BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION MEETINGS OF EXPERTS TO CONVENE IN GENEVA FROM 7 TO 16 AUGUST 2018
Press Release
The Meeting of Experts on Cooperation and Assistance, with a Particular Focus on Strengthening Cooperation and Assistance under Article X will take place from 7 to 8 August. MX1 will be chaired by Ambassador Maria Teresa Almojuela of the Philippines.
The Meeting of Experts on Review of Developments in the Field of Science and Technology Related to the Convention will take place from 9 to 10 August 2018. The Chairperson of MX2 will be a representative from the Group of the Non-Aligned Movement and Other States.
The Meeting of Experts on Strengthening National Implementation will take place on 13 August 2018. MX3 will be chaired by Ambassador Julio Herráiz España of Spain.
The Meeting of Experts on Assistance, Response and Preparedness will take place from 14 to 15 August 2018. MX4 will be chaired by Mr. Daniel Nord of Sweden.
There will also be a full schedule of side events organized by States, and organizations and professional bodies. A Poster session will take place on 9 August 2018.
The Meeting of Experts on Institutional Strengthening of the Convention will take place on 16 August 2018. MX5 will be chaired by Mr. Otakar Gorgol of the Czech Republic.
The reports of the five Meetings of Experts will be considered at the Meeting of States Parties, which will be held in Geneva from 4 to 7 December 2018.
Broad participation is expected at the five meetings, including from States Parties to the BWC, key intergovernmental organizations engaged on relevant issues, scientific and professional associations, academic institutions, think tanks, other non-governmental entities and individual experts.
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 181 States Parties, and six states that have signed but not yet ratified it.
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
Or:
E-mail: bwc@un.org
Visit our website: www.unog.ch/bwc
Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/1972BWC
Follow us on Twitter: @BWCISU#1972BWC
For use of the information media; not an official record
DC18.34E
The 2018 Meetings of Experts to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) begin today at the United Nations Office at Geneva and will conclude on 16 August. This is the first set of such meetings in the new 2018-2020 intersessional process.
In December 2017, the BWC Meeting of States Parties agreed on an intersessional programme from 2018 to 2020 consisting of annual Meetings of States Parties and Meetings of Experts. The MSP agreed that the Meetings of Experts would be open-ended and will consider the following topics:
- MX1 - Cooperation and Assistance, with a Particular Focus on Strengthening Cooperation and Assistance under Article X (7-8 August 2018)
- MX2 - Review of Developments in the Field of Science and Technology Related to the Convention (9-10 August 2018)
- MX3 - Strengthening National Implementation (13 August 2018)
- MX4 - Assistance, Response and Preparedness (14-15 August 2018)
- MX5 - Institutional Strengthening of the Convention (16 August 2018)
The Meeting of Experts on Cooperation and Assistance, with a Particular Focus on Strengthening Cooperation and Assistance under Article X will take place from 7 to 8 August. MX1 will be chaired by Ambassador Maria Teresa Almojuela of the Philippines.
The Meeting of Experts on Review of Developments in the Field of Science and Technology Related to the Convention will take place from 9 to 10 August 2018. The Chairperson of MX2 will be a representative from the Group of the Non-Aligned Movement and Other States.
The Meeting of Experts on Strengthening National Implementation will take place on 13 August 2018. MX3 will be chaired by Ambassador Julio Herráiz España of Spain.
The Meeting of Experts on Assistance, Response and Preparedness will take place from 14 to 15 August 2018. MX4 will be chaired by Mr. Daniel Nord of Sweden.
There will also be a full schedule of side events organized by States, and organizations and professional bodies. A Poster session will take place on 9 August 2018.
The Meeting of Experts on Institutional Strengthening of the Convention will take place on 16 August 2018. MX5 will be chaired by Mr. Otakar Gorgol of the Czech Republic.
The reports of the five Meetings of Experts will be considered at the Meeting of States Parties, which will be held in Geneva from 4 to 7 December 2018.
Broad participation is expected at the five meetings, including from States Parties to the BWC, key intergovernmental organizations engaged on relevant issues, scientific and professional associations, academic institutions, think tanks, other non-governmental entities and individual experts.
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 181 States Parties, and six states that have signed but not yet ratified it.
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
Or:
E-mail: bwc@un.org
Visit our website: www.unog.ch/bwc
Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/1972BWC
Follow us on Twitter: @BWCISU#1972BWC
For use of the information media; not an official record
DC18.34E