Introduction to The Biological Weapons Convention Engaging Young - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Introduction to The Biological Weapons Convention

Daniel Feakes Chief, BWC Implementation Support Unit

“Engaging Young Scientists from the Global South in Biosecurity Diplomacy” 3 August 2019

WEF Global Risks Report 2019

“The world is badly under-prepared for even modest biological threats. We are vulnerable to potentially huge impacts on individual lives, societal well-being, economic activity and national security. Revolutionary new biotechnologies promise miraculous advances, but they also create daunting challenges of oversight and control.”

“Determined, for the sake of all mankind, to exclude completely the possibility of bacteriological (biological) agents and toxins being used as weapons” “Convinced that such use would be repugnant to the conscience of mankind and that no effort should be spared to minimise this risk”

What is the Biological Weapons Convention all about?

prohibits development, production, stockpiling, acquisition, retention

• r transfer of BWs
• opened for signature on 10

April 1972

• EiF on 26 March 1975
• First multilateral

disarmament treaty banning an entire category of WMD

• Cornerstone of multilateral

disarmament regime

• Non-discriminatory in nature
• Unlimited duration
• Open to any state

182 States Parties 5 Signatories 10 States not party

Article I Never under any circumstances to acquire or retain 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 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 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

The B BWC: Na Natio ional S l Security a and Arms C Control i l in t the A Age o

• f

Biotechnology, D Danie iel M l M. Ger erstein in

“The BWC is the most important arms control treaty of the twenty-first century. Its reach goes well beyond what one normally considers for an arms control treaty. From the economy to public health to the environment to national security, the BWC has the potential to impact our lives in very profound ways.”

The BWC …

• 1. … Eliminates an entire category of dangerous weapons
• 2. … Provides an unequivocal norm against the use of

biological weapons

• 3. … Provides an international forum for dialogue concerning

biological defence issues

• 4. … Has an important economic dimension
• 5. … Is gaining more importance as the spectrum of biological

threats grows

The BWC …

• 6. … Provides a forum for coordinating preparedness and

response capabilities against a spectrum of biological agents

• 7. … Is an arms control agreement that relates directly to public

health, the environment, food security and biodiversity

• 8. … Provides direct linkages to international security mechanisms
• 9. … Relates to dual-use capabilities in a way that no other arms

control treaty does 10.… Has responsibilities for implementation that run the gambit from international organizations to the individual.

• Provides an unequivocal norm against biological weapons
• Sole multilateral forum for dialogue concerning all issues

pertaining to BWs in a holistic manner

• Facilitates assistance and cooperation at the bi- and

multilateral level and helps building capacity

• Supports the promotion of peaceful uses of biological S&T

and facilitates assistance and cooperation to develop capacity

• Offers a mechanism for consultation and cooperation in

solving any problems

• Builds transparency through Confidence-Building Measures

What is the relevance of the BWC?

• Biological weapons can be used not only to attack

humans, but also livestock and crops

• They can be deadly and highly contagious
• Diseases caused by such weapons would not confine

themselves to national borders and could spread rapidly around the world

• 2014/2016 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in West Africa:
• Lack of preparedness to respond to larger scale disease
• utbreaks
• Highlighted the potentially dramatic consequences through the

deliberate release of biological agents or toxins by state or non- state actors

• Not only tragic loss of lives, but also devastating economic

consequences

Why is the BWC important to all of us?

All states are potentially at risk, and all benefit from joining the BWC

• Mass casualty BW attacks: tacit knowledge, access to state-

run/supported programmes

• Growing concerns that non-state actors, including terrorist groups,

may obtain and use biological weapons

• Terrorist attacks with BWs: more likely than state use, yet probably

limited in actual casualties (however high psychological and societal impact)

• Need for a comprehensive and multifaceted approach
• Close

cooperation between the security, scientific, public health and agricultural sectors, industry, academia and civil society is required to take place at the national, regional and international levels

What is the threat posed by BWs?

BWC is the sole multilateral forum in which all aspects surrounding biological weapons can be discussed and addressed in a holistic manner

“I view the threat of deadly

pandemics right up there with nuclear war and climate change. Getting ready for a global pandemic is every bit as important as nuclear deterrence and avoiding a climate

• catastrophe. […] Whether it
• ccurs by a quirk of nature or at

the hand of a terrorist, epidemiologists say a fast-moving airborne pathogen could kill more than 30 million people in less than a year. And they say there is a reasonable probability the world will experience such an

• utbreak in the next 10-15 years.”

2018-2020 Intersessional Programme

5 Meetings of Experts (29 July - 8 August 2019) Annual Meeting of States Parties (3 - 6 December 2019)

MX Topic Chair

1 (2d) Cooperation and assistance, with a particular focus on strengthening cooperation and assistance under Article X

• V. Dolidze, Georgia (TBC)

2 (2d) Review of developments in the field of science and technology related to the Convention

• Y. Nikolaichik, Belarus

3 (1d) Strengthening national implementation

• M. Reddiar, South Africa

4 (2d) Assistance, response and preparedness

• U. Jadoon, Pakistan

5 (1d) Institutional strengthening of the Convention

• L. Masmejean,

Switzerland

Implementation Support Unit

• First institutional presence for the BWC
• Officially operational in August 2007 – 10th anniversary
• Housed in the Geneva Branch of the UN Office of Disarmament

Affairs

• Funded by assessed contributions from all BWC States Parties
• Three full-time staff

“A small, efficient and highly-focused unit, the ISU will coordinate, concentrate and magnify the efforts of the States Parties. It will harness resources, forge connections, develop networks and identify opportunities.”

Total budget of the BWC in 2019 is USD 1.5 million (meetings plus ISU)

• Article IV: take any natl. measures necessary to

prohibit and prevent the development, production, stockpiling, acquisition, or retention of agents, toxins, weapons, equipment and means of delivery specified in

• Art. I of the BWC
• States Parties are obliged to translate the commitments

found in the Convention into effective national action

• National implementation requires coordination and

close cooperation among a number of government departments (whole of government approach)

• Important role of industry, academia/universities and

civil society

• National Contact Points established under the BWC

How is the BWC implemented?

National Implementation

• Establish mechanisms for regular

communication amongst key stakeholders (e.g. inter-ministerial committee)

National Implementation

• Organize education, awareness-

raising and outreach workshops

Training and Education

EU Council Decision 2019/97 (CFSP) in support of the BWC

• 1. Support for BWC universalization
• Four in-country universalisation activities
• Two regional workshops
• Sponsorship support for BWC Meetings Geneva
• 2. Capacity development in support of BWC

implementation

• up to five beneficiary countries
• Up to three peer review exercises
• 3. Fostering biosecurity networks in the Global

South

• Two seminars organised in Geneva
• Encouraging participation of women

EU Council Decision 2019/97 (CFSP) in support of the BWC

• 1. Support for the ISP and 9th RevCon 2021
• Four regional workshops
• Int. S&T conference/Geneva
• Sponsorship support
• 2. Preparedness to prevent and respond to

BW attacks

• Initial expert workshop
• Various training courses, TTXs, workshops
• 3. Enabling tools for outreach, education

and engagement

“We must continue to strengthen our institutions to prevent any use of biological weapons, including by strengthening the implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention, and to ensure that we can mount an adequate response in case prevention fails.”

For more information …

www.unog. unog.ch/bw ch/bwc

Or contact:

BWC Implementation Support Unit United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs Palais des Nations Geneva fax: +41 (0)22 917 0483 e-mail: bwc@un.org Website: www.unog.ch/bwc Twitter: @BWCISU Facebook: www.facebook.com/1972BWC