear technology about the laws applicable in this field”.
During the course IAEA lecturers addressed both the international and the national legal framework for the safe and secure use of nuclear energy, including the elements that should be in place in national legislation to provide for a proper regulation of nuclear activities so that these are conducted in a manner that adequately protects people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. They also highlighted recent developments in international nuclear law to be considered when enhancing or updating national legislation, such as the entry into force of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material which took place in May 2016. Lectures by national officials also addressed the status of nuclear applications in Peru and of the existing legal and regulatory framework for controlling these activities in the country.
Close to 50 participants from the Ministries of Energy and Mines, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Environment, Health, Labour, parliamentary committees and others attended the course.
At the end of the course, Dr Cesar Zegarra, Legal Advisor of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, expressed that “the high level of participation in the course from a wide range of national institutions shows the growing interest in this area and we thank the IAEA for its support to this event”.
The IAEA helps its Member States not only in benefiting from the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, but also in the establishment and maintenance of suitable legal and regulatory infrastructures for the proper use of this technology. Through its legislative assistance programme the IAEA conducts training and other activities to provide knowledge and raise awareness in its Member States on the requirements of a national legal framework for the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation sources.
