BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION EXPERT MEETING CONCLUDES

The 2015 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) Meeting of Experts was held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 10 to 14 August 2015 as part of an inter-sessional programme which seeks to discuss, and promote common understanding and effective action on issues identified for inclusion in the programme.

The Meeting of Experts was the first meeting in 2015 of the inter-sessional programme that was mandated in December 2011 by the States Parties at the BWC Seventh Review Conference. The four-year inter-sessional programme includes annual Meetings of Experts as well as Meetings of States Parties. The report of the Meeting of Experts will be considered by the Meeting of States Parties, which will be held in Geneva from 14 to 18 December. The next Review Conference is scheduled for 2016.

This year's Meeting of Experts discussed a range of proposal and ideas on, inter alia,:
- Cooperation and assistance, with a particular focus on strengthening cooperation and assistance under Article X;
- Review of developments in the field of science and technology related to the Convention;
- Strengthening national implementation;
- How to strengthen Article VII, including consideration of detailed procedures and mechanisms for the provision of assistance and cooperation by States Parties.

The Meeting of Experts was chaired by Ambassador Mazlan Muhammad of Malaysia. It brought together over 400 participants from 100 countries. Expert participants came from government agencies, United Nations bodies, international organizations and specialized agencies, such as the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health, INTERPOL, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the International Committee of the Red Cross. A range of non-governmental organizations, academic experts and representatives of the private sector made valuable contributions to the work of the meeting.

Formally known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction, the Convention was the first multilateral disarmament treaty to ban an entire category of weapons. It was opened for signature in 1972 and entered into force in 1975. It currently has 173 States Parties, with a further 9 having signed but not yet ratified.

Speaking at the close of the meeting on 14 August, the Chairman noted his satisfaction with the results, saying “I think it is fair to say that we have had a focused, positive and constructive meeting. We have heard a huge range of material relating to our three standing agenda items and the biennial item. I am glad that delegations have taken on board my encouragement to consider the ‘effective action’ part of our mandate.”


For further information, please contact:

Mr. Daniel Feakes
Chief, BWC Implementation Support Unit
Tel +41 (0)22 917 22 30
Fax +41 (0)22 917 04 83
E-mail: dfeakes@unog.ch

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For use of the information media; not an official record

DC15/036E