The IAEA held a workshop on nuclear law for the Asia and the Pacific this month in Manila, Philippines. The event was hosted by the government at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI).
The workshop, which was attended by 40 participants representing 15 countries, aimed to strengthen the national nuclear legal frameworks of participating countries in Asia and the Pacific and to support them as they consider joining the relevant international legal instruments on nuclear safety, security, safeguards and liability. It was attended by participants from Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Viet Nam and Vanuatu.
"Hosting this workshop is a great honour and marks a further milestone in the collaboration between the IAEA and the Philippines on nuclear law," said PNRI Director Carlo A. Arcilla in his opening remarks. "It comes at a pivotal moment as the country's draft nuclear law is currently under parliamentary review. This event underscores our shared commitment to strengthening legal frameworks, which are vital for the safe and sustainable use of nuclear sciences and technology."
40 participants from 15 countries in Asia and the Pacific gathered at the workshop. (Photo: PNRI)
The event served as a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing and strengthening national legal frameworks in line with international legal instruments, standards and guidance. Several countries requested bilateral meetings to identify their specific national needs in legislative assistance, including awareness raising for decision-makers, policy-makers and parliamentarians, reviews of draft and enacted nuclear legislation, national workshops on nuclear law and training in nuclear law such as the IAEA Nuclear Law Institute.
"This workshop continues to strengthen our capacity in nuclear law, which is crucial for developing an adequate national legal framework," said Siti Afidah binti Awang from Malaysia's Department of Atomic Energy. "It helps to ensure that we are well-prepared to address the legal challenges associated with the use of nuclear technology."
Noting that the Viet Nam National Assembly had just agreed to restart the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project, Hung Trang from the Viet Nam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety said: "This workshop is invaluable. It provides us with the tools and insights necessary to continue the work to update our national legal framework in this regard."
The IAEA remains committed to supporting countries in the region to develop or enhance their nuclear law. Previous regional workshops on nuclear law were held in 2022 in Hanoi, Viet Nam, and in 2019 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Similarly, the December workshop in Manila will be complemented by a Sub-Regional Workshop on Nuclear Law for Asia-Pacific Member States in the Middle East to be held in January 2025 in Vienna, Austria.
The Manila workshop was conducted within the framework of the IAEA Legislative Assistance Programme and organized through an interregional technical cooperation project.
