BWC 2011

This page includes additional documents that may be relevant to participants to the Seventh BWC Review Conference.

Daily Reports from the 2006 & 2011 BWC Review Conferences and the annual meetings in between

In conjunction with the BioWeapons Prevention Project, Richard Guthrie has been producing daily reports from the inter-governmental meetings of the Biological Weapons Convention since 2006.

2011 reports:

• Number 1 -- The Seventh BWC Review Conference: setting the scene
• Number 2 -- Sinterklaas and statements: the first day of the Review Conference
• Number 3 -- The Second Day: themes from the general debate
• Number 4 -- The Third Day: start of the detailed work
• Number 5 -- Industry and Posters: the 4th day of the Review Conference
• Number 6 -- One Week Completed: a positive atmosphere, but a long road still ahead
• Number 7 -- Start of the Second Week: further exchanges of views
• Number 8 -- The halfway point: the start of facilitated consultations
• Number 9 -- Committee of the Whole: second reading started, slow progress
• Number 10 -- Committee of the Whole: an increase in momentum
• Number 11 -- Second Week Completed: draft final document under discussion
• Number 12 -- Start of the Third Week: slow progress and a late proposal
• Number 13 -- Two Days to Go, Late-Night Sessions: countdown to a conclusion?
• Number 14 -- Winter solstice -- a long shortest day: working into the night ...
• Number 15 -- The Seventh BWC Review Conference: outline of the Final Document
• Number 16 -- The Seventh BWC Review Conference: outcome and assessment

Earlier reports:

• 2011 Preparatory Committee (PrepCom)
• 2010 Meeting of States Parties (MSP)
• 2010 Meeting of Experts (MX)
• 2009 Meeting of States Parties (MSP)
• 2009 Meeting of Experts (MX)
• 2008 Meeting of States Parties (MSP)
• 2008 Meeting of Experts (MX)
• 2007 Meeting of States Parties (MSP)
• 2007 Meeting of Experts (MX)
• Sixth Review Conference (November-December 2006)

Briefing Notes on the role of Science and Technology reviews in the Biological Weapons Convention

It has become established practice for States Parties to the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) to meet every five years to review the operation of the Convention, taking into account relevant developments in science and technology (S&T). Changes in both security and science since 1972 have generated questions over whether this process is fit for purpose. Accordingly, the Harvard Sussex Program is leading a project designed to investigate the process of S&T Review within the BWC and assess alternative proposals and options to improve this process in terms of their technical and political feasibility. The project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as part of the Global Uncertainties programme of the RCUK. The new knowledge developed from project will be disseminated through a set of presentations and papers tailored to different communities of practice.

More details of the project can be found at http://hsp.sussex.ac.uk/sandtreviews/.

The following Briefing Notes have been published during 2011:

• Kai Ilchmann, James Revill, Caitríona McLeish & Paul Nightingale, Nanotechnology & the BWC
• Kai Ilchmann, James Revill, Caitríona McLeish & Paul Nightingale, Synthetic Biology & the BWC
• Kai Ilchmann, James Revill, Caitríona McLeish & Paul Nightingale, Vaccine Development & the BWC
• James Revill, Kai Ilchmann, Caitríona McLeish & Paul Nightingale, Disease Reporting & the BWC
• James Revill, Kai Ilchmann, Caitríona McLeish & Paul Nightingale, Proposals for changing the S&T Reviews