Nuclear Security Contact Group

Terms of Reference

Nuclear Security Contact Group

Aims:

• Co-sponsors of the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) Joint Statement on Sustaining Action to Strengthen Global Nuclear Security agreed to help address continuing and evolving nuclear security challenges, with the objectives of advancing implementation of nuclear security commitments and building a strengthened, sustainable and comprehensive global nuclear security architecture for the common benefit and security of all.
• The Nuclear Security Contact Group (the “Contact Group”) is not a decision making body. It has been established with the aim of facilitating cooperation and sustaining engagement on nuclear security after the conclusion of the NSS process, consistent with national laws and respective international obligations, in support of the IAEA and other international organizations and initiatives.

Tasks:

• Convening annually on the margins of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and, as may be useful, in connection with other related meetings;
• Discussing a broad range of nuclear security-related issues, including identifying emerging trends that may require more focused attention;
• Promoting and assessing implementation of nuclear security commitments, including those made during the NSS process, reflected in the four Nuclear Security Summit Communiqués, the 2010 Washington Work Plan, the 2016 Action Plans, national commitments and associated joint statements, and gift baskets;
• Developing and maintaining linkages to nongovernmental experts and nuclear industry; and
• Determining any additional steps that may be appropriate to support these goals.

Contact Group Participation:

• Participating International Organizations: International organizations such as the United Nations (UN), INTERPOL and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will be invited to attend and provide updates on implementation of nuclear security efforts by their respective organizations, and coordination of efforts, where applicable.
• New Members: The Contact Group is open to interested States that commit publicly to the terms of the Statement of Principles of the Contact Group, and are in good-standing with their international non-proliferation obligations. Interested States should approach the Convener to indicate their interest in membership. Each Member will designate an appropriately authorized and informed senior official or officials to participate in the Contact Group.
• Non-Members: There are no provisions for observer states in the Contact Group.

Meeting Timing, Frequency and Location:

• The Contact Group should convene annually on the margins of the General Conference of the IAEA.
• Should the need arise, the Contact Group Convener could hold additional meetings. In order to ensure appropriate representation, meetings would normally be held in conjunction with high-level nuclear security related meetings.

Governance:

• The Contact Group will be coordinated by a rotating series of Conveners who will act in accordance with the mandate as defined in Terms of Reference. Conveners will serve for a period of a year.
• Subsequent Conveners will be identified based on expressions of interest, and on a voluntary basis at the preceding Contact Group meeting.
• The Convener would be expected to host meetings on the margins of high-level nuclear related events, as appropriate and/or required.
• The Convener will coordinate drafting the agenda of meetings, which will be adopted by the Contact Group at the beginning of each meeting.
• The Convener will also be the point of contact to receive requests for membership to the Contact Group and will inform members of such requests.
• The Convener will also serve as a point of contact for nongovernmental experts and nuclear industry, in the effort of the Contact Group to maintain and develop linkages with these stakeholders, as agreed by the Contact Group.
• In the rare event of the Contact Group taking substantive decisions, such as a public statement on behalf of the Group, it will be decided by consensus.

Information Sharing Resources:

• Information pertaining to Contact Group meetings, such as agendas and logistics, will be shared by the Convener via email distribution lists to Contact Group points of contact.
• Information of enduring value pertaining to the Contact Group and its activities are to be stored on a new Contact Group website, which will be administered by the US State Department.
• The Convener may produce a summary of the Contact Group meetings in their personal capacity and distribute it among members for their information.