News from 2011

• President-designate addresses regional groups – on 29 November the President-designate met with each of the regional groups and introduced the provisional indicative programme of work, provided details of practical arrangements for the review conference and answered questions and queries. His talking points are now available.
• President-designate writes to States Parties – In a pair of letters, the first dated 17 November, the President-designate wrote to States Parties to update them on preparations for the review conference. The letter included a draft provisional indicative programme of work, details of registration and credential procedures as well as information on further consultations. A second letter, dated 18 November, announced another open ended consultation – this time on a new intersessional process. The consultation is due to take place from 13:30 to 15:00 on Wednesday 23 November 2011, in Room XXV.
• The Nonproliferation Review available now! – TheSpecial Issue: Global Perspectives on Re-envisioning the Biological Weapons Conventionis the product of a joint project of the European Union Institute for Security Studies and the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. The James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Collaboration of Taylor and Francis, the publisher of the journal, have made the contents of this special issue available for those involved with the review conference FREE OF COST!
• The NIH on behalf of the US government is sponsoring an international Workshop The Intersection of Science and Security: a Case Study Approach, Continuing the global dialogue with the scientific and science policy community: focus on Asia and the Western Pacific on December 9, 2011, 1:00-4:30 PM on the NIH main campus. The event is being hosted by the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, an advisory committee to the NIH Director, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Cabinet-level Departments and Agencies that fund or conduct life sciences research. The purpose of the Workshop is to give attendees a greater understanding of dual use research, including an awareness of strategies for managing dual use research of concern and an appreciation of how these issues are being addressed around the globe and, especially in Asia and the Western Pacific. We hope that you will be able to participate. The attached flyer provides general information about the Workshop and the agenda provides detailed information about the distinguished presenters and panelists from Asia, the Western Pacific and the United States.
• Burundi ratifies the Biological Weapons Convention – London confirmed Burundi’s ratification on 18 October 2011. This brings the membership of the BWC to 165 States Parties.
• 3rd Annual Meeting of BACAC – the Biosafety Association for Central Asia and the Caucasus held its third annual meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia from 27 to 30 September 2011. The meeting included a series of tranining workshops, expert presentations and a review of implementation of the Laboratory Biorisk Management Standard CWA 15793-2008. Presentations include those on efforts Towards Health Security in Kenya, New Challenges for Biosafety and Biosecurity in Georgia, Biosafety Implications of the National Public Health Laboratory Network, and Considerations of Biosafety and Biosecurity under the BWC Confidence Building Measures, WHO International Health Regulations, and the UN Security Council Resolution 1540.
• Registration open – for the Seventh Review Conference.
• President-designate meets regional groups – The President-designate met the three regional groups between 23 and 28 September 2011 to discuss preparations for the Seventh Review Conference. The President-designate’s speaking notes for these meetings are available here.
• Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) Program – PEER is a new partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) that is designed to address development challenges through international research collaboration. This competitive grants program will allow scientists in developing countries to apply for funds to support research and capacity-building activities in partnership with their NSF-funded collaborators on topics of importance to USAID. Areas in which both NSF and USAID have strong mutual interests include, but are not limited to, the following: Food security topics; Global health issues such as ecology of infectious disease, biomedical engineering, and natural/human system interactions; Climate change impacts such as water sustainability, hydrology, ocean acidification, climate process and modeling, and environmental engineering; Other development topics including disaster mitigation, biodiversity, water, and renewable energy. The PEER application form, proposal preparation instructions, and FAQs are available online at http://www.nationalacademies.org/peer. Applicants who have questions after reviewing these materials are encouraged to contact PEER staff by e-mail at peer@nas.edu or by telephone at +1-202-334-3656 or +1-202-334-1728.
• Informal briefing on the Implementation Support Unit: As part of preparations for the Seventh Review Conference, the President-designate has invited all States Parties and signatories to an informal briefing on the ISU, to be held from 11:30-13:00 on Wednesday 7 September in Room XII. The briefing will cover the origins, mandate, structure, financing and operations of the ISU, and will provide an opportunity for delegations to ask questions and seek clarifications on various aspects which may be relevant in deciding the future of the Unit.
