Safeguards to build international confidence

Confidence of States in the exclusively peaceful use of nuclear activities is based upon systems of international safeguards. The declarations of States regarding their nuclear material and activities are subject to independent evaluation and inspection with the aim of checking whether the agreed criteria have been met. The performance of safeguards inspectorates of international organizations is subject to approval of Member States; also, information on safeguards systems is made available to the general public. The paper analyses the way in which safeguards support international confidence in non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Also reviewed are the original paradigms of safeguards, the present situation, and the challenges and possible improvements for the future. Furthermore, certain problems are discussed, in connection with assurance of the completeness and correctness of declarations regarding nuclear material and activities, or the avoidance of questionable situations and the way of dealing with such situations; these are problems which have not yet been completely resolved. (author). 26 refs