Disarmament in Review
From 1 to 3 October, the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) for the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) within the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the CBRN Safety and Security Agency of Tajikistan, jointly organized a national workshop on the implementation of the Convention in Dushanbe. The purpose of the workshop was to deepen understanding of the BWC, to share effective practices relating to the preparation of Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs), and to inform participants about capacity-building opportunities available to strengthen biosafety and biosecurity.
A total of 42 participants attended the two-and a half day workshop, including representatives from several Tajik ministries and institutions, a staff member from the ISU, as well as experts from Hungary, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. Two representatives from the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) also participated in the workshop.
Workshop participants shared effective practices on the domestic implementation of the Convention and briefed colleagues about the preparation of the annual CBM report. In his opening remarks, Prof. Ilhom Mirsaidzoda, Director of Tajikistan’s CBRN Safety and Security Agency, highlighted key initiatives to strengthen the national infrastructure in this area, cooperation with international partners, and the importance of adhering to the obligations of the BWC to prevent biological threats. In this regard, the participation of experts from Hungary, Kazakhstan and Mongolia highlighted effective practices concerning the adoption of a comprehensive approach to biosecurity as well as valuable lessons concerning national CBM preparation processes.
During the workshop, Tajik authorities also provided a guided tour through its recently established CBRN Laboratory, which will enhance the country’s existing scientific and technical capacities to implement the BWC and other multilateral disarmament treaties. In this regard, Prof. Mirsaidzoda underlined the importance of international cooperation under Article X of the Convention and expressed Tajikistan’s readiness to host regional biosecurity activities. During the workshop, participants also identified concrete opportunities for technical assistance and capacity-building support to further bolster biosecurity in the country. As noted by several participants, the event represented the first opportunity to engage on BWC-related issues. Hence, several experts expressed their strong interest in the subject matter and wished to learn more about the Convention and its implementation.
Financial support for the workshop was provided by the United Kingdom. Additional information on the BWC is available here.
