BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION EXPERT MEETING CONCLUDES

The 2009 Meeting of Experts from States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) was held in Geneva from 24 to 28 August 2009.

The Meeting was held to discuss and promote common understanding and effective action on “enhancing international cooperation, assistance and exchange in biological sciences and technology for peaceful purposes, promoting capacity building in the fields of disease surveillance, detection, diagnosis, and containment of infectious diseases: (1) for States Parties in need of assistance, identifying requirements and requests for capacity enhancement; and (2) from States Parties in a position to do so, and international organizations, opportunities for providing assistance related to these fields."

The Meeting was chaired by Ambassador Marius Grinius of Canada, and brought together nearly 500 participants from 95 countries, including almost 200 experts from government agencies; international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE); regional disease surveillance organizations; academic institutions; NGOs; and private sector companies.

Referring to the extensive discussions held during the week, the Chairman said that "our topic could hardly be more timely and relevant. The H1N1 influenza pandemic is highlighting the crucial importance of building international and national capacities for disease surveillance and response".

Participants discussed how best to promote capacity building in the areas of disease surveillance, detection, diagnosis and containment, at the national, regional and international l evels. Many delegations highlighted the global dimension of the topic, noting that, as the delegation of Georgia put it, "infectious diseases know no geographic boundaries; neither should we in combating them."

Many participants also spoke of the need to coordinate assistance, cooperation and capacity building activities. The Russian Federation was one of the many that emphasized the importance of international cooperation: "Separate states can no longer adequately prevent the spread of infectious diseases, even if they possess the capabilities to diagnose and control infectious diseases. We believe it important to develop and strengthen the Convention's potential for international cooperation in the peaceful uses of advances in bioscience."

Other proposals included: strengthening exchange of information and cooperation between States Parties and relevant international organizations; assisting states parties in the full implementation of the 2005 WHO International Health Regulations; cooperation between the public and private sector on disease surveillance; investment in human resources training and infrastructure; the development of standard operating procedures for disease management; partnerships between labs in developed and developing countries; the development of new vaccines; ensuring the sustainability of new capacity in developing countries; the development of regionally-implemented health systems; and the establishment of a mechanism to promote the implementation of Article X of the BWC.

Summing up the discussions on assistance and cooperation in capacity-building, the Chairman said "We have heard about resources available, assistance extended, cooperation undertaken, and opportunities waiting. And just as importantly, we have heard about needs and challenges, shortfalls in capacity and resources, and obstacles and difficulties in coordination, cooperation and development."

In order to give the experts more opportunities to meet their counterparts and maximize networking, the 2009 Meeting of Experts again featured a poster session, held on Thursday 27 August. The poster session enhanced the technical information available to delegations by allowing experts to present a poster on the details of their work. The Chairman, noting the utility of such events for promoting networking and interaction, said: "I hope some of the contacts made and informal discussions held this week will lead to the development of new avenues of cooperation for capacity building, and indeed to new and more effective assistance projects on the ground".

The results of the Meeting of Experts will be considered by the Meeting of States Parties, to be held in Geneva from 7-11 December 2009. The Meeting of States Parties will review the ideas and proposals presented at the Meeting of Experts, and produce a report aimed at promoting effective action to strengthen the operation of the Convention in the areas covered by the topic.

The Meeting of Experts is part of a four-year programme mandated by the 2006 Sixth Review Conference of the BWC aimed at strengthening the implementation of the Convention and improving its effectiveness as a practical barrier against the development or use of biological weapons. The BWC prohibits the development, production and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons. More formally referred to as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction, the treaty opened for signature in 1972 and entered into force in 1975. It currently has 163 States Parties, with a further 13 States having signed but not yet ratified.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Richard Lennane
Head, BWC Implementation Support Unit
Tel: +41 (0)22 917 22 30
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 04 83
E-mail: rlennane@unog.ch
URL : www.unog.ch/bwc


For use of the information media; not an official record

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