Visit and participation of delegations from the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati and Tuvalu in the Fourth Session of the Working Group on the strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention in Geneva

August 30th, 2024

From 19 to 23 August 2024, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) hosted delegations from the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati and Tuvalu in Geneva. The three delegations also participated in the Fourth Session of the Working Group on the strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which took place at the same time as their visit. 

After an outreach effort undertaken by UNODA earlier this year, Tuvalu joined the BWC in June 2024 as its 186th State Party, followed by the Federated States of Micronesia, which became the 187th and newest State Party to the BWC in July 2024. Kiribati participated in the Fourth Session of the Working Group as an Observer State and is currently examining steps towards joining the BWC. An online preparatory meeting took place on 13 August 2024 in order to provide the three delegations advance information on the Working Group’s proceedings and the three topics under discussion during the Fourth Session of the Working Group.

The visit facilitated the participation of the two newest States Parties in the Fourth Session of the Working Group and provided Kiribati with exposure to BWC official meetings and the discussions taking place in the framework of its Working Group. The delegations of the Federated States of Micronesia and Tuvalu were also briefed by UNODA staff on the next steps to take to implement the Convention at the national level, such as the nomination of a BWC National Contact Point. UNODA staff also provided further guidance to Kiribati on the legal aspects of joining the Convention and which obligations and benefits would derive from it.

The three delegations met with Ambassador Frederico S. Duque Estrada Meyer of Brazil, Chair of the Working Group, who commended the Federated States of Micronesia and Tuvalu for becoming States Parties to the BWC and encouraged Kiribati to consider taking the necessary steps to join the Convention.

H.E. Mr. Ambassador Frederico S. Duque Estrada Meyer of Brazil welcomed the Federated States of Micronesia and Tuvalu to the BWC family and encouraged Kiribati to consider joining the Convention as soon as possible. 

In the margins of the Fourth Session of the Working Group, the three delegations also met with delegations from Australia, the European Union, Canada and the United States. Together with the delegation of Samoa, the delegations also met with representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). These meetings provided an opportunity for the delegations to learn more about the relevance of the Convention and the substance of the ongoing Working Group deliberations. Furthermore, it also allowed the delegations to explore bilateral, regional and international BWC-related assistance opportunities.

Meeting of the delegations of the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Samoa and Tuvalu with H.E. Ms. Vanessa Wood, Ambassador for Arms Control and Counter-Proliferation, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia and Ms. Michelle Carr, First Secretary at the Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

The visit and participation in the Fourth Session of the Working Group by the delegations of the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Samoa and Tuvalu were made possible with funding from the European Union.