Nuclear security relates to theft, sabotage, unauthorized access and illegal transfer or other malicious acts involving nuclear material and other radioactive substances and associated facilities; it involves nuclear safety issues and physical protection form an important part of it.

There are a number of publications defining and dealing with nuclear security, all of them are consistent with the Convention of Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), the ‘Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources’, its supplementary Guidance, UN Security Council resolutions 1373 and 1540 (UNSC, 2001), and the ‘International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism’ (UN, 2005).

In respect of nuclear security the IAEA’s main document is the ‘Nuclear Security Plan for 2010-2013’ (IAEA, 2009/2), which contributes to the efforts to achieve worldwide, effective security where nuclear or other radioactive material is in use, storage or transport, and of associated facilities, by supporting states to establish and maintain nuclear security through capacity building, guidance, human resource development, sustainability and risk reduction. The objective is to support initiatives to enable the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear energy and radioactive substances. The plan has four main elements: (i) needs assessment, information collation and analysis; (ii) the enhancement of a global security framework; (iii) nuclear security services; and (iv) risk reduction and security improvement. Key priorities are the provision of advice concerning the implementation of binding and non-binding international instruments; the development of guidance and documents; the review and assessment of needs; the provision of support to states for the implementation of nuclear security recommendations; and to outreach and exchange information through databases, conferences, workshops and fellowships. A number of activities, which were originally conceived for safeguards, and nuclear and radiation safety, but which also support nuclear security objectives, are also covered in the plan.

A number of guidance documents exist, covering security fundamentals, recommending best practices, implementation guides, and technical reference documents (applying detailed measures in specific areas, training and service guides, the latter providing information on the conduct and scope of relevant advisory missions). There are guides on, inter alia, the security culture, basic design threats, nuclear forensics and on illicit trafficking in radioactive material (for a complete list see references below, IAEA 2011/5).