LES ÉTATS PARTIES À LA CONVENTION SUR LES ARMES BIOLOGIQUES ONT PORTÉ LEUR ATTENTION À GENÈVE SUR LES PRÉPARATIFS DE LA SEPTIÈME CONFÉRENCE D'EXAMEN (en anglais)

States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) met in Geneva, Switzerland from 13 to 14 April 2011 at the Preparatory Committee for the Seventh Review Conference of the BWC. The Preparatory Committee considered and agreed upon the following with respect to the Seventh Review Conference: date and duration; a provisional agenda; draft rules of procedure; background documentation; publicity; final documents; appointment of a provisional Secretary-General; as well as financial arrangements for the Review Conference. The Preparatory Committee meeting marks the beginning of a process for the 163 States Parties to the BWC to review the objectives and provisions of the Convention.

The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction effectively prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, retention, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons and is a key element in the international community’s efforts to address the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The Preparatory Committee, under its mandate from States Parties from their last review in 2006, put in place the procedural arrangements necessary for a successful outcome to the Seventh Review Conference. Ambassador Paul van den IJssel (Netherlands) chaired the meeting and has also been nominated to act as President of the forthcoming high-profile Seventh Review Conference later this year. Representatives from ninety-three States Parties, three signatories and one observer state attended the Preparatory Committee.

Speaking at the conclusion of the Preparatory Committee on 14 April, the Chairman said the meeting had taken all the necessary decisions, and paved the way for a full and comprehensive review of the Biological Weapons Convention in December 2011. He said States Parties had "worked in a collegial, constructive and highly-focused way, keeping our overall goal in sight, and resolving our differences through careful listening, respectful dialogue, and flexible approaches". He called on States Parties to turn their attention now "to developing practical proposals, to bridging differences and building consensus", adding that he was confident that "if we continue in the way we have begun at this Preparatory Committee, we will succeed in achieving a strong and wide-ranging consensus outcome at the Review Conference that significantly strengthens the Convention and genuinely reduces the threats posed to international security by biological weapons".


The Seventh Review Conference, to take place in Geneva from 5 to 22 December 2011, is expected to:

· Review the operation of the objectives and provisions of the Convention;
· Take into account any relevant scientific and technological developments;
· Consider the work of the 2007 - 2010 intersessional meetings and decide on any further action; and
· Decide on any future action necessary to strengthen the implementation and effectiveness of the BWC.


The 2007 – 2010 intersessional process saw States Parties assemble to discuss:

· ways and means to enhance national implementation, including enforcement of national legislation, strengthening of national institutions and coordination among national law enforcement institutions;
· regional and sub-regional cooperation on implementation of the Convention;
· national, regional and international measures to improve biosafety and biosecurity, including laboratory safety and security of pathogens and toxins;
· oversight, education, awareness raising, and adoption and/or development of codes of conduct with the aim of preventing misuse in the context of advances in bio-science and bio-technology research with the potential of use for purposes prohibited by the convention;
· enhancement of 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; and
· the provision of assistance and coordination with relevant organizations upon request by any State party in the case of alleged use of biological weapons, including improving national capabilities for disease surveillance, detection and diagnosis and public health systems.
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The Biological Weapons Convention, which opened for signature in 1972 and entered into force in 1975, is the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of weapons. It currently has 163 States Parties, with a further 13 having signed but not yet ratified.


For further information, please contact:

Richard Lennane
Secretary of the Preparatory Committee for the
Seventh Review Conference of the
Biological Weapons Convention
tel: +41 (0)22 917 2230
fax: +41 (0)22 917 0483
e-mail: rlennane@unog.ch
web: http://www.unog.ch/bwc/meeting


For use of the information media; not an official record

DC11/028E