Over 40 legal advisors, officials and experts from 18 countries in Asia and the Pacific participated in a workshop on nuclear law organized by the IAEA in collaboration with Badan Pengawas Tenaga Nuklir (BAPETEN), the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency of Indonesia. The workshop was held from 5 to 9 August 2019.
During the event, participants and IAEA representatives discussed the international and national legal frameworks for the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technology and its applications. Presentations included an overview of the status of the nuclear legal framework in each country, as well as developments since the last similar event conducted in 2016. The presentations demonstrated convincingly that officials in several countries have already strengthened their legal frameworks while others are continuing their efforts to meet this goal, said Anthony Wetherall, Legal Officer at the IAEA’s Office of Legal Affairs. As a testimony to their success, several countries had joined one or more relevant international legal instruments, strengthening nuclear safety and/or security, he added.
Opening the workshop, BAPETEN Chairman Jazi Eko Istiyanto highlighted the relevance of the event for Indonesia and other countries in the region. “The event comes at an important time for Indonesia given that we are in the process of amending our current nuclear law. We are therefore looking forward to hearing about some of the issues and challenges facing those countries who are doing the same or those who have recently adopted new legislation.”
Thailand has made major progress in joining several important conventions, said Suchin Udomsomporn of the country’s Office of Atoms and Peace. “Last year, Thailand became party to the Convention on Nuclear Safety, the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management and the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, as well as its Amendment,” she said. “Currently, we are considering the benefits of becoming party to the nuclear liability instruments. This event was a valuable opportunity for us to hear how other countries in the region are approaching the issue.”
Significantly, during the event, bilateral meetings were held with representatives of the 18 participating Member States on support until 2022 under a new technical cooperation legislative assistance project. In this context, Sunil Shantha Thenuwara Hannadige, Director (Authorization) of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council said his country welcomes the planned IAEA support to further strengthen its legal framework.
During the sub-regional workshop participants recognised the benefits of potential future regional activities such as a regional workshop on the 1997 Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage and a sub-regional regional workshop on nuclear law for Pacific Island States. Further, there was a recognised need to continue raising the awareness of key decision-makers regarding nuclear law, particularly during the national processes applying to the consideration of the relevant international legal instruments and the development or strengthening of national nuclear legislation.
Participants appreciated the opportunity to exchange views and lessons learned and valued the continuing support of the IAEA in the field of nuclear law. During her presentation, Nancy Pogla of Papua New Guinea’s Department of Justice and Attorney General spoke of the development – with IAEA support – of her country’s Radiation Safety and Control Act, which was passed in January 2019. “We will be seeking further legislative assistance, in particular, through an awareness mission to facilitate decision-maker’s consideration of the relevant international legal instruments. We also support the proposal for the IAEA to consider holding a sub-regional workshop on nuclear law, specifically for the Pacific Islands,” she said.
The workshop followed other regional events on nuclear law and legislative assistance in Africa, Latin America and Europe in previous years. It also provided an opportunity for IAEA officials and participants to discuss areas of further support in the area of nuclear law, Wetherall said, including to countries that were not present at the meeting.
The event comes at an important time for Indonesia given that we are in the process of amending our current nuclear law. We are therefore looking forward to hearing about some of the issues and challenges facing those countries who are doing the same or those who have recently adopted new legislation.
