The epistemological basis provided by UNSCEAR and the radiation pro­tection paradigm recommended by ICRP are converted into international radiation safety standards, for NPPs and other practices, under the aegis of the IAEA.

In performing its safety functions, the IAEA is contributing to what has been termed a de facto international radiation safety regime (Gonzalez, 2004b, 2004c), which includes three key elements: [8]

11.7.1 International conventions

The legally binding international undertakings by States are, in legal lan­guage, international conventions. Under the auspices of the IAEA, four major radiation-safety related international conventions have been adopted in recent years, namely:

1. The Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident (IAEA, 1986b)

2. The Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency (IAEA, 1986c)

3. The Convention on Nuclear Safety (IAEA, 1994)

4. The Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (the so-called ‘Joint Convention’) (IAEA, 1997).

The obligations undertaken by signatory States of these Conventions apply inter alia to radiation protection of NPPs.

Another relevant undertaking for NPP operation is the Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) of the International Labour Organization (ILO, 1960). This Convention applies to all activities involving exposure of workers to ionizing radiations in the course of their work, including work at NPPs.