DYB2011-Part-II-web

C h a p t e r I I
Biological and chemical weapons
The Biological Weapons Convention is a critical instrument. It helps to ensure
that science and technology can be developed safely and securely. This Review
Conference is a chance to respond to emerging risks. Cooperation can be
boosted and the nightmare of biological warfare avoided.
Developments and trends, 2011
Ban Ki-moon, United nations secretary-General 1
In accordance with the decision taken by the 2010 Meeting of States Parties,
the Seventh Review Conference of the States Parties to the Biological
Weapons Convention was held in Geneva from 5 to 22 December. The
Preparatory Committee for the Conference met in Geneva in April. At the
Review Conference, States parties conducted a comprehensive overview of
the Convention and succeeded in adopting a Final Document by consensus.
They agreed on an intersessional work programme for the period until the
next Review Conference, i.e. from 2012 to 2015, which included “standing
agenda items” on the key issues of cooperation and assistance, science and
technology, and national implementation. The States parties also agreed on
revisions to the forms for reporting confidence-building measures, to establish
a sponsorship programme, and to create a database to facilitate assistance
and cooperation to be administered by the Implementation Support Unit. An
important decision was the renewal of the mandate of the Unit through 2016 to
ensure continued assistance to States parties in implementing the Convention.
In 2011, progress continued to be made in all areas of the implementation
of the Chemical Weapons Convention. At the Sixteenth Session of the
Conference of States Parties, delegations agreed on a constructive and
forward-looking decision regarding the matter of the deadline for destruction
of chemical weapons. The decision enabled the Russian Federation and the
United States to continue and complete their respective destruction activities
in the shortest time possible with enhanced reporting requirements.
The Advisory Panel on Future Priorities of the Organisation for the
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), established by the Director-
General and composed of distinguished experts in the field, produced a widely
1 Secretary-General’s video message to the Seventh Review Conference of the States Parties
to the Biological Weapons Convention, Geneva, 5 December 2011. Available from
http://www.un.org/disarmament/content/news/bwc_2011/sg_video/ (accessed 12 April 2012).
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