Disarmament in Review
The online Biosecurity Diplomacy Workshop is the first part of the Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship 2023. It is an interactive pre-Working Group training leading up to the field visit in August 2023.
The online workshop consists of six sessions, with each sessions focusing on specific issues related to the Convention and comprising a preparatory package including an introductory video 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
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
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 – Advancing Youth and Gender Perspectives in Global Biosecurity
Reading List
- BWC/CONF.IX/WP.49 Engaging the Next Generation in Global Biosecurity: Proposals for strengthening youth participation in the Biological Weapons Convention Submitted by Kenya and Panama
- BWC/CONF.IX/WP.48 Proposal for inclusion in the final document of the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention on “Enhancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment as an Integral Part of the Institutional Strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention”
- Youth Recommendations for the Ninth Review Conference
To go further
- UNIDIR Factsheet: Gender and Biological Weapons
- UNIDIR Missing Links: Understanding Sex- and Gender-Related Impacts of Chemical and Biological Weapons
- UNIDIR Stakeholder Perspectives on the Biological Weapons Convention
- The Next Wave of Biosecurity Experts: Young Scientists Need a Better Path into Global Diplomacy, by Tessa Alexanian*, Mayra Ameneiros*, Christopher Isaac, Gabrielle Essix, Stephanie Norlock, Ronit Langer, Samantha Dittrich, Leonard Peruski – 02/22/2022
Key learning objectives
- Learn about the benefits and challenges of a diverse and inclusive Biological Weapons Convention community and familiarize with key facts and messages on youth inclusion and women participation in disarmament.
- Engaged in discussions on youth recommendations for strengthening the BWC
Session 3 – Science and technology developments 1/2 – Dual-use dilemma 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
- J. Revill, A. Anand and G. Persi Paoli, Exploring Science and Technology Review Mechanisms Under the Biological Weapons Convention, Geneva, Switzerland: UNIDIR, 2021,
- K. Samlali, J. Stern, E. Nduhuura, Towards Responsible Genomic Surveillance: A Review of Biosecurity and Dual-use Regulation, 2021 Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition August 3, 2021, Revised October 27, 2021, November 8, 2021
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
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
- Gain a practical understanding of the dual-use dilemma and discuss how to mitigate risks
Session 4 – Science and technology developments 2/2 – Safeguarding bioscience and biotechnology against misuse
Reading List
- Interview of Dr. Kevin Esvelt on Mitigating catastrophic biorisks during Effective Altruism’s EAGxVirtual 2020
- 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
- Consider biosecurity perspectives from the bioeconomy
Session 5 – Compliance and verification under the Biological Weapons Convention
Reading List
- N. Cropper, S. Rath, R. Teo, Creating a verification protocol for the Biological Weapons Convention: a modular-incremental approach, 2022 Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition Winning Paper
- Robert J. Mathews, Efforts to Strengthen the BTWC with a Legally Binding Protocol, Historical Notes, no. 3. (The Trench, 17 June 2022), 24p.
To go further
- J. Revill, J. Borrie and R. Lennane, “Back to the Future for Verification in the Biological Disarmament Regime?”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2022,
Key Learning objectives
- Gain an understanding and share views on what verification means in the BWC context and how to leverage the tools of modern science to reshape the discussions
Session 6 – Assistance and Cooperation under the Biological Weapons Convention
Reading List
- James Revill and María Garzón Maceda (eds.), “Options for International Cooperation under Article X of the Biological Weapons ConventionPa”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2022.
- BWC/CONF.IX/WP.26 – Outline of Proposals to Enhance the Institutional Machinery of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) in the Context of Cooperation and Assistance Under Article X – Submitted by Finland, Georgia, Norway and the Philippines
- BWC/CONF.IX/WP.56 – International cooperation, assistance and exchange in the use of biological sciences and technology for peaceful purposes. Proposal for the establishment of a Cooperation Committee – Submitted by the Republic of Azerbaijan on behalf of the Group of the Non-Aligned Movement and Other States Parties to the BWC
Key Learning Objectives
- Gain an understanding of the current discussions on Article X of the Biological Weapons Convention.
- Discuss the importance of regional approaches in assistance and cooperation activities.
