4–6 November 2025, Turin, Italy. Within the framework of CONTACT, UNICRI’s capacity-building initiative aimed at strengthening national and regional capacities to prevent and counter radiological and nuclear (RN) trafficking, the Institute conducted a regional curriculum review workshop for instructors from Kazakhstan’s and Uzbekistan’s national security and law enforcement training institutions. The event took place from 4 to 6 November 2025 at the UN Campus in Turin, Italy.
The workshop brought together designated instructors and operative officers from key national institutions tasked with RN security. Representatives from both countries contributed their institutional perspectives, ensuring that the CONTACT curriculum continues to reflect national needs, legal frameworks, and the practical realities faced by national RN security stakeholders.
The three-day programme encompassed an overview of the CONTACT training methodology, a presentation of other countries’ experiences in adapting CONTACT materials within their national training systems, and presentations by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on their national architectures for RN detection and related legislative foundations. These discussions marked an initial step toward adapting the CONTACT training materials to the national contexts of the participating countries.
A significant part of the workshop was dedicated to examining the theoretical training material and practical exercises used within the CONTACT modules. Instructors analysed each activity in detail, assessing its relevance, clarity, and applicability to their institutional needs. These discussions were complemented by thematic group work, during which participants outlined how the updated materials could be integrated into their own training programmes. Sessions led by UNICRI experts introduced approaches for evaluating lessons and strengthening instructional methods, further enhancing participants’ pedagogical skills. As the workshop concluded, participants reaffirmed the importance of embedding practical, real-case-based learning into their institutional training systems.
The CONTACT–Central Asia initiative, launched in late 2023 and implemented by UNICRI with support from the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), aims to build sustainable capacity among security and law enforcement officials in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to prevent and combat RN trafficking, enhance interagency cooperation, and promote the exchange of information on RN-related incidents.