National Implementation Measures (NIM) Programme staff members Scott Spence (Programme Director), Sonia Drobysz (Senior Legal Officer) and Cédric Apercé (Legal Officer) represented VERTIC at the Meeting of States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), and related side events, during 30 November through 7 December in Geneva.
National Implementation Measures (NIM) Programme staff members Scott Spence (Programme Director), Sonia Drobysz (Senior Legal Officer) and Cédric Apercé (Legal Officer) represented VERTIC at the Meeting of States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), and related side events, during 30 November through 7 December in Geneva.
The States Parties discussed arrangements for the Intersessional Programme 2018-2020 leading up to the Ninth Review Conference. Among the various topics discussed, States Parties expressed their willingness to continue efforts in the areas of cooperation and assistance, with a particular focus on strengthening cooperation and assistance under Article X; review of developments in the field of science and technology related to the Convention; strengthening national implementation; implementation of Article VII; and universality of the Convention.
VERTIC warmly welcomed expressions of appreciation and support for the work of the NIM Programme from the Chair of the Meeting of States Parties, Canada, Ghana, as well as the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). NIM Programme Director Scott Spence gave VERTIC’s statement during the informal plenary session for NGOs.
VERTIC also participated in various side events. In particular, VERTIC provided an overview of its work as part of the European Union’s continued support for strengthening the BWC. VERTIC also promoted and discussed BWC survey findings with project country delegations at the US-Malaysia BWC side event entitled ‘Reports on BWC-relevant developments by international experts’, during 30 November-1 December.
VERTIC is grateful to the Government of Canada (Global Affairs Canada / Global Partnership Program) whose financial support made our participation in the conference possible.
For more about VERTIC’s NIM Programme, click here.
