Between July and October, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) continued to work closely with African States and international and regional partners to strengthen the universalization and effective implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) on the continent. It organized seven activities in the eastern, southern and western sub-regions, respectively.

With the objective of raising awareness about the BWC, including the obligations thereunder, its benefits and contribution to international peace and security, two national awareness events were held in parallel in The Gambia and Namibia on 29 and 30 August. These events gathered representatives from various national stakeholders that play a role in the implementation of the Convention. Both events enabled UNODA and State counterparts to identify opportunities for further assistance to strengthen the implementation of the Convention, particularly in relation to the development of a national legal framework for BWC implementation, the designation of national contact points and the preparation and submission of Confidence-Building Measures.

Furthermore, UNODA organized its first events focusing on providing legislative assistance to States in developing and/or strengthening their national legal framework for BWC implementation. On 10 July, UNODA held a hybrid event with Ethiopia with the purpose of identifying coordination mechanisms among national stakeholders to reinforce the legal and regulatory frameworks for BWC implementation, including biosafety and biosecurity. On 20-21 July, UNODA in collaboration with the Verification, Research, Training and Information Centre (VERTIC) and CRDF Global, organized a legislative awareness-raising workshop for policymakers and stakeholders in Kenya with a view to highlighting the benefits of comprehensive BWC implementing legislation, particularly in light of ongoing national efforts to develop and adopt such legislation. From 13-15 September, UNODA held a legal drafting workshop in Ghana. The purposes of this event were to sensitize participants on the importance of comprehensive BWC implementing legislation and review and improve existing legal drafts.

From 9-10 October, UNODA also organized a national event in Togo focused on Confidence-Building Measures, in particular the training of relevant stakeholders in preparing and submitting the forms to be conveyed to the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Biological Weapons Convention. In addition to providing information on the importance and content of Confidence-Building Measures, UNODA conducted interactive exercises to train participants in preparing comprehensive and accurate forms.

Finally, UNODA organized its fourth sub-regional workshop on the universalization and effective implementation of the BWC for States in the Western African region. Sixty-five delegates from fourteen West African States Parties discussed regional and national approaches to implementation of the BWC, shared relevant experiences, challenges and good practices and worked closely with UNODA to identify needs and priorities and discuss synergies with existing avenues of technical assistance and capacity building support.

The workshop was also attended by representatives of two members of the Global Partnership, namely the United States and Germany. Subject-matter experts from the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) Support Unit, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also provided their views on challenges related to BWC implementation, including the link between the Convention and other international instruments and regional activities and initiatives.

The events held between July and October were organized in the context of the four-year project “Supporting the Universalization and Effective Implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention in Africa” funded by the Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. UNODA will continue to build on the momentum generated during these workshops to support States’ efforts to strengthen national and regional implementation of the BWC.

Additional information on the Biological Weapons Convention is available here.

Questions may be directed to bwc@un.org.