Seventh Review Conference: Practical Considerations Piers Millett - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Seventh Review Conference: Practical Considerations

Piers Millett Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit

Jobs for the RevCon

… a conference of States Parties to the Convention shall be held at Geneva, Switzerland, to review the operation of the Convention, with a view to assuring that the purposes of the preamble and the provisions

• f the Convention… are being realized. Such

review shall take into account any new scientific and technological developments relevant to the Convention.

BWC Article XII

• Seventh RevCon to be held in Geneva not

later than 2011

• Should review the operation of the

Convention, taking into account, inter alia:

– New scientific and technological developments – Progress on implementation – Progress in implementing decisions and recommendations of Sixth RevCon

Article XII, Final Declaration, Sixth Review Conference

Jobs for the RevCon

Implementation Support Unit

• Review mandate & performance of unit

2007‐2010 Work Programme

• Consider work & decide on any further action

Confidence‐Building Measures

• Comprehensive attention to implementation

Promotion of Universalization

• Review reports of annual chairs

Decisions & Recommendations, Sixth Review Conference

Jobs for the RevCon

Jobs for the RevCon

States Parties are encouraged to inform the Seventh Review Conference of, inter alia, any actions, measures or other steps that they may have taken on the basis of the discussions at the … Meeting of Experts and the outcome of the … Meeting of States Parties

Reports of the 2007‐2010 Meetings of States Parties

BWC not a UN convention BWC has 3 Depositories: Russia, UK & USA:

• Convene meetings (& propose dates)
• Maintain lists of ratification & accession
• Promote treaty
• Central point for communication with states
• Seat on General Committee (Bureau) during

RevCons

BWC & RevCon Final Documents

Role of the Depositories

• First Committee adopts a BWC resolution
• Formal link between BWC & UN
• (Usually) passes by consensus
• Most recent text: A/C.1/66/L.32
• Urges States to work together to achieve a

consensus outcome which strengthens the Convention

• Approved by 1st Committee without a vote

BWC & RevCon Final Documents

General Assembly Resolution

Deals with procedural matters

• Organization of RevCon
• Date & duration
• Provisional agenda
• Draft rules of procedure
• Background documentation
• Other issues

Report of the PrepCom

Preparatory Committee

Chairing Arrangements

Review Conference Committee

• f the Whole

Drafting Committee 4th WG NAM EG 5th

Review Conference Committee

• f the Whole

Drafting Committee EG WG NAM 5th 6th

Review Conference Committee

• f the Whole

Drafting Committee NAM EG WG 6th 7th

• Amb. Paul van den IJssel

(Netherlands)

• Amb. Desra Pecaya

(Indonesia)

• Ms. Judit Koromi

(Hungary)

• General debate
• Working sessions
• Informal Plenaries
• Other events:

– Industry Discussion Panel – Poster session – Speed networking – Side events

Report of the PrepCom

Organization of the RevCon

• Same used since 1996 without changes
• Practice can differ from content
• Sets out roles for committees
• Role of secretariat
• Sets out how decisions are to be made
• Determine who can participate and how
• Sets requirement for formal credentials

Report of the PrepCom

Rules of Procedure

BWC meetings:

• Are paid for by States Parties
• Are not United Nations events
• Are serviced by the United Nations
• Have secretariats formed around the ISU
• The UN ODA hosts the ISU
• Include the costs of the ISU

Budget & Administration

www.unog.ch/bwc

For more information:

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