Statement by the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction

We, the Partners of the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (the Global Partnership), supporting the goals and commitments of the Nuclear Security Summits, express our intention to continue our efforts aimed at developing and implementing projects to prevent non-state actors from acquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD); and coordinating projects, including project resources, between and among partners and relevant international organizations.

One of the main focus areas of the Global Partnership is strengthening nuclear and radiological security and preventing non-state actors from acquiring these materials, notably through providing a valuable platform for building partnerships, coordination and cooperation on nuclear security programs and activities.  Within the framework of the Global Partnership, both single-donor and jointly funded projects are implemented in countries requesting assistance with nuclear or radiological security. 

We seek opportunities for cooperation with countries that are not participants in this multilateral initiative and express interest in joint work to implement the commitments made by the leaders who attended at the Nuclear Security Summits, notably the Action Plan in support of the Global Partnership.

Since 2014, the Partners of the Global Partnership have contributed more than €47 million to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Nuclear Security Fund (NSF) to support the IAEA's central role in the global nuclear security framework in addition to other bilateral and multilateral contributions to enhance nuclear security in a number of thematic areas.  We welcome the continuation of such support, not least because the important projects implemented within the framework of the Fund are carried out only by voluntary contributions.  In meeting our mandate to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540, we intend to coordinate our work with the 1540 Committee of the United Nations Security Council to match requests with offers of international assistance.

We also provide assistance to promote the prompt universalization and implementation of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material; assist states to join such international agreements as the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism; and encourage states to make a commitment to the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources.