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International Efforts to Mitigate Biological Threats

BWC IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT. UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR DISARMAMENT AFFAIRS. International Efforts to Mitigate Biological Threats. Richard Lennane Head, BWC Implementation Support Unit United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (Geneva Branch).

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International Efforts to Mitigate Biological Threats

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  1. BWC IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT UNIT UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR DISARMAMENT AFFAIRS International Efforts to Mitigate Biological Threats Richard Lennane Head, BWC Implementation Support Unit United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs(Geneva Branch) Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  2. International response to the BW threat • 1925 Geneva Protocol • Prohibits use of CW and BW in warfare • 1972 Biological Weapons Convention • Prohibits development, production, stockpiling, acquisition, retention or transfer of BW • 2004 UN Security Council Resolution 1540 • Requires all states to take measures to prevent WMD (including BW) terrorism Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  3. BWC facts and figures • Opened for signature in 1972; entered into force in 1975 • Current membership: • 163 States Parties • 13 signatories • 19 states neither signed nor ratified • No BWC organisation or implementing body (in contrast to CWC/OPCW, NPT/IAEA, CTBT/CTBTO) • Implementation Support Unit is new development • No verification mechanism (cf. CWC, CTBT) Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  4. BWC: key provisions Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  5. Strengthening the BWC • Confidence-building Measures (CBMs) introduced 1986, expanded 1991 • Attempt to negotiate protocol from 1991-2001 • Failure in 2001 sparks crisis, reorientation • 2006 Review Conference consolidates new direction • Review Conferences every five years (1980, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 – next one in 2011) Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  6. Sixth Review Conference (2006) • Establishes Implementation Support Unit • New intersessional work program 2007-2010 • Calls on BWC States Parties to: • implement appropriate transfer measures, including effective national export controls • take measures to ensure that relevant biological agents and toxins are protected and safeguarded • promote the development of training and education programs for those working with relevant biological agents and toxins • encourage development of codes of conduct and self-regulatory mechanisms, and promote awareness among relevant professionals of the need to report suspicious activities Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  7. New direction • Focus on improving and coordinating national implementation of BWC • Annual work programme deals with specific topics; exchange of technical expertise • Range of different actors and organisations involved • Implementation Support Unit coordinates activity • Renewed focus on CBMs, universalization Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  8. Natural disease outbreak WHO BWC Unintended consequences Vandalism, sabotage Deliberate use of BW Accidents Negligence The Spectrum of Biological Risk “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 Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  9. OIE WHO FAO Biological threat reduction network BWC INTERPOL SCR 1540 Work Program ISU State State Professional associations Industry Scientific organisations Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  10. UNSCR Resolution 1540 • Adopted 2004, renewed 1673 (2006) and 1810 (2008) • imposes binding obligations on all States to establish domestic controls • prevents proliferation of NCB weapons by establishing controls over related materials • encourages enhanced international cooperation • promotes universal adherence to WMD treaties • Committee under UN Security Council • Supported by group of experts • Committee maintains database on implementation • Committee acts as a clearing house for assistance Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  11. 1540: formal links to BWC • Affirms “support for the multilateral treaties whose aim is to eliminate or prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and the importance for all States parties to these treaties to implement them fully in order to promote international stability” (pp 5) • Welcomes the non-proliferation commitments and efforts made under these treaties, in particular in securing sensitive materials (pp 6 &11) • Calls on states to promote the universal adoption and full implementation of the treaties (op 8) Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  12. BWC: formal links to 1540 • Sixth RevCon (2006) recognized the “contribution of full and effective implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 by all states to assist in achieving the objectives of this Convention”. • Final Declaration on BWC Art. IV (national implementation) also explicitly refers to Resolution 1540 • notes that information provided by states in accordance with Resolution 1540 may provide a useful resource for fulfilling their Art. IV obligations Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  