biological weapons, biology and the ban - the united nations in
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BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS, BIOLOGY AND THE BAN
Countering the evolving threat posed by biological weapons
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
4 QUESTIONS
1. What are biological weapons?
2. What threat do they pose?
3. How is the threat evolving?
4. What are we doing about it?
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
WHAT ARE BIOWEAPONS
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
1.help2.Weapons, equipment or means of
delivery designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict.
1.Microbial or other biological agents, or toxins whatever their origin or method of production, of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes;
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES
To do all of the above in a way that encourages the peaceful uses of biological science and technology
Article X
To assist States which have been exposed to a danger as a result of a violation of the BWC
Article VII
To request the UN Security Council to investigate alleged breaches of the BWC and to comply with its subsequent decisions
Article VI
To consult bilaterally and multilaterally to solve any problems with the implementation of the BWC
Article V
To take any national measures necessary to implement the provisions of the BWC domestically
Article IV
Not to transfer, or in any way assist, encourage or induce anyone else to acquire or retain biological weapons
Article III
To destroy or divert to peaceful purposes biological weapons andassociated resources prior to joining
Article II
Never under any circumstances to acquire or retain biological weaponsArticle I
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
WHAT IS THE THREAT?
THREAT
HUMANINTERVENTION
RISK
CAPABILITY INTENT
VULNERABILITY
IMPACT
LIKELIHOODHAZARD CAPACITY
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
BIORISK SPECTRUM
Natural disease outbreak
Deliberate use of BW
Unintended consequences Accidents
Vandalism/ sabotageNegligence
“We must look at [the BWC] as part of an interlinked array of tools, designed to deal with an interlinked array of problems” – Kofi Annan, 2006
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
Natural Accidental Deliberate
InfluenzaPandemic
RinderpestOutbreak in Free area
My last cold
Accidental AnthraxOutbreak
Infecting myself with a cold
Warfare
Terrorism
Sabotage /Assassination
Accidental releaseof Smallpox
IMPACTIn
divi
dual
Glo
bal
IMP
AC
T
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
HUMAN INTERVENTION
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
AN EVOLVING THREAT?
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
SCALE OF BIOLOGY
Slide courtesy of Jim Thomas, ETC Group
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
SPREAD OF BIOLOGY
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
SCOPE OF BIOLOGY
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
INTANGIBLE BIOLOGY
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
NuclearWeapons
Nuclear Non-proliferation
Treaty
InternationalAtomic Energy
Agency
ChemicalWeapons
ChemicalWeapons
Convention
Organization forthe Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons
BiologicalWeapons
BiologicalWeapons
Convention
?
A NEW APPROACH
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
A NETWORK MODEL
BWC
State State
WHO
FAO
OIE
SCR 1540
INTERPOL
Professionalassociations
IndustryScientific
organizations
ISU
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
BUILDING THE NETWORK
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
CAPACITY BUILDING FOR DISEASE
SURVEILLANCE, DETECTION,
DIAGNOSIS, AND CONTAINMENT
A NEW PROCESS
2007 2008 2009 2010
• NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION
• REGIONAL ACTIVITIES
RESPONSE TO USE OR THREAT OF USE
• BIOSAFETY & BIOSECURITY
• OVERSIGHT, EDUCATION & OUTREACH
200520042003
CODES OF CONDUCT
• NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION
• BIOSECURITY
• DISEASE SURVEILLANCE, DETECTION, DIAGNOSIS, & CONTAINMENT
• RESPONSE TO USE OR THREAT OF USE
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
Amb. Masood Khan, President of the Sixth Review Confer-ence of the BWC
The [BWC] work programme…started to develop the necessary network of collaboration and coordination: a network that must weave international, regional and domestic strands into a flexible and resilient fabric of oversight and prevention.
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
NEW RESULTSText of the Convention
(Legally binding obligations)
Incr
easi
ng V
olum
e of
Tex
t
Increasing strength of comm
itment
BWC
ADDITIONALAGREEMENTS
COMMONUNDERSTANDINGS
Final Documents of Review Conferences
(Politically binding obligations)
IntersessionalProcesses
(Shared national positions)
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT
This is multilateralism as it should be: flexible, responsive, creative and dynamic; and above all, focused on overcoming obstacles and delivering results