Promoting Equality and Innovation in the Nuclear Field

Together with the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the Permanent Mission of Norway, the VCDNP hosted a workshop on training and capacity-building in support of different objectives across the nuclear field, including the safe and secure use of nuclear energy, disarmament verification, and justice for communities affected by nuclear testing. On 8 October 2025, diplomats, representatives of the international organisations in Vienna, and researchers convened at the VCDNP for expert presentations and two roundtable discussions.

The sessions examined a wealth of topics, drawing on recent studies and field research:

• Further enhancing the IAEA’s suite of assistance and training programmes, including the Technical Cooperation programme, signature initiatives like Atoms4Food and ZODIAC, and career development projects like the Marie Sklodowska-Curie and the Lise Meitner Fellowships;
• Sustaining, strengthening, and diversifying global technical expertise in nuclear disarmament verification;
• Promoting OHCHR support for the Marshallese people in addressing the legacy of nuclear testing affecting their communities; and
• Implementing good practices for boosting effectiveness and innovation across the nuclear field through fairness and equal opportunities.

The speakers were: 

• Jørn Osmundsen, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Norway in Vienna
• Renata Hessmann Dalaqua, Head of the Integrated Approaches Programme, UNIDIR
• Sandra Steyskal, Section Head, Division for Europe, Department of Technical Cooperation, IAEA
• James Revill, Head of the Weapons of Mass Destruction and Space Security Programmes, UNIDIR
• Raphael Pangalangan, Human Rights Officer, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
• Elena K. Sokova, Executive Director, VCDNP
• Louis Reitmann, Research Fellow, VCDNP

A summary of the workshop is available below.