From 8 to 11 January 2019, Senior Legal Officer Yasemin Balci and Legal Officer Cédric Apercé participated in an Awareness-raising Workshop on the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) (8-9 January) followed by a Legislative Drafting and Review Workshop for the Implementation of the BWC (9-11 January) in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Convened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), the workshops built on efforts made by Nepal to bolster the international ban on biological weapons and the safe and secure use of biology in the country.
Participants from various ministries and agencies discussed advances made by Nepal since the ratification of the BWC on 4 November 2016, as well as the next steps necessary for its comprehensive implementation in Nepalese legislation. A smaller group of technical experts focused on the drafting of an implementing bill with VERTIC’s facilitation.
The activity 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 legal advice. For more information about the NIM programme, click here.
