The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) convened a regional meeting to review the outcomes of the priority-identification phase of the CONTACT-Central Asia project and outline the next steps in its implementation.
The workshop brought together representatives from national agencies in the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan tasked with preventing and combating the illicit trafficking of radiological and nuclear (RN) materials.
The event focused on reviewing the activities conducted within the framework of the CONTACT-Central Asia project, evaluating the results of the first phase, and planning upcoming initiatives, including training sessions and regional cooperation activities.
The workshop agenda included:
- A detailed review of the project’s scope, participant profiles, activities, and training curricula.
- Participant presentations on their nuclear detection architecture, legal frameworks, past trafficking cases, and priority areas to be addressed by the project.
- A collaborative discussion on simulated scenarios, focusing on risk assessment, analysis of received information, decision-making processes, and the investigation of illicit trafficking cases.
With the conclusion of the priority-identification phase, the project will now transition to delivering train-the-trainer courses. These sessions will target selected operatives and instructors from the agencies identified during the initial phase to ensure the sustainability and impact of the project’s outcomes.
The CONTACT-Central Asia initiative aims to enhance the capacities of security and law enforcement officials in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to prevent and combat RN trafficking, while fostering regional cooperation and promoting the exchange of information on RN trafficking incidents.
Launched in late 2023, the initiative is implemented by UNICRI and funded by the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA).
