The International Conference on Nuclear Security (ICONS): An Explainer

The International Conference on Nuclear Security (ICONS) is a series of conferences organised every three to four years since 2013 by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at its headquarters in Vienna, Austria. It provides a global forum for the discussion of nuclear security, involving IAEA Member States from all regions of the world, including representatives from the ministerial to the technical level, as well as international and non-governmental organisations. 

Why is ICONS valuable to the nuclear security community? What topics does ICONS cover, who is the audience, and what is a typical agenda?  What is the role of the Co-Presidents of ICONS? What is the ICONS ministerial declaration? What is the history of ICONS? How is ICONS organised? To help diplomats, practitioners, and other audiences involved or interested in ICONS and nuclear security, the fifth brief in the VCDNP’s “Governing the Atom” series answers these and other questions about ICONS.

The “Governing the Atom” brief series presents easily digestible and factual information to experts and government representatives on critical nuclear governance issues and aids States in their decision-making on critical issues related to working with international organisations and regimes, including the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Comprehensive Nuclear‑Test‑Ban Treaty Organization, as well as on arms control and disarmament, nuclear export controls, nuclear security, and other relevant topics.