Commitments and Actions from the GICNT Nuclear Forensics Working Group

Full text: At the time of its formation in 2006 the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) was founding an effort that would become synonymous with enhancing global nuclear security. In the 10 years since its inception it has matured and evolved to provide a valuable resource to the voluntary partnership of 86 nations and five official observer organizations. It has effectively raised awareness among decision-makers of approaches for preventing, detecting and responding to nuclear terrorism. Now that there is a strong basis of understanding we need to leverage the momentum into tangible outputs. The GICNT Nuclear Forensics Working Group was endorsed and inaugurated in 2010 with the intended function of engaging partners in activities including technical discussion, sharing of good practices and fostering efforts to build national capacity in nuclear forensic science. The Nuclear Forensics Working Group collaborates with international organizations including; the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group (ITWG); and the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) as part of ongoing efforts to coordinate and complement other international initiatives in nuclear forensics. It is recognised that improved integration of the working group activities with the other GICNT working groups and international organizations will reinforce efforts across the nuclear security spectrum. The Nuclear Forensics Working Group provides products that can inform and assist partners to utilise good practices in creating a sustainable nuclear forensic capability. The publication of 'Nuclear Forensics Fundamentals for Policy Makers and Decision Makers' in 2012 and 'Exchanging Nuclear Forensics Information: Benefits, Challenges, and Resources' in 2015 has underpinned the more recent activities of the working group. These documents, together with workshops, expert meetings, and ongoing engagement have provided a strong basis for formulating the future activities of the working group which is responsive to the needs of the partner nations and continues to remain relevant to contemporary issues with implications for nuclear security. In 2013 at the IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security the emerging themes of the Nuclear Forensics Working Group were presented. These included policy aspects of information sharing, international resources, relationship of communities, implementing nuclear forensics in existing national response plans, and sustainment of nuclear forensic capabilities. This presentation will share the evolution of outcomes and outputs of the Nuclear Forensics Working Group as we strive to fulfil our commitment to equip GICNT partner nations to build capability and strengthen capacity. A sustainable nuclear forensic capability should reflect the needs and complexity of a respective nation and seek to use mechanisms and arrangements to leverage existing domestic capabilities and request assistance of partners with complementary capabilities. Specific activities of the Nuclear Forensics Working Group will be shared as well as an insight to the plans ahead. In particular, progress to incorporate a chapter on tabletop exercises for nuclear forensics in the GICNT Exercise Playbook; the status of a nuclear forensics self-assessment tool and its utility to assist partner nations to determine capability needs and possible pathways to realise these needs; and plans for a joint ITWG-GICNT Nuclear Forensics Working Group workshop on expert testimony. (author)