Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency
The core objective of the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency is the facilitation of cooperation between State Parties in the event of a nuclear or radiological incident. If such a case arises, State Parties are bound by the Convention to provide information to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding the level of support they could provide to the stricken state in terms of materials, experts, and resources. Moreover, states are recommended to respond to a notification for assistance by providing said resources and communicating the request to organisations and other State Parties which may also be in the position to assist. Although the stricken state is obliged to provide local facilities and support to the personnel assisting in controlling the incident it is made clear in the convention that incoming personnel must not interfere with the domestic affairs of the state, release confidential information regarding nuclear facilities, and importantly it is up to the state requesting aid to manage and coordinate the resources provided to it by other State Parties. The convention currently has 112 State Parties and was swiftly adopted in the wake of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.