THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS

In December 2001, the Secretariat of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) achieved a major milestone with the completion of the conceptual framework for integrated safeguards. Integrated safeguards refers to the optimum combination of all safeguards measures available to the IAEA under comprehensive safeguards agreements and additional protocols which achieves the maximum effectiveness and efficiency, within available resources, in meeting the Agency’s safeguards objectives. The conceptual framework comprises the interrelated set of concepts, approaches, guidelines and criteria that govern the design, implementation and evaluation of integrated safeguards. It represents the culmination of three years of intensive development effort involving the IAEA Secretariat, external experts, IAEA Member States and technical advice from the IAEA Director General’s Standing Advisory Group on Safeguards Implementation (SAGSI). This paper will describe the conceptual framework, its current status and the road ahead.