10 january 2018_final

NAM reaffirms the importance of Biological
Weapons Convention
By Dr. Ankit Srivastava, Editor
The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), the
first multilateral disarmament treaty banning the
development, production and stockpiling of an
“NAM has reiterated the call to promote
international cooperation for peaceful purposes,
including scientific-technical exchange. The
Movement has underlined the importance to
maintain close coordination among the NAM States
Parties to the Convention and highlighted that
the BWC forms a whole and that, although it is
possible to consider certain aspects separately,
it is critical to deal with all of the issues
interrelated to this Convention in a balanced and
comprehensive manner”
entire category of weapons of mass destruction, was
opened for signature on 10 April 1972. The BWC
entered into force on 26 March 1975. As mentioned
in the text of the Convention, the States Parties to
this Convention are determined to act with a view
to achieving effective progress towards general and
complete disarmament, including the prohibition
and elimination of all types of weapons of mass
destruction, and convinced that the prohibition of the
development, production and stockpiling of chemical
and bacteriological (biological) weapons and their
elimination, through effective measures, will facilitate
the achievement of general and complete disarmament
under strict and effective international control.”
BWC relies primarily on a network approach based
on coordination with international, regional, and
nongovernmental organizations and initiatives as
well as other non-proliferation regimes in order
to address the interconnected nature of biological
threats in a holistic manner. Under the framework
of the BWC, improved coordination would provide
positive externalities for managing disease, whatever
the cause. Such an approach ensures that resources
are used optimally to provide benefits for many.
Disarmament has been a key objective of the Non-
Aligned Movement since its inception, The Movement has
taken cognizance of the threats posed by biological and
toxic weapons and thus has reiterated the significance
News From Non -Aligned World
of the BWC. NAM Member States that are party to
BWC have reaffirmed that the possibility of any use of
bacteriological (biological) agents and toxins as weapons
should be completely excluded, and the conviction that
such use would be repugnant to the conscience of
humankind. They recognized the particular importance
of strengthening the Convention through the resumption
of the multilateral negotiations for a legally binding
Protocol dealing with all Articles of the Convention,
in a balanced and comprehensive manner, including
through verification measures bearing in mind that
the lack of such verification regime poses a challenge
to the effectiveness of the Convention, and urged the
party rejecting negotiations to reconsider its policy.
NAM has reiterated the call to promote international
cooperation for peaceful purposes, including scientifictechnical
exchange. The Movement has underlined the
importance to maintain close coordination among the
NAM States Parties to the Convention and highlighted
that the BWC forms a whole and that, although it is
possible to consider certain aspects separately, it is
critical to deal with all of the issues interrelated to this
Convention in a balanced and comprehensive manner.
NAM Member States have been active participants in
the Review Conferences on BWC. At the 17th NAM
Summit held in Venezuela in 2016, NAM highlighted
the key role of its Member States in the the adoption of
the important decisions related to the implementation
of Article X of the BWC, especially by emphasizing
the need for enhancing international cooperation,
assistance and exchanges in toxins, biological agents
equipment and technology for peaceful purposes,
bearing in mind the Action Plan on the implementation
of Article X submitted by the NAM States Parties at
the Sixth Review Conference, and the additional NAM
States Parties proposal on a mechanism for the full,
implementation of Article X of the Convention presented
more recently. NAM has further encouraged the BWC
States Parties to implement the Article X, as set forth in
paragraphs 50-61 of the Final Document of the Seventh
BTWC Review Conference. NAM has also welcomed
the outcome of the Seventh Review Conference and
in particular its decision to include cooperation and
assistance as one of the Standing Agenda Items, with
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January, 2018