Deposit of the Instrument of Acceptance of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism

August 7, 2007

On August 3 (Fri) (Japan time: 4 (Sat)), the instrument of acceptance of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism was deposited by the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the headquarters of the U.N. in New York.
Stipulating as offences such acts of (1) possessing or using radioactive material or a device, or (2) using or damaging a nuclear facility in a manner which releases radioactive material, with the intent to cause death, serious bodily injury, substantial damage to property, etc., the Convention obligates each State Party, for example, to establish its jurisdiction, and either to take a measure to extradite the offender or to submit the case to its competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution, in order not to allow the offender or alleged offender to escape criminal procedures.
This Convention came into effect on July 7, 2007 --- as of August 1, with 24 States Parties (Russia is the only G8 country). In accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 25 of the Convention, the Convention will come into effect for Japan on September 2, the 30th day after the date of the deposition of the instrument of acceptance.
The conclusion of this Convention was approved by the Diet on June 15, 2007, and the acceptance and promulgation was decided by the Cabinet on August 3.

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