Categories & Indicators

• Applies to countries with weapons-usable nuclear materials
• Applies to countries without weapons-usable nuclear materials

• Quantities and Sites

  Captures quantity and production of materials and number and types of sites.

  • Quantities of Nuclear Materials

    The larger the quantity of material held, the greater the potential risk of theft.

  • Sites and Transportation

    The greater the number of sites, the greater the risk of security breaches.

  • Material Production / Elimination Trends

    Increasing nuclear materials quantities increases the risk of theft.

• Security and Control Measures

  Includes core activities directly related to protection, control and accounting of nuclear materials.

  • On-site Physical Protection

    Essential measures for securing sites and facilities.

  • Control and Accounting Procedures

    Necessary element of a comprehensive security system.

  • Security Personnel Measures

    Security culture and staff qualifications influence how well security procedures are followed.

  • Physical Security During Transport

    Materials in transit are particularly vulnerable to theft.

  • Response Capabilities

    Part of a layered security system; may enable recovery after theft.

• Global Norms

  International legal commitments, voluntary participation in global initiatives and transparency.

  • International Legal Commitments

    The basis for domestic legislation, regulations and security capacity.

  • Voluntary Commitments

    Demonstrates a state’s support for nuclear materials security as a global agenda.

  • Nuclear Security and Materials Transparency

    Transparency enhances international confidence in security conditions.

• Domestic Commitments and Capacity

  Indicates how well a country has implemented its international commitments.

  • UNSCR 1540 Implementation

    UN Security Council Resolution 1540 obliges action on materials security and its implementation demonstrates a state's commitment level.

  • Domestic Nuclear Materials Security Legislation

    Implementation of security measures is rooted in domestic nuclear materials security legislation.

  • Safeguards Adoption and Compliance

    States compliant with safeguards measures take seriously nuclear materials-related responsibilities.

  • Independent Regulatory Agency

    An independent regulatory structure helps ensure compliance with nuclear materials-related regulations.

• Societal Factors

  Can affect nuclear materials security conditions.

  • Political Stability

    A lack of political stability may enable lapses in materials security.

  • Pervasiveness of Corruption

    Affects the potential for theft and how well security measures are implemented.

  • Group(s) Interested in Illicitly Acquiring Materials

    Presence and capabilities of groups with the goal of illicitly acquiring materials.