International Team of Experts (ITE) missions
Among other measures to protect against nuclear terrorism, the IAEA Secretariat, first under the 2002-2005 Plan of Activities to Protect against Nuclear Terrorism and more recently under the Nuclear Security Plan for 2006-2009, organizes missions of international teams of legal, policy and technical experts (ITE) to advise requesting States on adherence to and implementation of international legal instruments relevant to enhancing protection against nuclear terrorism.
The ITE missions objectives are:
(1) to encourage and to inform national policy makers about the importance of adhering to the legal framework under the IAEA’s auspices and other relevant instruments.
(2) to provide information on how to effectively implement States’ obligations under those instruments.
In addition, the ITE informs the requesting State of the availability of relevant IAEA advisory services and other assistance activities, and encourages the State in question to avail itself of such services. The activity areas can include: physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities; detection of malicious activities involving nuclear and other radioactive materials; state systems for nuclear material accountancy and control (SSAC); security of radioactive material other than nuclear material; assessment of safety/security vulnerability of nuclear facilities; response to malicious acts, or threats thereof; and nuclear security co-ordination and information management.
At the request of one or more States, an ITE mission is organized by the IAEA Secretariat to visit the requesting State with a view to holding meetings with senior policy-makers for the objectives set out above. Examples of such policy makers could include representatives of the following bodies: national security advisers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Emergencies and Civil Defence, Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Internal Affairs and of national nuclear regulatory bodies, parliamentary and other officials deemed appropriate by the requesting State.
Following each ITE mission, a report is prepared on the findings of the mission and on any follow-up recommendations or activities the team or host governments may deem useful. Based on ITE mission findings or recommendations, and upon request, the IAEA can provide advice or assistance to States on adhering to or implementing relevant international instruments and on elaborating nuclear-related national legislation and regulations. Through 30 June 2008, ITE missions have reached out to senior national policy and decision makers at high departmental, political and parliamentary levels in 26 States.
For further information please contact NuclearSecurity@iaea.org
