Introduction to The Biological Weapons Convention and the 2017 Meeting of States Parties 8 November 2017 Geneva Centre for Security Policy Geneva, Switzerland Daniel Feakes, Chief, BWC ISU Alex Lampalzer, Deputy Chief, BWC ISU Ngoc Phuong van der Blij, Political Affairs Officer, BWC ISU
Overview BWC in a nutshell BWC Articles Meeting of States Parties to the BWC 2017 National Contact Points Confidence Building Measures Article X Database
Biological Weapons Convention prohibits development, production, stockpiling, acquisition, retention or 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 Non-discriminatory in nature Unlimited duration Open to any state 179 States Parties 6 Signatories 11 States not party
New States Parties 2012-2017 5 4 2 1 1 1 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Marshall Is. Cameroon Myanmar Mauritania Côte d'ivoire Samoa Nauru Andorra Angola Guyana Malawi Liberia Nepal Guinea
Biological Weapons Convention 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 87 53 102 63 58 118 132 146 94 78 77 69 65 68 155 78 165 103 103 93 178 124 114 Continued relevance and political interest in the BWC 40 20 0 RC1 1980 40 RC2 1986 RC3 1991 RC4 1996 RC5 2001/02 RC6 2006 RC7 2011 RC8 2016 SPs Participating SPs PrepCom Participating SPs RevCon
Article I Article II Article III Article IV Article V Article VI Article VII Article X Multidimensional nature of BWC Never under any circumstances to acquire or retain biological weapons To destroy or divert to peaceful purposes biological weapons and associated resources prior to joining Not to transfer, or in any way assist, encourage or induce anyone else to acquire or retain biological weapons To take any national measures necessary to implement the provisions of the BWC domestically To consult bilaterally and multilaterally to solve any problems with the implementation of the BWC To request the UN Security Council to investigate alleged breaches of the BWC and to comply with its subsequent decisions To assist States which have been exposed to a danger as a result of a violation of the BWC To do all of the above in a way that encourages the peaceful uses of biological science and technology
BWC Strengths and weaknesses Strengths: Clear, comprehensive ban: no exceptions, few loopholes Strong international norm, never publicly challenged Forum for dialogue and cooperation in meeting international security obligations Futureproof (so far...) Weaknesses: No organisation or implementing body No systematic monitoring of implementation or compliance Uneven national implementation No systematic assessment of needs or provision of assistance
Functioning of the BWC Highest Organ: Review Conference Annual Meeting of States Parties in Geneva 2017 Office-Holders Chair: Amb. Amandeep Singh Gill (India) Vice Chair: Amb. Michael Biontino (Germany) Vice Chair: Amb. Juraj Podhorský (Slovakia) Three regional groups Eastern European Group (Lithuania) NAM (Venezuela) Western Group (Australia) Three Depositories Russian Federation United Kingdom United States of America
Financing the BWC Costs are shared by all States Parties Eighth Review Conference approved cost estimates for 2017-2020 (contained in BWC/CONF.VIII/5) Based on percentage of UN 2017 scale of assessment taking into account difference in membership between UN and BWC Total cost in 2017: $1,109,500 covering costs of MSP and ISU 110 States Parties pay less than $1,000 per year and 68 pay less than $100 Financial arrears four States Parties with arrears of over USD 10,000 Overpayments made by a number of countries that secure the work of the ISU and the conduct of MSP 2017
BWC Implementation Support Unit Basic Facts and Mandate Established by decision of Sixth Review Conference in 2006 Taking into account the importance of providing administrative support to meetings agreed by the Review Conference as well as comprehensive implementation and universalization of the Convention and the exchange of confidence-building measures Housed in Geneva Branch of UN Office of Disarmament Affairs Funded by assessed contributions from all BWC States Parties, not from UN regular budget Tasks Provide administrative support for BWC meetings Facilitate communication among States Parties and with relevant organizations Support national implementation efforts Administer confidence-building measures (CBMs) Support universalization activities Administer the assistance database and facilitate match-making Support, the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the Review Conferences
Eighth BWC Review Conference 2016 Main issue of contention Different principle visions for the way ahead Outcome Minimal decisions taken, disappointment expressed by many States Parties Renewal of ISU mandate with three staff members Continuation and improvement of cooperation database Renewal of the BWC sponsorship programme
BWC Meetings of States Parties 2017 Meeting will seek to make progress on issues of substance and process for the period before the next Review Conference, with a view to reaching consensus on an intersessional process MSP will be chaired by Ambassador Amandeep Singh Gill of India with Ambassador Michael Biontino of Germany and Ambassador Juraj Podhorský of Slovakia as the Vice- Chairs MSP held in the Palais des Nations from 4 to 8 December 2017, meeting will open at 10:00 on Monday 4 December in Room XVIII and close on Friday 8 December
