Disarmament in Review
From 6-8 May 2025, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) convened a joint regional workshop at the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand for Southeast Asian and Pacific Island States on “Strengthening Regional Support for the Global Norm against Biological Weapons in the Context of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004), and the United Nations Secretary-General’s Mechanism for Investigation of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (UNSGM).”
The BWC, UNSCR 1540 (2004), and UNSGM are key instruments adopted by the international community to address the threat posed by proliferation or use of biological weapons. While these initiatives are separate and independent of each other and address distinct issues related to biological weapons disarmament and proliferation, they all contribute to a comprehensive approach to preventing and deterring the use of biological weapons and involve cooperation with many similar stakeholders at the national and regional levels. Within UNODA, initiatives to strengthen implementation, engagement, and cooperation on these measures are supported through the Implementation Support Unit for the BWC (BWC ISU), the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) Support Unit (UNSCR 1540 Support Unit) and the UNODA team in support of the UNSGM, often in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and partners.
The three-day workshop brought together experts from 17 States in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, including representatives from relevant ministries charged with the implementation of the BWC and UNSCR 1540 (2004), experts in relevant fields, and representatives from relevant laboratories and technical institutions dealing with disease outbreaks. The presentations and discussions aimed to raise awareness about the three instruments and serve as a forum for discussion, information exchange and sharing of best practices from the region related to strengthening each instrument.
The first day focused on the BWC and included presentations by staff from the BWC ISU and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR). The session began with an overview of the BWC, its main provisions, past efforts to strengthen the Convention and tools to facilitate national implementation. Then, a panel of National Contact Points (NCPs) from Southeast Asia and Pacific Island States shared practical insights and best practices in implementing the BWC. Additionally, participants engaged in breakout groups to address various aspects in relation to awareness raising, national implementation, regional and international collaboration, and implications in view of advances in science and technology. The Working Group on Strengthening the Convention was also introduced, and participants heard a statement by the Chair of the Working Group and participated in an online panel discussion with the Friends of the Chair.
The second day focused on UNSCR 1540 (2004). A representative from the 1540 Committee Group of Experts provided a virtual presentation introducing the resolution and outlining key tools and resources, such as the 1540 Matrices, National Reports, and Assistance Mechanism, followed by the session which highlighted UNODA’s assistance provided for Asia-Pacific States toward the full implementation of UNSCR 1540. In the afternoon, the UNSCR 1540 Support Unit led the participants in a group discussion on national experiences and assistance needs as well as on further collaboration opportunities in implementing the resolution in the region.
The third day focused on the UNSGM. UNODA provided an overview of the mechanism’s background, mandate and history, as well as the Guidelines & Procedures for a UNSGM investigation. UNODA also shared information about different ways in which Member States can support the mechanism, including the nomination process for the roster of experts and laboratories that might be called upon to support a UNSGM investigation, as well as the training programme and exercises for experts and laboratories once nominated. Then, participants heard from an expert and a representative from a laboratory nominated to the UNSGM roster on their experience with UNSGM activities.
To wrap up, the BWC-ISU, the UNSCR 1540 Support Unit, and the UNODA team in support of the UNSGM led a joint roundtable discussion on connections and synergies between the BWC, UNSCR 1540, and the UNSGM in strengthening regional support for the global norm against biological weapons.
In addition to the support provided by the partners mentioned above, financial support for the workshop was generously provided by the Government of Canada.
For more information on the different mechanisms, please visit the UNODA website:
BWC: https://disarmament.unoda.org/biological-weapons/
UNSCR 1540: https://disarmament.unoda.org/wmd/sc1540/
UNSGM: https://disarmament.unoda.org/wmd/secretary-general-mechanism/
