BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION

• The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) opened for signature in 1972 and entered into force in 1975.
• The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) effectively prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons. 
• The Convention is a key element in the international community’s efforts to address disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
• It was the first international treaty prohibiting an entire category of such weapons.
• The BWC supplements the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which had prohibited only the use of biological weapons.

Biological Weapons * Biological weapons disseminate disease-causing organisms or toxins to harm or kill humans, animals or plants. * They generally consist of two parts – a weaponized agent and a delivery mechanism. * In addition to strategic or tactical military applications, biological weapons can be used for political assassinations, the infection of livestock or agricultural produce to cause food shortages and economic loss, the creation of environmental catastrophes, and the introduction of widespread illness, fear and mistrust among the public.

Members

• The Convention currently has 183 States parties.
• A further four States have signed but not ratified and 10 States have neither signed nor ratified. (As of July 2021).
• Over 125 States parties have provided information at least once through the CBM process.
• More than 80 States parties participate annually. The highest annual participation to date was in 2020, when 85 States parties provided information.

Key Provisions of the Convention

Article	Provision
Article I	Undertaking never under any circumstances to develop, produce, stockpile, acquire or retain biological weapons.
Article II	Undertaking to destroy biological weapons or divert them to peaceful purposes.
Article III	Undertaking not to transfer, or in any way assist, encourage or induce anyone to manufacture or otherwise acquire biological weapons.
Article IV	Requirement to take any national measures necessary to prohibit and prevent the development, production, stockpiling, acquisition or retention of biological weapons within a State’s territory, under its jurisdiction, or under its control.
Article V	Undertaking to consult bilaterally and multilaterally and cooperate in solving any problems which may arise in relation to the objective, or in the application, of the BWC.
Article VI	Right to request the United Nations Security Council to investigate alleged breaches of the BWC, and undertaking to cooperate in carrying out any investigation initiated by the Security Council.
Article VII	Undertaking to assist any State Party exposed to danger as a result of a violation of the BWC.
Article X	Undertaking to facilitate, and have the right to participate in, the fullest possible exchange of equipment, materials and information for peaceful purposes.

Review of BWC

• BWC States parties strive to ensure that the Convention remains relevant and effective, taking into account the changes since it entered into force.
• States parties meet every five years to review the operation of the Convention.
• The Ninth BWC Review Conference is scheduled to take place in 2022.

Implementation of BWC

• The Implementation Support Unit (ISU) is housed within the Geneva Branch of UNODA.
• Together with the ISU, UNODA has used such contributions to assist national implementation efforts, promote the submission of CBMs, and to raise awareness and promote the universalisation of the Convention.