VERTIC participates in BWC legislative drafting workshop in Côte d’Ivoire
Senior Legal Officer Sonia Drobysz and Legal Officer Cédric Apercé participated in a legislative drafting workshop for the implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on 7 and 8 November.
The workshop formed part of the assistance provided under Project 3 of the EU Council Decision 2016/51 in support of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), implemented by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)/ BWC Implementation Support Unit and supported by VERTIC ‘s expert legal advice.
The event took place at the national Commission for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and gathered officials from the Ministry of Defence, Prime Minister’s Office, National Security Council, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Further to Côte d’Ivoire’s ratification of the BWC in 2016, the objective of the workshop was to complete a draft law as well as a draft regulation for the implementation of the BWC in the country. After a formal opening session and introductory presentations on the Convention, its implementing obligations and Côte d’Ivoire’s situation with respect to the BWC, the participants thoroughly reviewed the draft texts, discussing technical and legal aspects. An action plan to finalise the texts towards their adoption was developed during the final session.