Disarmament in Review
UNODA, SIPRI, and the EU, Lead Dialogue on Responsible AI at UNGA First Committee Side Event
Year: 2024
Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship 2024 – Online Biosecurity Diplomacy Workshop
The online Biosecurity Diplomacy Workshop is the first part of the Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship 2024. It is an interactive pre-Working Group training leading up to the field visit in Geneva in August 2024.
The online workshop consists of various weekly sessions, with each sessions focusing on specific issues related to the Convention and comprising a preparatory package including introductory videos and a reading list.
Please note that these course materials are aimed at a specialist professional audience. The views and opinions expressed in the course materials do not necessarily represent the official positions of the United Nations on any issue
Session 1 – Official opening and introduction to the Biological Weapons Convention
Please note that this introductory presentation was recorded in 2023 and some information is not updated.
Reading list:
- The Biological Weapons Convention
- BWC Brochure – The Biological Weapons Convention: an introduction
- BWC/CONF.IX/9 – Final document of the Ninth Review Conference
To go further
- UNIDIR, Preparing for Success at the Ninth Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Review Conference
- UNIDIR, Stakeholder Perspectives on the Biological Weapons Convention
- UNIDIR, Compliance and Enforcement in the Biological Weapons Regime
- Glossary of terms related to the BWC
Key learning objectives
- Gain a practical understanding of BWC obligations and functioning, main strengths and weaknesses
- Understand the state of multilateral discussions under the Convention and the processes of multilateral diplomacy
Session 2 – Science and technology developments 1/2 – Science diplomacy and governance challenges under the BWC
Reading List
- Warmbrod. K. L., Revill. J., Connell. N. 2020. “Advances in Science and Technology in the Life Sciences: Implications for Biosecurity and Arms Control”. Geneva, Switzerland: UNIDIR.
- BWC/CONF.IX/WP.61 –Advocating Responsible Biological Research: the Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for Codes of Conduct for Scientists
- BWC/CONF.IX/WP.65 – Draft Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure toward the development of a BWC Science and Technology Advisory Process
To go further
Key learning objectives
- Engage with senior experts on the biosecurity implications of fast-paced innovation in biotechnologies and discuss options on the table to address the issues under the BWC
Session 3 – Science and technology developments 2/2 – Safeguarding bioscience and biotechnology against misuse
Reading List
- Developing a Common Global Baseline for Nucleic Acid Synthesis Screening, Nicole E. Wheeler, Sarah R. Carter, Tessa Alexanian, Christopher Isaac, Jaime Yassif, and Piers Millet
- How to protect the world from ultra-targeted biological weapons, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, Filippa Lentzos, December 7, 2020
- Megan Palmer: We must build a world where everyone, everywhere, can build with biology, interview that took place during the World Economic Forum’s Great Narrative meeting in Dubai, London School of Economics, Megan J. Palmer, December 15, 2021
To go further
- There’s a ‘ChatGPT’ for biology. What could go wrong? Bulletin of Atomic Scinetists, Sean Ekins, Filippa Lentzos, Max Brackmann, Cédric Invernizzi | March 24, 2023
Key learning objectives
- Gain understanding of options to reduce emerging biological risks associated with technology advances
- Gain a practical understanding of the dual-use dilemma and discuss how to mitigate risks
Readings for the interactive activity
Pre-Reading
Post-Readings
- The Dual-Use Education Gap: Awareness and Education of Life Science Researchers on Nonpathogen-Related Dual-Use Research
- Dual Use of Artificial Intelligence-powered Drug Discovery
- Insidious Insights: Implications of viral vector engineering for pathogen enhancement
Session 4 – National implementation of the BWC and international assistance and cooperation
Reading List
- James Revill and María Garzón Maceda (eds.), “Options for International Cooperation under Article X of the Biological Weapons Convention”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2022.
- BWC/WG/2/CRP.2 – Proposed Considerations Related to the Development of an Article X Mechanism – Submitted by the Friends of the Chair on International Cooperation and Assistance
Key learning objectives
- Gain understanding of current challenges for the effective implementation of the BWC at the national level
- Understand current proposals for the development of an International Cooperation and Assistance mechanism under the Convention
News from 2023
- Status of contributions – The Financial Resources Management Service of the United Nations Office at Geneva has provided a summary of the financial contributions to the four disarmament conventions, as at 31 December 2022.
- Status of contributions – The Financial Resources Management Service of the United Nations Office at Geneva has provided a summary of the financial contributions to the four disarmament conventions, as at 30 November 2022.
- Status of contributions – The Financial Resources Management Service of the United Nations Office at Geneva has provided a summary of the financial contributions to the four disarmament conventions, as at 30 September 2022.
- Status of contributions – The Financial Resources Management Service of the United Nations Office at Geneva has provided a summary of the financial contributions to the four disarmament conventions, as at 31 August 2022.
- Status of contributions – The Financial Resources Management Service of the United Nations Office at Geneva has provided a summary of the financial contributions to the four disarmament conventions, as at 31 July 2022.
- Status of contributions – The Financial Resources Management Service of the United Nations Office at Geneva has provided a summary of the financial contributions to the four disarmament conventions, as at 30 June 2022.
- Status of contributions – The Financial Resources Management Service of the United Nations Office at Geneva has provided a summary of the financial contributions to the four disarmament conventions, as at 31 May 2022.
- Status of contributions – The Financial Resources Management Service of the United Nations Office at Geneva has provided a summary of the financial contributions to the four disarmament conventions, as at 30 April 2022.
- Status of contributions – The Financial Resources Management Service of the United Nations Office at Geneva has provided a summary of the financial contributions to the four disarmament conventions, as at 31 March 2022.
- Namibia acceded the BWC – The United Kingdom informed the ISU that the Republic of Namibia deposited its instrument of accession to the BWC in London on 25 February 2022. As of this date, the Republic of Namibia is therefore the 184th State Party to the Convention.
- Status of contributions – The Financial Resources Management Service of the United Nations Office at Geneva has provided a summary of the financial contributions to the four disarmament conventions, as at 28 February 2022.
- Status of contributions – The Financial Resources Management Service of the United Nations Office at Geneva has provided a summary of the financial contributions to the four disarmament conventions, as at 31 January 2022.
- Nomination of the President of the Ninth Review Conference – On 28 January, the Vice-Chairs of the Preparatory Committee wrote this letter to BWC States Parties informing them that the Group of the Non-Aligned Movement and Other States Parties to the BWC had agreed to hand over its turn to nominate the President of the Ninth Review Conference to another regional group. Consultations on this issue will continue.
- ISU sends out CBM reminder letter – On 15 January, the ISU sent a reminder letter to States Parties that the deadline for the submission of Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) covering calendar year 2021 is 15 April 2022.
