From 7-9 November, VERTIC’s NIM Programme hosted an online legislative drafting workshop for the implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) with the State of Palestine. The workshop formed part of the assistance provided through the BWC Extended Assistance Programme (EAP) under EU Council Decision 2019/97 in support of the Biological Weapons Convention, implemented by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and supported by VERTIC ‘s legal expertise.
The event took place online and gathered officials from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Palestinian Civil Defence, Environment Quality Authority and Al Quds University. The objective of the workshop was to work towards the drafting of legislation that implements the BWC in the State of Palestine. After an opening session and introductory presentations on the Convention, its implementing obligations and the State of Palestine’s situation with respect to the BWC, the participants used VERTIC’s Sample Act to draft implementing provisions. An action plan to finalise the text was discussed during the final session.