On 14 September 2005, at UN Headquarters in New York, the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism — adopted by the General Assembly on 13 April 2005 (A/RES/59/290) — opens for signature during the World Summit.

The treaty criminalises possessing, making or using radioactive material and threats against nuclear facilities with intent to cause death, injury or environmental damage. It requires aut dedere aut judicare, judicial cooperation and IAEA assistance to secure materials.

The depositary is the UN Secretary-General. Entry into force: 7 July 2007, thirty days after the twenty-second instrument. Over 120 parties, including major nuclear powers.

On the first day Russia, the United States and France were among the signatories.

For nuclear counter-terrorism law, 14 September 2005 marks the New York opening for signature.

The text appears in UNTS and the UN Treaty Collection.

The Nuclear Terrorism Convention of 14 September 2005 remains the UN-framework milestone on the subject.

Image: UN / nuclear; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Nuclear Terrorism Convention. Treaty text: UN — Nuclear Terrorism Convention.