Putting an end to nuclear explosions women at the CTBTO

From left to right: Nalinie Sewpersadsingh, Elena Rigacci Hay, Elizabeth Abela Hampel, Poravee Wornoayporn

External Relations staff play a key role in promoting the universality and entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which bans all nuclear explosions. The Treaty is close to universality, with 182 signatures and 153 ratifications, but needs ratifications from nine additional nuclear holder States to enter into force. By constantly liaising with States, External Relations staff ensure that they are fully aware of the significance of the CTBT for international peace and security and the benefits of Treaty membership. They are also instrumental in promoting capacity building and cooperation between States through a series of outreach activities.

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Putting an end to nuclear explosions women at the CTBTO

From left to right: Elena Diez Abarca, Courtney Linley, Pari Gazzola, Marion Berrens

The Programme Planning Officers are central to the successful operation of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). The officers in this photo are responsible for planning and ensuring the implementation of the programme, resources and performance of the CTBTO. The organization is tasked with promoting the Treaty and its entry into force and building up a global verification regime to ensure that all nuclear explosions are detected.

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Putting an end to nuclear explosions women at the CTBTO

From left to right: Suzana Vukovic, Jo-Ann Koch, Marizel Rojas

“Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno” applies aptly to the front liners in the Office of the Executive Secretary. Led by the longest serving staff member at the CTBTO, Jo-Ann Koch (centre), they provide the support necessary to ensure the smooth running of the front office at all times. Just over 60 % of the administrative, secretarial, clerical and logistical support staff at the CTBTO are women and almost 40% of these positions are held by men. By contrast, women represent nearly 30% of professional staff with men accounting for just over 70%.

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Putting an end to nuclear explosions women at the CTBTO

With over 260 of its monitoring facilities around the world already fully established, the International Monitoring System (IMS) uses state-of-theart equipment to monitor the globe for evidence of a nuclear explosion. Lucrezia Terzi prepares equipment before dispatching it to the stations. This is a crucial task, as is testing the equipment, repairing faulty parts when possible, and upgrading or modifying equipment to ensure that it can be used at a particular station. When complete, the IMS will have 337 facilities in 89 countries, monitoring underground, the oceans and the atmosphere.

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Putting an end to nuclear explosions women at the CTBTO

In a profession that has traditionally been dominated by men, two of the seven radionuclide team officers responsible for building and certifying radionuclide stations are women. These stations detect specific radionuclides that provide unambiguous evidence of a nuclear test. They are part of the CTBT global alarm system which makes sure that no nuclear explosion goes undetected. In this photo, radionuclide officers Emmy Duran (left) and Barbara Nadalut are preparing a filter sample from a station for analysis.

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Putting an end to nuclear explosions women at the CTBTO

Pattreeya Thapanapaha (right) investigates a problem with the VSAT link of the Global Communications Infrastructure. This worldwide communication system forms the backbone of data transmission - from CTBT monitoring stations around the world to the CTBTO headquarters in Vienna, and for the dissemination of data to CTBTO Member States. Two of the five-person team supporting communications operations are women, providing technical expertise to ensure that this global system is fully operational at all times.

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Putting an end to nuclear explosions women at the CTBTO

Marcela Villarroel (standing), Jane Gore and Carla Pires (sitting)

Analyzing the vast amount of data that arrive every day at the International Data Centre (IDC) in Vienna is at the core of the CTBTO’s work. Several gigabytes of data, which are transmitted daily from the CTBTO’s global network of monitoring stations, require careful processing and analysis before being distributed to Member States. Great demands are placed on the technical skills, experience and judgment of the analysts. Seven – or just over 40% – of current analyst staff members at the IDC are women – from Chile/France, Jamaica, Russia, the Philippines, Portugal, Sweden and Zimbabwe. The nationalities of the women reflect the CTBTO’s commitment to ensuring a wide and well-balanced geographical distribution.

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Putting an end to nuclear explosions women at the CTBTO

From left to right: Svetlana Nikolova, Marina Malakhova and Riyo Otsuka

Operations Centre staff play a pivotal role in ensuring that the 182 Member States of the CTBTO receive high quality and reliable data and analysis reports promptly. Staff here in Vienna monitor the huge volume of data traffic that passes through the CTBTO every day and liaise with station operators worldwide to ensure that stations operate reliably. Approximately 50% of the team in the Centre are women.

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Putting an end to nuclear explosions women at the CTBTO

The computer centre has hosted all of the CTBTO’s computer systems since 1997 when the International Data Centre was created in Vienna. All monitoring data and analysis reports are stored here. It is essential for the verification responsibilities that historical data can also be retrieved. A lot of responsibility falls on the shoulders of Hardware Engineer Rita Okechukwu (left) in ensuring that the computer centre is constantly maintained.

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Putting an end to nuclear explosions women at the CTBTO

Ditta Ciganikova (left) and Woluh Mibder

The purpose of an on-site inspection (OSI) is to clarify whether a nuclear explosion has been carried out in violation of the Treaty. A team of up to 40 inspectors can be dispatched to the suspected area to search the ground for any signs of a nuclear explosion. To date, there are few women involved in OSI field work, but women hold a number of other positions related to on-site inspections, including developing policies, procedures and the methodology required to perform an OSI.

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Putting an end to nuclear explosions women at the CTBTO

Left to right – back row: Natalie Brely, Lisa Tabassi, Regina Kusuma, Grace Okungu, Silvia Alamo Front row – left to right: Hongmei Deng and Annika Thunborg

At the beginning of February 2011, seven of the 37 senior management staff at the CTBTO were women, managing the following sections (back row of photo: left to right) Operation and Maintenance of the global monitoring system, Legal Services, Internal Audit, Personnel. Evaluation, (front row: left to right) OnSite Inspection Documentation, Public Information.

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