Critical infrastructure security of nuclear power plants in the context of modern international law

Critical infrastructures are facilities and system elements that will cause grave problems in the normal flow of economic, commercial, political and social life, and will undermine the public order and national security if they are damaged or become dysfunctional. As a result of the criterias and analyzes brought by High Reliability Organizations, nuclear power plants have taken their place among critical infrastructures with all their equipment and annexes. Through international agreements and standards introduced by international regulatory institutions, it is aimed to ensure the critical infrastructure security of nuclear power plants. The implementation of advisory international instruments will contribute to the codification of soft law over time by improving the culture of nuclear security. Once the provisions of international legal instruments are violated, nuclear disasters may cause damage that will last for generations. Then the legal responsibility of states and international organizations that can be claimed by every legal person involved will occure. Since the right of living in a healthy environment is defined among human rights, individuals may also have the capacity to be a party in legal disputes on nuclear issues. Thus, all subjects in the modern definition of international law will be represented in nuclear security law. The damages caused by the states and nuclear power plant operators to third parties can be compensated on the basis of the SDR payment unit within the limits of the insurance funds determined by international agreements. Keywords: International Law, Nuclear Energy, Critical Infrastructure, Security, Safety, State Responsibility, Operator's Responsibility, IAEA, IEA, EURATOM, UN, Human Rights, Erga Omnes.