Arms control & disarmament projects

Strengthening tools and mechanisms for verifying biological weapons compliance

Researchers: Angela Woodward
Funders: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, UK Global Opportunities Fund (GOF)

Verification Matters no. 6: A new strategy: strengthening the biological weapons regime through modular mechanisms
This report identifies a range of mechanisms that could improve implementation of the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention and assesses their possible mandates, responsibilities and requirements. The modular mechanisms proposed are:

1) The establishment of a national authority and contact points in each state party for implementation of the convention;
2) The continuation of the BWC staff arrangement under the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs (UNDDA) and a modest expansion in its functions and responsibilities;
3) The establishment of convention implementation advisers to co-ordinate advice and assistance to states parties across all articles of the BWC;
4) The creation of a scientific and technical advisers’ network (STAN) to consider, review and communicate to states parties practical ways of addressing any issues arising from scientific and technological developments that effect the convention and its implementation;
5) The creation of a legal advisers’ network (LAN) to help all states parties to improve their national laws to implement the convention;
6) The creation of a confidence-building measures (CBMs) unit to increase the number of returns from states parties and to improve the quality of the information in the CBMs; and
7) The establishment of a group of experts to consider the issues related to investigations and inspections under the BWC.

Each of these mechanisms can stand alone and make an effective contribution to the efforts of states parties to achieve biological disarmament. Together, they offer synergistic benefits and interconnections that would be of even greater benefit. States parties are therefore encouraged to examine each modular mechanism on its own, but also to look for connections between the proposals.
VERTIC is grateful to the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Ploughshares Foundation for funding this report.


VERTIC Statement to the Sixth Review Conference for the 1972 Biological Weapons Conference
Michael Crowley, Executive Director, delivered VERTIC's statement to the Sixth Review Conference for the 1972 Biological Weapons Conference on Tuesday, 21 November in Geneva, Switzerland. Noting that VERTIC believes that States Parties should consolidate the constructive work of the intersessional process by agreeing practical measures and activities to strengthen implementation of the Convention, he outlined the modular mechanisms VERTIC has elaborated to aid states in their work. These mechanisms are intended to strengthen BWC compliance by assisting implementation at all levels-nationally, regionally and internationally. Each mechanism can stand alone and make an effective contribution to states parties' efforts to achieve biological disarmament. Together, they offer synergistic benefits and interconnections that would be of even greater benefit.
To read the VERTIC statement, click here.
To read the full VERTIC report discussing the mechanisms, click here.

BASIC, Harvard-Sussex Program and VERTIC 'Briefing Book for the BWC Sixth Review Conference 2006'
The British American Security Information Council (BASIC), the Harvard-Sussex Program and VERTIC launched their joint publication, 'Briefing Book for the BWC Sixth Review Conference 2006', at a lunch organized by the Geneva Forum on 9 November 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland.. The book is intended to aid delegates to the Sixth Review Conference of the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and thus contribute to a constructive and successful outcome. The conference will be held 20 November-8 December 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The book contains official documents and other texts relating to the biological weapons regime, including:
• official BWC documents (such as the Final Documents from the previous five Review Conferences);
• documents from the United Nations, other international organisations and regional organisations;
• documents from informal instruments and arrangements; and
• supporting material from various non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

It will also be a useful resource for researchers, non-governmental organisations, journalists and others in civil society with an interest in the biological weapons regime embodied in the BWC. The book can be accessed online from the websites of all three organizations. BASIC, HSP and VERTIC are grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for funding the book.

Press release: VERTIC report gives states new modular tools to strengthen Biological Weapons Convention
Beginning 20 November 2006, over 170 states parties and signatories to the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) will meet in Geneva to review progress in the implementation of the treaty. This will be the first time they have so gathered since 2002. With heightened public and government awareness of the dangers of terrorist groups, criminal organizations or states developing, acquiring or using biological weapons, the Review Conference provides the international community with an important opportunity to combat such threats and to ensure that the absolute prohibition on the production and use of these weapons is maintained. VERTIC believes that there is significant scope for strengthening the convention through adoption of one or more of the modular mechanisms outlined in ‘Verification Matters no. 6: A new strategy: strengthening the biological weapons regime through modular mechanisms’.

To read VERTIC’s press release outlining these mechanisms, click here.
To read the full report, click here.

Recent project highlights

One existing mechanism, although relatively neglected, already exists under Article V of the BWC and through UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions adopted in the 1980s. More recently, there have been calls for retaining the personnel and expertise of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) in some form within the UN system, especially for use in respect of biological weapons (and missiles).

VERTIC is examining existing and proposed mechanisms for verifying compliance with the BWC. It will consider their political, legal and practical viability and assess how existing mechanisms might be amended, improved or supplemented to increase their viability and relevance. This will include an examination of the likely effectiveness of on-site inspections in cases of alleged illicit production and/or use of biological weapons, including an assessment of the required personnel, equipment and procedures necessary for effective on-site inspections.

As part of its research, VERTIC is holding wide-ranging consultations. It convened a closed workshop in London in May 2004 to bring together participants in past CBW verification exercises and other experts in the field. The workshop considered the following issues, among others:

• Biological Weapons Convention non-compliance scenarios
• verification challenges
• on-site investigations: the Trilateral experience
• on-site investigations: UNSCOM and UNMOVIC
• on-site investigations: trial inspections
• Biological Weapons Convention mechanisms
• UN Secretary-General investigations
• alternative mechanisms for verifying compliance with BW norms

VERTIC will publish a research report on the subject in its Verification Matters series for release later in 2004.

While participation in the workshop was by invitation only, we invite anyone with an interest in the issues raised by the project to contact us.

VERTIC's Statement to the Meeting of Experts to the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in Geneva, Switzerland on 23 July 2004 highlighted the need to enhance international capabilities for investigating cases of alleged use of biological and toxin weapons or suspicious outbreaks of disease.

For further information contact:
Angela Woodward,
Deputy Director and Arms Control and Disarmament Researcher (Chemical and Biological)

The above publications are available in portable document format (PDF) and require the installation of Adobe Reader 4.0 or higher. To download a free copy of the software visit the Adobe website.