www.unog.ch/bwc/meeting
BWC Meetings of States Parties 2017 Provisional Agenda (see BWC/2017/MSP/1) 1. Opening of the meeting 2. Adoption of the agenda 3. Adoption of the programme of work 4. Adoption of the rules of procedure 5. General debate 6. Issues of substance and process for the period before the next Review Conference, with a view to reaching consensus on an intersessional process 7. Progress with universalization of the Convention 8. Annual report of the Implementation Support Unit 9. Financial matters 10. Adoption of the report of the meeting 11. Closing of the meeting
BWC Meetings of States Parties 2017 Provisional PoW (see BWC/2017/MSP/2) Monday 4 December: Opening formalities (items 1-4) General debate (item 5) Tuesday, 5 December - Thursday, 7 December: Issues of substance and process for the period before the next Review Conference, with a view to reaching consensus on an ISP (item 6) Friday, 8 December: Chair s report on progress with universalization of the BWC (item 7) Annual report of the ISU (item 8) Financial matters (item 9) Adoption of the report for the meeting (item 10) Closing of the meeting (item 11)
BWC Meetings of States Parties 2017 Official Documents BWC/MSP/2017/1- Provisional agenda - Submitted by the Chairman BWC/MSP/2017/2 - Provisional programme of work Submitted by the Chairman BWC/MSP/2017/3 - Report on universalization activities - Submitted by the Chairperson BWC/MSP/2017/4-2017 Report of the ISU - Submitted by the ISU Submission of Working Papers by States Parties still possible (no translation) All documents available on the BWC website: https://www.unog.ch/bwc/meeting
BWC Meetings of States Parties 2017 Registration States Parties and Signatory States: Note Verbale before 24 November (only 10 so far) States neither parties nor signatories: apply for observer status IOs may apply to participate as observer agencies NGOs and academic institutions may register to attend public sessions (11 so far) Registration for the General Debate is open Statements can be posted on the BWC website (send to ISU bwc@unog.ch) All participants with no valid UN ground pass to the Palais are required to register in INDICO: https://reg.unog.ch/event/22463/ Delegations from States and IOs can collect their passes as from 12:00 on Friday, 1 December at the Pregny Gate
BWC Meetings of States Parties 2017 Side events (provisional) Monday 4 December 13.00-15.00 International Genetically Engineered Machines competition (igem) - Safeguarding advanced biotechnologies in practice: The igem Safety and Security Program 13.00-15.00 Malaysia and United States of America - Reports on BWC-relevant Developments by International Experts Tuesday 5 December 9.00-10.00 Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security - Multilateral Biosecurity Dialogue in South-East Asia 9.00-10.00 Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) - Title TBC 13.00-15.00 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Ukraine - Biosecurity Education 13.00-15.00 Chimerix - Workshop on Smallpox Preparedness Wednesday 6 December 9.00-10.00 Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security - Biosecurity in India 9.00-10.00 Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security - What is the role of the BWC within the Global Health Security Landscape: The Global Health Security Agenda Joint External Evaluations, UNSCR 1540, and Sustainable Development Goals? 13.00-15.00 Future of Humanity Institute, University of Oxford and the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge - Global Catastrophic Biological Risk: Considering very low probability, very high consequence events 13.00-15.00 Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique - Initiating a Request under Article VII of the BTWC Thursday 7 December 9.00-10.00 Switzerland, TBC 9.00-10.00 United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) - Tailored Capacity-Building based on National CBRN Action Plans: Implementation Results and Lessons 13.00-15.00 InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) - Implementation in Action: IAP s Experience in Engaging Scientists in Biosecurity 13.00-15.00 Emergent BioSolutions - How Real is the Biological Threat: A Global Perspective Friday 8 December 13.00-15.00 United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) - Article VII Project - Strengthening Global Mechanisms and Capabilities for Responding to Deliberate Use of Disease
Joint Depositary statement 2 November, Sochi With one month remaining until the meeting of the BWC States Parties [ ], it is vital to redouble efforts to build consensus around the next programme of work the adoption of which in our common view must be the main outcome of that meeting. The Russian Federation the United Kingdom, and the United States believe that BWC States Parties should seize the opportunity presented by the December Meeting of States Parties to agree on a new program of work that will provide for substantive discussion and meaningful action to address today s biosecurity challenges.