• Course on Applied Dual-Use Biosecurity, Biosafety and Bioethics – The Public Health Agency of Canada and the University of Bradford are pleased to announce the delivery of a university-level accredited pilot course on applied dual-use biosecurity, biosafety and bioethics that is intended to benefit an international audience and will be given at the Carleton University in Ottawa from September 19-30, 2011. This collaborative course is the first step in the development of a joint curriculum on biosafety, biosecurity and bioethics for life scientists. The intention of the course is to help participants develop an understanding of the concepts of biosafety and biosecurity in the laboratory setting, and highlight the ethical, legal and social relevance of dual-use biosecurity. The course will cover approaches to biosafety and biosecurity risk assessment; risk mitigation strategies; capacity building for biosafety, biosecurity, and bioethics training; and the range of issues surrounding the responsible use of dual-use biotechnology. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a Certificate of Participation from the Public Health Agency of Canada and be awarded 30 UK Higher Education Master’s-level credits and a Certificate of Continuing Education from the University of Bradford. These credits may be transferable. The deadline for submitting applications is August 26th, 2011. Please take advantage of this unique opportunity by completing the attached application form as space is limited to a maximum of 40 participants. Applications will be considered and selected participants will be notified by September 2nd, 2011. Please note that the course will be offered in English only. We also encourage you to distribute this email to any of your colleagues who may be interested in applying. A registration form for the course is now available in both English and French.
• President-designate writes to States Parties – The President-designate has written to States Parties on efforts to expand treaty membership and progress in preparing for the review conference. The letter, dated 6 June 2011, covered: requests for inputs for background documents; the development of substantive proposals; and information on universalization.
• Workshop: Countering Biological Threats: National Implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention and Multinational Outbreak Response and Bioterrorism Investigation Demonstration – From 17-19 May 2011, the Georgian Ministry of Labor, Health, and Social Affairs as well as the National Center for Disease Control of Georgia, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services held this event in Tbilisi, Georgia. The objective of the event was to: (1) strengthen regional/international communication & collaboration on biothreat prevention, deterrence, and response; (2) enhance awareness of criminal and terrorist networks and cross-border proliferation; as well as to (3) create regional work groups for enduring cooperation and sharing of regional resources to improve local laboratory capabilities for disease surveillance and control. The workshop summary is now available, as are presentations on Biosafety and Biosecurity Reporting underthe BWC Confidence Building Measures, WHO International Health Regulations, andUN Security Council Resolution 1540, as well as Political Agreements and Understandings Reached During the 2007-2010 Work Program of the Biological Weapons Convention
• Mozambique joins the Biological Weapons Convention – Mozambique deposited its instrument of accession in London on 29 March 2011, becoming a State Party to the BWC and bringing the membership of the treaty to 164. The President-designate of the Seventh Review Conference of the BWC, Ambassador Paul van den IJssel (Netherlands), warmly welcomed the accession, saying “I congratulate the Government of Mozambique on taking this important step to join the efforts of the international community to strengthen international security by ensuring that biological science and technology is used only for the benefit of people around the world”. The President-designate added that by acceding to the BWC Mozambique was setting an example for other African states which are yet to join the treaty. “Mozambique’s action demonstrates that the treaty is relevant and provides concrete benefits for security and development, especially in Africa”, he said. “I look forward to welcoming the delegation of Mozambique to the Seventh Review Conference as a State Party to the BWC, and to working with Mozambique to further the aims of the treaty in Africa and around the world”.
• President-designate meets regional groups – The President-designate met the three regional groups between 17 and 25 February 2011 for an initial consultation and exchange of views on preparations for the Seventh Review Conference. The President-designate’s speaking notes for these meetings are available here.
• President-designate writes to States Parties – The President-designate of the Seventh Review Conference, Ambassador Paul van den IJssel of the Netherlands, wrote to States Parties on 25 January 2011 to outline his plans for preparing for the Seventh Review Conference.
• President-designate meets United Nations Secretary-General – The President-designate met the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, in Geneva on 25 January on 2011, and invited him to address the opening of the Seventh Review Conference.