Nuclear activities and facilities typically draw a wide range of opinions and questions from a broad and diverse set of stakeholders, including, decision makers, government agencies, regulatory bodies, legislators, media, the public and the government and entities in neighbouring countries. The nuclear sector recognizes the importance of openness and transparency towards such statutory and non-statutory stakeholders. Openness and transparency are widely seen as essential in the nuclear field. The principle is evident and reflected across the nuclear legal framework. Several international legal instruments in the nuclear field, related texts and associated mechanisms and services on radiation and nuclear safety, and nuclear security, address openness and transparency. The subject is also addressed in the environmental law instruments that intersect with nuclear law.
The imperative for openness and transparency has to be reconciled with the need to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information related to nuclear material and facilities, which could otherwise be used for unlawful or malicious purposes.
At the national level, exhibiting openness and transparency is one of five key and interlinked principles of effective stakeholder engagement as identified by the IAEA.
As the last in its current series of topical webinars on nuclear law for officials from IAEA Member States, the IAEA will hold a webinar on Openness and Transparency in International and National Nuclear Law, which will include an interactive Q&A session. Topics to be addressed include:
- overview of the relevant international legal frameworks including the treaty-based regimes, as well as related texts and associated mechanisms and services
- elements of a national legal framework addressing openness and transparency
- IAEA support available to States in this field