BWC Sponsorship Programme Quote from the Final Document of the 7RC: In order to support and increase the participation of developing States Parties Priority for sponsorship will be given to those States Parties which have previously not participated in the meetings, or have been unable to regularly send experts from capital. Sponsorship may also be provided, depending upon the availability of resources, to enhance participation of states not party in order to promote universalization of the Convention.
BWC Sponsorship Programme Supported by voluntary contributions (2017: Approx. USD 80,000 made available by Australia, Canada, Germany and India) Covers cost of flights to and from Geneva and DSA for attendance at BWC meetings Almost 50 applicants, only 20 representatives from 20 States Parties carefully selected by Chairman, due to limited funds www.unog.ch/bwc/sponsorship
National Contact Points (NCPs) Sixth Review Conference decided that each State Party should designate a NCP Role and responsibilities: Act as national focal point on BWC matters and communicate with other SPs and relevant IOs Coordinate and facilitate national implementation Coordinate the submission of CBMs Nomination form can be downloaded from BWC website Information on NCPs accessible via restricted part BWC website NCP Info provided: 110 States Parties 2 Signatory States 3 States not party 1 regional organization
Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) Purpose to prevent or reduce the occurrence of ambiguities, doubts and suspicions, and in order to improve international cooperation in the field of peaceful biological activities BWC/CONF.II/13/II, p.6 Role Enhance transparency & strengthen trust Increase confidence in compliance provide a useful review of the status of national implementation Not a tool for verification
CBM Measures CBM A: o Part 1: research centres and laboratories o Part 2: Natl. biological defence R&D programmes CBM B: Info on outbreaks of infectious diseases and similar occurrences, that seem to deviate from the normal pattern CBM C: Encouragement of publication of results and promotion of use of knowledge CBM E: legislation, regulations and other measures CBM F: past activities in offensive and/or defensive biological research and development programmes CBM G: vaccine production facilities
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 CBM related challenges Challenges Submission rate is low Technical difficulties by some States Parties in completing submissions CBMs not translated into all official languages No follow-up / analysis of CBMs provided Potential Solutions Consider step-by-step approach Look at other returns 100 80 60 40 20 0 Assistance available (BWC ISU, Art X database, CBM Guide) 51 52 16 21 19 29 38 37 39 42 46 42 38 40 41 41 43 51 57 66 63 65 72 82 63 69 72 72 65 69 33 9.212.110.9 16.7 21.821.322.424.1 29.329.926.4 24.121.82323.623.6 19 24.7 29.933.3 37.936.237.441.4 36.239.737.6 42.141.646.1 38.5 Submissions Percentage of SPs
CBM submissions in 2017
BWC Cooperation & Assistance Database ISU established and administers a database, open to all States Parties, where the requests and offers are stored States Parties may bilaterally match offers with requests or use the services of the ISU to facilitate the exchange of information Database will be improved presented at MSP 60 offers of assistance made by: science outreach and education joint cooperation and research governance-legal assistance Australia Group www.unog.ch/bwc/database 31 requests made by seven SPs emergency response & assistance Assistance on CBM preparation capacity building and training 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Offers
Conclusions BWC key pillar of multilateral security architecture Strong norm against BWs established over the years Multidimensional nature of the BWC Need to universalize the Convention 2017 MSP crucial to decide on progress
For more information Or contact: www.unog.ch/bwc BWC Implementation Support Unit United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs Palais des Nations Geneva fax: +41 (0)22 917 0483 e-mail: bwc@unog.ch Website: www.unog.ch/bwc Twitter: @BWCISU Facebook: www.facebook.com/1972bwc