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Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

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International Symposium on Biosecurity and Biosafety: future

trends and solutions Milan, 25-27 March 2009

The Biological Weapons Convention: Bridging the gap

Ngoc Phuong HuynhBWC Implementation Support Unit

United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs(Geneva Branch)


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BWC Facts and Figures• Full name: Convention on the Prohibition of the

Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction

• BTWC or BWC• Entered into force in 1975• Current membership:

– 163 States Parties– 13 signatories– 19 states neither signed nor ratified


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BWC Facts and Figures (2)• No BWC organisation or implementing body• Implementation Support Unit (ISU) is a new

development– established by Sixth Review Conference in 2006– mandate to “help States Parties help themselves”


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BWC KEY PROVISIONS (1)Article I Never under any circumstances to acquire, retain or

use biological weapons

Article II To destroy or divert to peaceful purposes biological weapons and associated resources prior to joining

Article III Not to transfer, or in any way assist, encourage or induce anyone else to acquire or retain biological weapons

Article IV To take any national measures necessary to implement the provisions of the BWC domestically


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BWC KEY PROVISIONS (2)Article V To consult bilaterally and multilaterally to solve any

problems with the implementation of the BWC

Article VI To request the UN Security Council to investigate alleged breaches of the BWC and to comply with its subsequent decisions

Article VII To assist States which have been exposed to a danger as a result of a violation of the BWC

Article X To do all of the above in a way that encourages the peaceful uses of biological science and technology


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WMD PREVENTION – THE TRADITIONAL VISION

NuclearWeapons

Nuclear Non-proliferation

Treaty

InternationalAtomic Energy

Agency

ChemicalWeapons

ChemicalWeapons

Convention

Organization forthe Prohibition of

Chemical Weapons

BiologicalWeapons

BiologicalWeapons

Convention

?


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WMD Regime: Traditional Model

Treaty

Organisation

State State State State State


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The Spectrum of Biological Risk

Natural disease outbreak

Deliberate use of BW

Unintended consequences Accidents

Vandalism, sabotageNegligence

WHO BWC

“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


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THE SPECTRUM OF BIOLOGICAL RISK – NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Natural disease outbreak

Deliberate use of BW

Unintended consequences Accidents

Vandalism, sabotageNegligence

HealthDefencePolice

Agriculture

Education

Growing need for coordination and cooperation among government agencies


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A NEW VISION – THE SPECTRUM OF BIOLOGICAL RISK

Natural Accidental DeliberateBIORISK

Global

IndividualIM

PA

CT

InfluenzaPandemic

RinderpestOutbreak in Free area

My last cold

Accidental AnthraxOutbreakInfecting myself

with a cold

BiologicalWarfare

Bioterrorism

Biocrime

Accidental spreadof Ebola

UNSCR1540

INTERPOL

UN GLOBAL COUNTERTERRORISM STRATEGY

UNICRI CBRNTRAFFICKING

OECD BIOSECURITY

EFFORTS

OIE

WHO

BWC


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New approach: the network model?

BWC

State State

WHO

FAO

OIE

SCR 1540

INTERPOL

Professionalassociations Industry Scientific

organisations


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New approach: the network model?

BWC

State State

WHO

FAO

OIE

SCR 1540

INTERPOL

Professionalassociations Industry Scientific

organisations

WorkProgram

ISU


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Intersessional process 2007-2010

• BWC Sixth Review Conference decision: • four sets of annual meetings prior to the Seventh

Review Conference. • Each set of annual meetings includes:

- one week Meeting of Experts (August)- followed by a one week Meeting of States Parties

(December).


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2007 Work Program TopicsTo discuss, and promote common understanding and

effective action on:

• Ways and means to enhance national implementation, including enforcement of national legislation, strengthening of national institutions and coordination among national law enforcement institutions.

• Regional and sub-regional cooperation on implementation of the Convention.


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effective action on:

• National, regional and international measures to improve biosafety and biosecurity, including laboratory safety and security of pathogens and toxins.

