Biosafety, Biosecurity and the Biological Weapons Convention - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Biosafety, Biosecurity and the Biological Weapons Convention - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Oct 06, 2022 361 likes •552 views

Biosafety, Biosecurity and the Biological Weapons Convention Richard Lennane BWC Implementation Support Unit United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (Geneva Branch) Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and EBSA

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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

Biosafety, Biosecurity and the Biological Weapons Convention

Richard Lennane BWC Implementation Support Unit United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (Geneva Branch)

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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

BWC Facts and Figures

  • Full name: Convention on the Prohibition of the

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

  • n Their Destruction
  • Entered into force in 1975
  • Current membership:

– 161 States Parties – 14 signatories (states signed but not yet ratified) – 20 states neither signed nor ratified

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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

BWC Main Provisions

  • Do not acquire or retain biological or toxin

weapons

  • Do not help or allow anyone else to acquire

such weapons

  • Take necessary domestic measures to ensure

such weapons are prohibited

  • Do all this in a way that encourages the peaceful

uses of biological science and technology

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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

And just what is a biological weapon?

“(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; (2) Weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict.”

  • from Article I of the BWC
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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

Dealing with Weapons of Mass Destruction

Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty International Atomic Energy Agency

Chemical Weapons

Chemical Weapons Convention

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

Biological Weapons

Biological Weapons Convention

?

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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

Strengthening the BWC (1)

  • Review Conferences every five years (1980,

1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 – next one in 2011)

  • VEREX group established 1991 to examine

verification possibilities

  • Special Conference in 1994 establishes Ad Hoc

Group to negotiate protocol

  • Ad Hoc Group negotiations end in failure in

2001; Fifth RevCon suspended

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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

Strengthening the BWC (2)

  • Fifth RevCon resumes in 2002, agrees new

process for 2003-2005

  • Expert meetings consider specific topics related

to improving implementation of the BWC

  • Exchange of information and experience, but no

binding decisions

  • Reluctant agreement and modest expectations,

but proved surprisingly successful

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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

The New Process

  • 2003 meetings considered:

– the adoption of necessary national measures to implement the prohibitions set forth in the Convention, including the enactment of penal legislation; – national mechanisms to establish and maintain the security and oversight of pathogenic microorganisms and toxins;

  • Found to be highly useful exercise for improving

coordination within and between national systems; continued in 2004, 2005

  • 2006 Sixth Review Conference commissioned second

process for 2007-2010

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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

So what changed?

  • Bioterrorism becomes major concern after

September 11, 2001

  • Rapid development, growth and spread of

biotechnology capabilities

– Nuclear weapons: 1000 facilities – Chemical weapons: 5000 facilities – Biological weapons: 100,000+?

  • Recognition of interconnection of BW with
  • ther biological risks
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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty International Atomic Energy Agency

Chemical Weapons

Chemical Weapons Convention

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

Biological Weapons

Biological Weapons Convention

?

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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

The Spectrum of Biological Risk

Natural disease

  • utbreak

Deliberate use of BW Unintended consequences Accidents Vandalism, sabotage Negligence

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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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

WMD Regime: Traditional Model

Treaty Organisation State State State State State

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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

New approach: a network model?

BWC State State

WHO FAO OIE SCR 1540 INTERPOL Professional associations Industry Scientific

  • rganisations
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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

New approach: a network model?

BWC State State

WHO FAO OIE SCR 1540 INTERPOL Professional associations Industry Scientific

  • rganisations

Work Program ISU

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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

2008 Work Program Topics

  • 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

  • f preventing misuse in the context of advances in bio-

science and bio-technology research with the potential

  • f use for purposes prohibited by the Convention.
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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

BWC Meetings 2008

  • Meeting of Experts, 18-22 August, Geneva
  • Meeting of States Parties, 1-5 December
  • Both meetings held at the United Nations Office

at Geneva

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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

The BWC Needs You!

  • We want to hear

from biosafety and biosecurity professionals in:

– Commercial industry – Academia – Professional and scientific bodies

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EBSA 11th Annual Conference Florence, 2-4 April 2008 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction

For more information… www.unog.ch/bwc

Or contact:

BWC Implementation Support Unit United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (Geneva Branch) Room C.115, Palais des Nations Geneva tel: +41 (0)22 917 2230 fax: +41 (0)22 917 0483 e-mail: bwc@unog.ch