Summit to discuss how to strengthen biological weapons convention – UN

The first of three annual meetings to discuss the Biological Weapons Convention begins today at the United Nations office in Geneva as part of a plan to strengthen the treaty’s effectiveness.

The States Parties to the Convention – 151 countries have ratified the treaty, which entered into force in 1975 – are expected to discuss issues raised during a meeting of international experts on the Convention in August.

This week’s summit will examine the adoption of domestic measures, such as penal laws, to implement the prohibitions outlined in the Convention, and national mechanisms to ensure the security of pathogenic microorganisms and toxins.

Next year’s meeting is scheduled to examine how to enhance international capabilities for investigating cases of alleged use of biological weapons (and suspicious outbreaks of disease). The meeting in 2005 is expected to discuss codes of conducts for scientists around the world.

The Convention proscribes Member States from developing, otherwise acquiring or retaining biological or toxin weapons. Its formal title is the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction.