By NNN-PTI
United Nations : The International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, which aims to protect nuclear power plants and nuclear reactors from terror attacks, came into force Saturday.
The Convention, apart from protecting a broad range of targets including nuclear power plants and reactors from the terror attacks, will also help bring perpetrators to justice and promote cooperation among member States to fight nuclear terrorism.
The offenders must be extradited or prosecuted and states are expected to cooperate in assisting each other in criminal investigations and extradition proceedings, according to the convention.
The treaty, which was signed by 22 member states with Bangladesh signing it about a month ago, also obliges the member states to make every effort to adopt measures to ensure the protection of radioactive material.
Welcoming its entry into force, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) pledged support for the pact.
Antonio Maria Costa said UNODC stood ready to help countries become parties to and implement the Convention. "Indeed, we are the only UN body mandated, empowered and equipped to provide on-the-ground counter terrorism assistance on legal issues to member States," he said in a statement released in Vienna, where the office is based.
Â