13. Implementing SCR 1540 • Reporting • on steps taken and planned • matrix for each state: analysis of requirements • Legislation and other measures • Implementing legislation for WMD treaties (incl. BWC) • Measures for accountability and security of sensitive materials; border protection; export controls. • Enforcement • Onus on states: monitored by 1540 Committee • Promotion of dialogue and cooperation among governmental agencies not traditionally in arms control • Customs and law enforcement, eg, to improve border security Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  14. Assistance for 1540 implementation • Where Next Steps/Action Plans indicate assistance requirements, IGOs and States have assistance delivery programs: eg, for legislation, training and equipment. • Regional organizations, eg, ASEAN, OSCE, OAS, CIS, can provide political support and forums for sharing experiences and lessons learned; some NGOs can deliver specific project assistance. • 1540 Committee has clearing house role and can match requests/offers. • Assistance Template available on website (www.un.org/sc/1540) to facilitate process. Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  15. OIE WHO FAO Biological threat reduction network BWC INTERPOL SCR 1540 Work Program ISU State State Professional associations Industry Scientific organisations Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  16. BWC intersessional work program • Mandate to “discuss, and promote common understanding and effective action on” specific topics related to better implementation of the BWC • Runs from 2007 to 2010 (7th RevCon in 2011) • Two meetings each year: Meeting of Experts mid-year; Meeting of States Parties in December • Wide range of participants: objective is sharing information and experience, identifying best practices, improving effectiveness of the BWC Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  17. BIOSAFETY & BIOSECURITY OVERSIGHT, EDUCATION & OUTREACH RESPONSE TO USE OR THREAT OF USE NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION REGIONAL ACTIVITIES CAPACITY BUILDING FOR DISEASE SURVEILLANCE, DETECTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND CONTAINMENT BWC intersessional work program 2007 2008 2009 2010 Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  18. 2008: common understandings: biosafety/biosecurity Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  19. 2008: common understandings: oversight/awareness Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  20. BWC intersessional program 2009 • Two meetings in Geneva: • Meeting of Experts, 24-28 August 2009 • Meeting of States Parties, 7-11 December 2009 • Topic: “promoting capacity building in the fields of disease surveillance, detection, diagnosis, and containment of infectious diseases” Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  21. The Implementation Support Unit (ISU) • “Help States Parties help themselves” • Officially operational in August 2007 • Housed in Geneva Branch of UN Office for Disarmament Affairs • Funded by BWC States Parties • Three full-time staff • To be reviewed by Seventh Review Conference in 2011 Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  22. Mandate of the ISU • Provide administrative support for BWC meetings • Facilitate communication among States Parties and with relevant organizations • Support national implementation efforts • Act as clearing-house for offers of and requests for assistance • Administer confidence-building measures (CBMs) • Support universalization activities • Support implementation of decisions and recommendations of Sixth Review Conference Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  23. ISU resources • Website: http://www.unog.ch/bwc • includes restricted area for States Parties • official and informal documents, useful links • National Implementation Database • over 2000 measures from 116 States Parties • Confidence-building measures (CBMs) • online forms in six languages • tips and advice on participation, sample submissions • submitted CBMs available in restricted area Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  24. Types of assistance • National implementation • Drafting legislation and regulations • Designing administrative systems • Training and capacity-building • Confidence-building measures (CBMs) • Advice and “coaching” • On-site assistance to prepare first submission • Participation in intersessional process • Travel to Geneva for expert meetings • Anything else related to improving implementation of the Convention… Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  25. OIE WHO FAO Biological threat reduction network BWC INTERPOL SCR 1540 Work Program ISU State State Professional associations Industry Scientific organisations Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  26. A shared responsibility “Governments alone cannot confront the risks posed by biological weapons ... to manage the full spectrum of biological risks, you need a cohesive, coordinated network of activities and resources. Such a network will help to ensure that biological science and technology can be safely and securely developed for the benefit of all.” - Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, 2008 Manila, 10-11 June 2009

  27. Further information: 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 web: www.unog.ch/bwc Manila, 10-11 June 2009

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