Disarmament in Review
Article I of the Biological Weapons Convention bans the development, production, stockpiling, acquisition or retention of all naturally or artificially created or altered microbial and other biological agents and toxins, as well as their components, regardless of their origin and method of production and whether they affect humans, animals or plants, of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes
Background
Biological science and technology have advanced exponentially since the signing of the Convention in 1972. States Parties have recognized the importance of staying informed about relevant advances in science and technology to safeguard against potential breaches of the Convention and to take stock of potential benefits, for example, improvements to vaccines and the diagnosis of diseases. The inherent dual-use nature of technologies surrounding the BWC underlines the importance of considering relevant developments in science and technology.
Underlining the keen interest of the international community to keep abreast of the latest developments in science and technology of relevance to international security and disarmament and to channel scientific and technological developments for beneficial purposes, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on this issue for the first time since 2006 at its seventy-second session in 2017. In resolution 72/28, adopted without a vote, the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to submit a report on current developments in science and technology and their potential impact on international security and disarmament matters to the Assembly at it seventy-third session.
The pace of developments in science and technology relevant to international security and disarmament has continued to accelerate, and reports have been requested in each subsequent year. The latest report can be found here. Efforts to strengthen the BWC by integrating scientific insights into policy discussions will be undertaken.
Article XII: Five years after the entry into force of this Convention, or earlier if it is requested by a majority of Parties to the Convention by submitting a proposal to this effect to the Depositary Governments, a conference of States Parties to the Convention shall be held at Geneva, Switzerland, to review the operation of the Convention, with a view to assuring that the purposes of the preamble and the provisions of the Convention, including the provisions concerning negotiations on chemical weapons, are being realised. Such review shall take into account any new scientific and technological developments relevant to the Convention.
