The Summer 2024 edition of T&V opens with a lead article assessing the progress of the Working Group on the Strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention one year on from its establishment. The rest of the edition covers issues ranging from cooperative overhead monitoring in disputed territories to the indictment of a Yakuza leader for alleged smuggling of nuclear materials.
One year into the newly established Working Group on the Strengthening of the BWC: Assessing progress
The lead article, written by Ms. Daihan Cheng (former Geneva Branch intern at the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs), looks at the progress of the Working Group on the Strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention one year on from its establishment. The author examines the activities undertaken by the Working Group during its first three sessions in 2023 and concludes with an assessment thereof.
Verification Watch
Verification Watch opens with an article by Senior Researcher Hugh Chalmers explaining why the IAEA will no longer draw safeguards conclusions for some states that haven’t modernised their safeguards agreements, and what that might mean for those states. Co-Programme Directors for Verification and Monitoring Grant Christopher and Alberto Muti then consider whether an Open-Skies-like formulation can be applied to territorial disputes to help support a peaceful resolution or reduce tensions. Senior Researcher Hugh Chalmers also examines controlled discharges of diluted tritium-contaminated ALPS-treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean. Researcher Hailey Wingo follows with an assessment of the allegations of the use of riot control agents in Ukraine. Finally, Senior Researcher Noel Stott closes this section with a discussion on the increased momentum behind the idea of establishing an UN-led Group of Scientific and Technical Experts on nuclear disarmament verification.
Implementation Watch
In Implementation Watch, Senior Legal Officer Thomas Brown opens with an article discussing developments in the United States in relation to national measures to address the CBRN risks from artificial intelligence technologies. Associate Legal Officer Alix Renaudin continues with the analysis of a case in the United States where a leader of the Yakuza, the transnational Japanese criminal network, was indicted for the alleged smuggling of nuclear materials, including weaponizable plutonium. Legal Officer Eliza Walsh concludes this section with an article on amendments to the International Health Regulations and the building momentum to enhance the national implementation thereof.
Compliance Watch
In Compliance Watch, Researcher Roel Walravens contributes an article on the expiration of the UN Security Council 1718 Committee Panel of Experts, examining implications for maritime sanctions monitoring, implementation and enforcement. Roel also closes this section with an article on the security of submarine fibre optic cables from intentional attack. This article examines the unilateral action undertaken by states to improve the resilience and security of such cables and argues that further confidence-building measures are warranted in this area.
Centre News
Plus, Centre News, outlining the latest updates from across the programmes.
