United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540: Emerging Trends, Sharing of Experiences, Lessons Learned, and Effective Practices Dana Perkins, PhD 1540 Committee Expert Biological Weapons Convention Meeting of States Parties Side event on: Developments in Science and Technology 09 December 2013, Geneva, Switzerland Unless otherwise specified, the opinions presented here are those of the presenter and may not necessarily reflect the views of the 1540 Committee, its Group of Experts, or the UN Security Council
“Even when we know the function of every gene in the genome, we still don’t understand how the body or the brain work, nor how they adapt and change with age, training, or disease . Now is the time to move beyond reductionism and construct a new biology of complex life systems. To do this we need every tool in the toolkit, and we need to invent new technologies and disciplines“ - Carla J. Shatz , Director of the Bio-X Program, Stanford University, US - • Bio-medicine – Complex molecular devices for tissue repair – Smart therapeutics hen : A futu uture w whe – Novel delivery systems Food i is p plenty ty a and h healthy thy – Personalized genomic medicine Ene nergy is is c clean a and nd – In vivo drug synthesis by microbiome manipulation sustai ainab able le • Environment and energy The he go good he health o of p people, – Bioremediation animals, plan an lants an and t the – “Green” energy microbial production environment i is the the norm – Safe GMOs • In vitro synthesis of complex biopharmaceuticals • Sustainable “green” chemical (microbial) industry • Production of smart (bio)materials Quo vadis, Biotech ?
“In the near future, nanotech-enabled technologies intended for use in the body will erase any remaining distinction between “therapy” and “enhancement” and could change, quite literally, the definition of what it means to be human…Homo sapiens 2.0…”- ETC Group • Nano-medicine – Enhanced prostethics – Nano-structured implants/ scaffolds for tissue regeneration – In vivo nano-sensors – Q-dot single protein label – Nano-manufacturing /liquid glass – Dx/Rx nano-shells/ dendrimers/bots • Nano-enhanced physical and cognitive performance • Exploiting quantum effects for smart nano-materials, bionics, biomimetics, neuromorphic engineering, brain-machine interface http://www.ngm.com Quo vadis, Nanotech ?
• Gray Goo – a term coined by Eric Drexler • Hypothetical end-of-the- world scenario involving out-of-control, rapidly self- replicating nano-robots that consume all organic matter Shane Hope’s representation of the on Earth “gray goo armageddon”, part of the artist’s show on trans-humanism, called "Your Mom Is Open Source” at the Winkelman Gallery, New York City Nano-Armageddon: the “gray goo” scenario
Bio-Armageddon - the “green goo” scenario -
• Ability of individuals to harness the microbe power for nefarious purposes • Environmental and ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies and the ensuing public debate • Human augmentation systems • Pace of changing the traditional institutional and regulatory frameworks to keep up with technological advances and science dynamics such as the convergence of nano-, bio-, information and materials technology • Ability to develop countermeasures to threats as a measure of deterrence Fall 2010: Al-Qaeda’s Inspire Magazine calls on “those mujahid brothers with degrees in • Omnipresence of insecurity, including microbiology or chemistry…to develop a terrorism weapon of mass destruction” Between the “green goo” and an uncertain future…
http://www.selectagents.gov/resources/Addressing%20Biosecurity-%20Roles%20and%20Responsibilities%20of%20the%20Science%20and%20Security%20Communities.pdf “The [Lyon] lab was located in a spare bedroom that doubled by day as a sewing room. French police say Benchellali, fresh from training camp in the Pankisi Gorge, would lock himself in the room and work through the night on his mysterious projects, the nature of which he kept to himself. In fact, French police say, he was experimenting with a variation of one of the recipes he learned abroad : a ricin concoction laced with the toxin that causes botulism ”. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2159-2004May4_2.html
Resolution 1540 (2004) imposes binding obligations on all States to adopt legislation to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and their means of delivery, and establish appropriate domestic controls over related materials to prevent their illicit trafficking “ to non-State actors, in particular for terrorist purposes” Security Council Meets on Non-Proliferation of WMDs UN Photo: Eskinder Debebe, 28 April 2004 Non-State actor: individual or entity, not acting under the lawful authority of any State in conducting activities which come within the scope of this resolution Means of delivery: missiles, rockets and other unmanned systems capable of delivering nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons, that are specially designed for such use Related materials: materials, equipment and technology covered by relevant multilateral treaties and arrangements, or included on national control lists, which could be used for the design, development, production or use of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery Resolution 1540 (2004): A Response to Threats to International Peace & Security
“…From a combined reading of the definition of “means of delivery” and “related materials”, it is clear that a range of “wide area” RCA means of delivery may potentially fall under the scope of resolution 1540… However, there is currently a lack of definitional clarity and continuing ambiguity concerning which forms of “wide area” RCA munitions are prohibited under the CWC and BWC. In addition to the implications for effective implementation of these two Conventions, such ambiguities have potentially dangerous consequences for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) obligations which are applicable to all UN Member States, thereby increasing the risk of the proliferation of such “wide area” RCA munitions to, and misuse by, non-State actors…” Emerging Trends: Means of Delivery
4 1 “The [Dutch] court argued that, more broadly, decisions on what is and what is not research with potential consequences for international 2 proliferation cannot be left to individual researchers without compromising states’ obligations under UN resolution 1540 passed in 3 2004 , which requires states to adopt legislation to counter the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons…” http://www.nature.com/news/specials/mutantflu/index.html http://blogs.nature.com/news/2013/09/court-upholds-need-for-export-permits-for-risky-flu-research.html Resolution 1540 (2004) and the Gain-of-Function Research on H5N1 virus
“The 2 articles…highlight an important alternative mechanism for management of risk in life sciences research… The authors of these articles, believing that the sequence information of BoNT/H poses an immediate and unusually serious risk to society, and that the information was unlikely to be already in the hands of those who would seek to do harm, decided to exercise voluntary prepublication control and to withhold this specific information...” – David A. Relman, JID, 07 October 2013 Managing risks in life sciences research
• Safeguarding biological agents, facilities, and technology against nefarious uses is a common objective of the Measures to Biological Weapons account for / secure / Convention and resolution 1540 Physically Regulations Biosafety / protect for genetic means of (2004) engineering work delivery Biosecurity • Ensuring biosafety and biosecurity is a prerequisite for any life sciences activity and for Regulations for upholding the trust of the public physical protection of facilities / materials / and that of the decision makers transports 1540 matrix fields Biological Risk Management, BWC, and resolution 1540 (2004)
“The beneficial nature of life science research is reflected in the widespread manner in which it occurs. From cutting-edge academic institutes, to industrial research centers, to private laboratories in basements and garages, progress is increasingly driven by innovation and open access to the insights and materials needed to advance individual initiatives...” “…the U.S. Government should…utilize strategies that (1) promote positive motives for participation in amateur biology and stigmatize negative ones, and (2) lay the groundwork for developing a culture of responsibility in the hobbyist community… … find ways to collaborate on the organization of conferences and workshops designed to provide opportunities for face-to-face interaction with the DIY community and interested amateur biologists generally. These kinds of events would provide opportunities to convey important educational content about not only dual use research issues, but also biosafety and responsible science…” Engaging DIY Bio: excerpts from documents mentioned in the 2013 US report to the 1540 Committee
Societal vigilance Education, training & awareness raising Building a security culture and responsible conduct of science Codes of conduct A multi-factorial solution to the multi-faceted problem of WMD proliferation
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