In accordance with its mandate, and in line with its efforts to assist the Chair of BWC meetings, the ISU has presented information on the Convention, its history and Review Conferences, the activities and efforts of States Parties, the current intersessional programme, and universalization activities.

UN-ODA Disarmament Yearbook

The ISU provides the substantive input on the BWC for the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs Disarmament yearbook.

• 2012 Yearbook Chapter on Biological and Chemical Weapons (to cover 2011)
• 2011 Yearbook Chapter on Biological and Chemical Weapons (to cover 2010)
• 2010 Yearbook Chapter on Biological and Chemical Weapons (to cover 2009)
• 2009 Yearbook Chapter on Biological and Chemical Weapons (to cover 2008)
• 2008 Yearbook Chapter on Biological and Chemical Weapons (to cover 2007)
• 2007 Yearbook Chapter on Biological and Chemical Weapons (to cover 2006)

Presentations

2007
2008
2009
2010

• From 2-4 February 2010, the ISU participated in the Africa Regional Workshop for Biosafety and Biosecurity, in Nairobi, Kenya. The ISU gave a presentation entitled: BWC, an integrated approach

• The ISU participated in the event: The Invisible Enemy – What Would Clausewitz say about Biosecurity, in Mainz, Germany on 6 February 2010. The ISU gave a presentation on The Biological Weapons Convention: Banning the Hostile Use of Biology.

• From 15-17 February 2010 the ISU took part in the workshop Biosafety & Biosecurity: Implementing the Recommendations relevant to the BWC in Kiev, Ukraine. The ISU gave a presentation on The Biological Weapons Convention: Building a Community to Secure Biology

• From 14-18 February 2010, the ISU participated in the SECOND SOUTH ASIAN REGIONAL IHL CONFERENCE, from law to action - IHL implementing legislation, which took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The ISU gave a presentation on the BWC.

• From 18-19 March 2010, The ISU took part in a workshop entitled "Beyond Entry-into-Force of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba): Establishing the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE): an Experts Workshop". The ISU was invited to make a presentation on the Unit, how it operates, its mandate and functions in order for participants to draw lessons that may be appropriate to AFCONE.

• A member of the ISU delivered a presentation on Why Secure Synthetic Biology at the Synthetic Biology Workshop: From Science to Governance. The event was hosted by the European Commission Directorate for Health in Brussels, Belgium and took place from 18-19 March.

• A member of the ISU delivered a keynote address to the event Synthetic Biology and Nanobiotechnology Risk and Response Assessment: Risks. The meeting was hosted by UNICRI in Turin, Italy from 24-25 March.

• From 8-9 April 2010, the ISU participated in "The Global Challenge of Biocontrols" organized by UNIDIR and the University of Bath (UK) in Geneva, Switzerland. A member of the Unit gave a presentation on The Biological Weapons Convention and Biological Controls.

• From 13-14 April 2010, the ISU participated in the"Second Meeting of the Joint FAO/OIE Committee on Global Rinderpest Eradication", in Paris, France. A member of the Unit gave a presentation on The Biological Weapons Convention and the Sequestration of Agents.

• On 20 April 2010, the ISU briefed a delegation from the United Arab Emirates on issues pertaining to the Convention. Members of the Unit gave presentations on The Biological Weapons Convention and Export and Import Controls.

• From 26-27 April 2010, the ISU participated in "Options and Proposals to Strengthen the Confidence Building Measures Mechanism of the Biological Weapons Convention" in Berlin, Germany. The event was organized by the Geneva Forum with the Support of the governments of Germany, Norway and Switzerland.

• From 20-21 May 2010, the ISU participated in a strategy workshop for the Environmental Security and Sustainability Program of Green Cross in Geneva, Switzerland. A member of the Unit gave a presentation on The Biological Weapons Convention and International Biopreparedness.

• From 27-28 May 2010, the ISU participated in "Advancing Biosafety Technology and National Legislation in the Asia-Pacific" held by the Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association in Seoul, Republic of Korea. A member of the Unit gave a presentation on The Biological Weapons Convention: From International Obligations to Effective National Action.

• From 31 May - 1 June 2010, the ISU observed "CEN Workshop 55 on Guidance on CWA 15793:2008 (Biorisk Management)" in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

• From 28-29 June 2010, the ISU co-hosted "Synthetic Biology and Nanobiotechnology Risk and Response Assessment: Responses in Geneva, Switzerland. A member of the Unit gave a presentation on Pax Biologica: Building an international regime to ensure biology remains used safely, securely and solely for our benefit.

• From 15-16 July 2010, the ISU participated in "Dual-use education for life scientists: mapping the current global landscape and developments" in Bradford, UK. The event was co-organized by the UK Economic and Social Research Council, the Bradford Disarmament Research Centre, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and the Global Security Research Institute of Keio University, Japan. A member of the Unit gave a presentation on Bio-Enlightenment: Possibilities for the Development of Education Strategies by BWC States Parties at the Seventh Review Conference.

• On 22 July 2010, the ISU participated in the FBI-DIYBio Workshop in Washington D.C., USA. A member of the Unit made a series of remarks on international perspectives.

• On 23 July 2010, the ISU participated in a seminar "Revving up for the 2011 BTWC Five Year Review Conference" hosted by Global Green, USA in Washington D.C., USA. A member of the Unit made a series of remarks on past, present and future of the Convention.