• Oversight, education, awareness raising, and adoption and/or development of codes of conduct with the aim of preventing misuse in the context of advances in bio-science and bio-technology research with the potential of use for purposes prohibited by the Convention.


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effective action on: Promoting capacity building in the fields of disease

surveillance, detection, diagnosis, and containment of infectious diseases

• For States Parties in need of assistance, identifying requirements and requests for capacity enhancement

• From States Parties in a position to do so, and international organizations, opportunities for providing assistance related to these fields


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effective action on:• The provision of assistance and coordination

with relevant organizations upon request by any State Party in the case of alleged use of biological or toxin weapons, including improving national capabilities for disease surveillance, detection and diagnosis and public health systems.


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Biosafety and biosecurity : ideas and proposals• Basing national efforts on existing guidance and standards• Involve all relevant stakeholders• The importance of other aspects than physical security• The need for building capacity of national public health,

veterinary and agricultural services• Proportional Measures - The degree of involvement should be balanced with the

level of technology- To assess carefully risks- Balance security concerns against the need for nurturing

research and ensuring the peaceful development of biological science and technology

• “no one size fits all”individual and local circumstances must be taken into account


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FRAMEWORK – UN GLOBAL COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY

(www.un.org/terrorism/strategy-counter-terrorism.shtml)

• Adopted in General Assembly 8 September 2006• No internationally recognised definition of terrorism• To enhance national, regional and international efforts to

counter terrorism• Principles (5 ‘D’s):

– to dissuade disaffected groups from choosing terrorism as a tactic to achieve their goals;

– to deny terrorists the means to carry out their attacks; – to deter States from supporting terrorists; – to develop State capacity to prevent terrorism; and – to defend human rights in the struggle against terrorism.


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MECHANISM – BWC WORK PROGRAM

NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION

REGIONAL ACTIVITIES

RESPONSE TO USE OR THREAT OF USE

BIOSAFETY & BIOSECURITY

OVERSIGHT, EDUCATION & OUTREACH

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR DISEASE

SURVEILLANCE, DETECTION,

DIAGNOSIS, AND CONTAINMENT

2007 2008 2009 2010

DENY

DENY

DENY

DISSUADE

DETERDEVELOP

DEVELOP

DEFEND

DEFEND


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Report of the Meeting of States Parties December 2008

BWC/MSP/2008/5

• “States Parties welcomed the important contributions made to their work by the scientific community and academia, including national and international academies of science and professional associations, as well as industry-led initiatives to address recent developments in science and technology, and encouraged greater cooperation between scientific bodies in various States Parties”


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MECHANISM – BWC WORK PROGRAM

• The BWC has become THE international forum for gathering view of all stakeholders in biosciences

• It addresses the full range of issues in a systematic manner

• Successful due to :- de-politicised atmosphere - communal spirit- community-building approach- delivering practical results


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BWC: on Biosafety and Biosecurity

• Exchange of national (and international) experiences, expertise and knowledge

• Enable States to develop or strengthen national regulatory regimes

• Clearing-house activities on assistance• Develop common understandings and

harmonise national positions• Engage with stakeholders and generate ‘buy-in’• Raise awareness of bioweapon issues


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BWC Meetings

• Produce practical outputs – including first multilaterally agreed report on topic

• Set framework for future action – both nationally & internationally

• Brings stakeholder community together to discuss these issues


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Scale of networking during MX 2008– Over 500 participants– Almost 200 technical experts– Private & public sectors– International, regional and national officials– Professional biosafety societies from ALL regions

of the world– National academies and scientific organisations

from around the globe


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For more information…www.unog.ch/bwc

Or contact:

BWC Implementation Support UnitUnited Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (Geneva Branch)Room C.115, Palais des NationsGenevatel: +41 (0)22 917 2230fax: +41 (0)22 917 0483e-mail: [email protected]


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THANK YOU!

the biological weapons convention: bridging the gaphttpassets)/fbd09f8c4d… · the development,...

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