Disarmament and International Security

 INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)

The IAEA is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957. Though established independently of the United Nations through its own international treaty, the IAEA Statute,[1] the IAEA reports to both the UN General Assembly and Security Council.

Botswana became a member of the IAEA in 2002.

The IAEA serves as an intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology and nuclear power worldwide. The programs of the IAEA encourage the development of the peaceful applications of nuclear technology, provide international safeguards against misuse of nuclear technology and nuclear materials, and promote nuclear safety (including radiation protection) and nuclear security standards and their implementation.

The IAEA’s current Director General is Yukiya Amano. He has been Director of the Organisation since  2009.

The Ministry responsible for the IAEA issues is the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology with other key Departments like the Department of Geological Survey. Its contact person is Mr. Thapelo Otukile, Director of the Department of Radiation Protection and Inspectorate.

At its 59th General Conference in September 2015, the IAEA accepted Botswana’s ratification of the Amendment to the the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and the Fiftth Extension of the Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA). The Agreement facilitates cooperation between Botswana and the IAEA in terms of Training and Development in the field of nuclear science and technology.

COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY ORGANISATION (CTBTO)

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) is an international organization that will be established upon the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, a Convention that outlaws nuclear test explosions. Its seat will be Vienna, Austria. The organization will be tasked with verifying the ban on nuclear tests and will operate therefore a worldwide monitoring system and may conduct on-site inspections.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty will enter into force 180 days after the Treaty has been ratified by 44 States, listed in Annex 2 of the Treaty, which were designated to have a nuclear reactor or at least some advanced level of nuclear technology. As of December 2011, 41 of these Annex 2 states have signed the treaty and 36 have ratified.

Botswana ratified the CTBT on 28 October 2002.

The Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO, and its Provisional Technical Secretariat, were established in 1997 and are headquartered in Vienna, Austria. The Preparatory Commission was tasked with making preparations for effective implementation of the Treaty, in particular by establishing its verification regime.

This organization is led by the Executive Secretary Mr.  Tibor Tóth, appointed in 1 August 2005 for a period of four years. His term of office was renewed in 2009.