• From 15-20 Aug 2010, the ISU participated in the 74th Biennial Conference of the International Law Association in The Hague, Netherlands. The ISU gave a presentation on the Biological Weapons Convention and possible future developments.

• On 20 August 2010, the ISU co-hosted with the United States a meeting on the Implementation of the International Health Regulations in Geneva Switzerland. The meeting brought the various BWC Point of Contacts from around the world to share insights in implementation of the International Health regulation

• On 25 August 2010, on the margins of the 2010 BWC Meeting of Experts, the ISU co-hosted with the Geneva Forum a workshop focusing on the challenges raised by the developments in synthetic biology.

• From 30 August to 3 September 2010, the ISU gave a series of presentations in the summer school Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in a Changing World run by the TMC Asser Institute in The Hague, Netherlands.

• On 30 August, a member of the ISU briefed the United Nations 2010 Disarmament Fellows on the Biological Weapons Convention.

• Between 31 August 2010 and 1 September 2010, the ISU participated in the FBI-hosted Synthetic Biology II Workshop: Building Bridges around Biotech in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The ISU participated in a panel discussion focusing on international perspectives in synthetic biology and nanobiology as well as a member of the unit presenting on Building an international regime to ensure biology remains used safely, securely and solely for our benefit.

• From 24-26 September 2010, the ISU participated in the Wilton Park event Prospects for the 2011 Review Conference of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.

• From 11-15 October, the ISU observed the Third OPCW Exercise on the Delivery of Assistance (ASSISTEX III) held in Tunis, Tunisia. The ISU gave a presentation on the Biological Weapons Convention and the UN Secretary-General's Investigation Mechanism.

• On 13 October 2010, the ISU participated in The Global Rinderpest Eradication Symposium: Lessons Learned from the Eradication of Rinderpest for controlling other transboundary animal disease hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, Italy. The ISU was invited to speak on the security implications of Rinderpest eradication and on future prospects of international cooperation between animal health efforts and the BWC.

• On 15 October 2010, the ISU participated in the Annual International Symposium on Biosecurity and Biosafety: Future trends and Solutions, in Milan, Italy. The ISU gave a presentation on Why the BWC Needs You.

• On 19-21 October 2010, the ISU participated in the Trilateral Forum: Outbreak Response & Bioterrorism Investigation in Chisinau, Moldova. The ISU gave a presentation on the Biological Weapons Convention and the UN Secretary-General’s Investigation Mechanism.

• From 25-27 October 2010, the ISU participated in the Regional Workshop on the National Implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention for West and Central Africa, held in Abuja, Nigeria, co-hosted by Nigeria and the European Union Joint Action in support of the BWC.

• On 28 October 2010, the ISU participated in an event Qatar’s Commitment toward implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention hosted by Qatar in Doha. The ISU gave a presentation on The Biological Weapons Convention: From International Obligations to Effective National Action.

• From 31 October – 3 November 2010, the ISU participated in Trends in Science and Technology Relevant to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention hosted by the InterAcademy Panel on International Issues, the International Union of Microbiological Societies, the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the US National Academies of Science and the Chinese Academies of Science, in Beijing, China. The ISU gave a presentation on the Biological Weapons Convention.

• From 4-6 November 2010, the ISU co-hosted with China and Canada an international workshop on Strengthening International Efforts to Prevent the Proliferation of Biological Weapons: The Role of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention in Beijing, China. The ISU gave a presentation on the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Existing Mechanisms: The BWC and its Evolving Role.

• From 5-8 November 2010, the ISU participated in the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM). The ISU co-hosted a workshop on biosecurity and contributed to the judging of the human practices aspects of projects.

• The ISU sent a video message to the IWG-LNCV workshop Global Networking to Promote Biosecurity and Limit Dual Use Risks held in Como, Italy, from 12-13 November 2010.

• The ISU provided a written contribution on its usage of social media for a workshop on web information strategies held at the OPCW in The Hague, Netherlands, on 15 November 2010.

• From 15-16 November 2010, the ISU participated in a workshop on Securing Dual Use Expertise: Developing Sustainable Global Engagement and Outreach Programmes in Como, Italy. The ISU presented on The BWC: From International to Individual.

• From 16-18 November 2010, the ISU took part in INTERPOL’s “Bioshield Global TTX” simulation exercise held in Utrecht, Netherlands

• On 22 November, the ISU participated in the conference Improving Global Health, Strengthening Global Security, hosted by the Center of Biosecurity of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Washington DC, USA. The ISU participated in a panel discussing the BWC and its relation to global health security.

• From 24-26 November, the ISU participated in the Workshop on Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism and Maritime Terrorism, held by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Barbados. The ISU gave a presentation on the Biological Weapons Convention.

• From 4-5 December, members of the ISU attended the 31st Workshop of the Pugwash Study Group in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting addressed the Implementation of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions: Getting Ready for the Seventh BWC Review Conference in 2011.

• On 7 December, on the margins of the 2010 BWC Meeting of States Parties, the ISU hosted a workshop focusing on the security implications of developments in synthetic biology.

• From 15-16 December, the ISU participated in a Workshop on the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540, jointly hosted by Austria and UNODA, in Vienna, Austria.

2011
2012