Biological Weapons Convention Workshop

Participants were briefed on a ‘BWC implementation toolbox’, which is a regional work-in-progress covering legislative drafting elements, model laws and institutional or workplace codes of conduct to assist States Parties in fulfilling their obligations with respect to national implementation of the Convention.

Discussions covered measures for enhancing security of pathogenic micro-organisms and toxins; the roles played by various domestic agencies and the broader scientific community in supporting measures for bio-security; and efforts to promote awareness among the scientific community of the risks of inadvertent support for the hostile use of biological weapons.

Participants underscored the importance of fostering further the cooperation between States Parties to the BWC with differing legal and constitutional systems. In this connection, participants called upon States Parties who were in a position to do so, to positively respond to any request from other States Parties in the region for technical assistance, including in the area of framing and / or expanding their own legislation and control mechanisms in the areas of national implementation and bio-security.

Participants exchanged views on national mechanisms to establish and maintain the security and oversight of pathogenic micro-organisms and toxins, including the means to identify facilities that are subjected to enhanced security measures. They acknowledged that development of comprehensive and concrete measures to ensure bio-security requires a complex integration and regulatory or policy consideration, and the need for centralized action at the national level. In this regard, participants underscored the role of various domestic agencies and international organisations in supporting measures related to bio-security. Participants also underlined the necessity of establishing a national authority to coordinate various domestic agencies, and to act as a focal point for effective implementation of the BWC at the national level and as a liaison with other States Parties.

Participants also noted the importance of strengthening and broadening national and international institutional efforts and existing mechanisms for the surveillance, detection, diagnosis and combating of infectious diseases affecting humans, animals, and plants.

In the final session, the participants agreed that DSTO/APCML would further develop the 'implementation toolbox' that it has been preparing, based on the contributions and discussions during this Workshop, to include:

* A checklist of legislation subject matter and 'drafting elements' to cover legislative requirements;

* Guidelines to assist in the identification of facilities which should be subject to enhanced security measures, as well as the types of measures necessary; and

* Guidelines on outreach to relevant scientific communities, including draft codes of conduct for scientists working in the biological sciences and biotechnology - based on the 'layer of codes' approach presented by Australia at the 2005 BWC meeting in Geneva.

It was also suggested that a joint regional statement should be prepared for the Sixth BWC Review Conference (to be held in Geneva in November 2006), expressing the importance that our regional States Parties place on strengthening the BWC, including the benefits of conducting BWC regional workshops.

This Second Workshop was regarded as very successful, notable for the fact that extensive discussions and exchange of views continued well beyond the formal sessions. Participants received a copy of the proceedings of the First (2005) BWC Regional Workshop - this publication was highly commended by participants. There was general agreement that 'our region has come a long way' with the various BWC implementation activities since the commencement of the BWC regional process in February 2005.

The participants expressed their appreciation to the Governments of the Republic of Indonesia and Australia for their initiative and major efforts in co-hosting the Workshop. Special appreciation and gratitude were also addressed to the Government of the Republic of Indonesia for the hospitality rendered.

Contact details:

University Node Cathy Hutton Administrator Asia-Pacific Centre for Military Law Law School The University of Melbourne VIC 3010 AUSTRALIA Tel: + 61 3 8344 4775 Fax: + 61 3 8344 0054 Email: law-apcml@unimelb.edu.au

Military Node Amy Hoskin Training Administrator Asia-Pacific Centre for Military Law Building 100 Randwick Barracks Avoca Street RANDWICK NSW 2031 AUSTRALIA Tel: + 61 2 9349 0115 Fax: +61 2 9349 0757 Email: mlc.admin@defence.gov.au