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)

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.

home | about us | programmes | expertise | what's new? | publications | datasets | employment | links