Connecting Nuclear Security to International Frameworks on Gender and Security

The international community is slowly beginning to recognize the intersections between law and policy as it relates to international security—particularly arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament—and the body of human rights law that addresses gender equality. Notably absent from this discussion is the field of nuclear security. Despite its historical underpinnings as an inherently domestic activity, nuclear security is thoroughly grounded in international treaty law. However, nuclear security is often overlooked in the international security context and has not been well-situated in international instruments that address gender equality. We argue that gender equality in nuclear security should be understood as an important component of broader efforts to achieve equal opportunities for women in work and is critical to ensuring women are included in conflict prevention efforts. Linking nuclear security to broader international efforts to increase gender equality in security and conflict prevention will provide a clearer structure and framework for gender equality initiatives in the nuclear security field. This link is critically important given that estimates indicate that women comprise only 20% of the nuclear workforce. Moreover, situating nuclear security in a broader international legal framework will simultaneously help states meet their gender equality commitments emanating from other instruments. This paper will first analyze the relationship between nuclear security and broader international security efforts, in particular arms control treaties and nonproliferation regimes. It will then survey the relevant international and regional frameworks for gender equality, particularly those that have applicability in the security context. This paper will next explore the relationship between nuclear security and these frameworks on gender. We find that some instruments provide support for gender equality initiatives in nuclear security because of their mandate to states to provide structural gender equality, and others are particularly relevant when they call for women’s participation in conflict prevention. This paper concludes with recommendations to states that are concerned about the underrepresentation of women in nuclear security

Women in Nuclear Power Programs: Case Studies from Africa

Approximately 30 countries are considering, planning, or starting nuclear power programs, and nearly 20 more countries have expressed interest in nuclear power. Most of these countries are nuclear newcomers. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a nuclear power program is a major undertaking requiring careful planning, preparation, and investments in institutions and human resources because of the safety, security, and safeguards requirements associated with the use of nuclear energy. The IAEA Milestones Approach states that states should follow three phases of development to establish the necessary infrastructure for a nuclear power program. Nuclear security is one of the 19 infrastructure issues considered throughout the three phases, alongside other infrastructure issues such as human resource development and legal and regulatory development. Despite the number of countries operating or interested in developing nuclear power plants, women comprise less than a quarter of the nuclear sector workforce. New nuclear power programs require a skilled and diverse workforce to build the necessary infrastructure and sufficiently address nuclear security. The underrepresentation of women in the field affects competitiveness, effectiveness, and diversity, and new nuclear power programs represent an opportunity to advance gender equality in nuclear security. This paper analyzes existing international, regional, and national gender equality measures and describes how a country’s nuclear power program can integrate those measures. It examines experiences from two Eastern Africa nuclear newcomers: Kenya and Uganda. Finally, the paper presents recommendations and potential solutions to address gender equality in nuclear security