Papers, Presentations and Other Resources produced by the ISU
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.
Presentations
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
On 6 January 2011, a member of the ISU briefed visiting members of risk management foundation Det Norske Veritas on the “Biological Weapons Convention and Biorisk Management”.
From 24–27 January 2011, the ISU participated in a regional workshop titled
The Biological Weapons Convention: Current Themes in Amman, Jordan. The workshop covered areas for collaboration amongst different stakeholders, response to disease events, and issues related to the Seventh BWC Review Conference, with particular emphasis on CBMs. The ISU gave presentations on the BWC, CBM forms, and how transparency can be improved through CBM compliance.
From 3–5 February 2011, the ISU participated in a workshop on
Synthetic Biology and its Dual Use in Islamabad, Pakistan. The ISU delivered a presentation on “Safe, Secure and Solely Beneficial Synthetic Biology”, and also briefed workshop participants on International Genetically Engineered Machines Competition.
On 8 February 2011, the ISU participated in the Geneva Forum event
Working on Disarmament and Arms Control in Geneva: An Orientation for Diplomats. The ISU gave a presentation on biological and toxin weapons.
From 15–17 February 2011, the ISU attended the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA) conference
Global Biosafety and Biosecurity – Taking Action in Bangkok, Thailand. A member of the ISU gave a presentation on “Biosafety, Biosecurity & the Biological Weapons Convention”.
On 21 February 2011, the ISU took part in the Geneva Forum briefing on the Conference on Disarmament and civil society. The ISU gave a presentation on “Weaving the web of prevention: Civil society and the Biological Weapons Convention”.
From 21–25 February 2011, the ISU attended the INTERPOL
Joint Train-the-Trainer Session for Law Enforcement, Customs and Public Health Officials for the Prevention of Bioterrorism, hosted by the Turkish National Police in Antalya, Turkey.
From 21–22 February 2011, the ISU took part in the
13th CSCAP Study Group on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Asia Pacific in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The ISU delivered presentations on science and technology developments, global health security and their relationship to the Convention.
From 23–25 February 2011, the ISU attended the
Third ASEAN Regional Forum Intersessional Meeting on Nonproliferation and Disarmament in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The ISU delivered a message on behalf of President-designate and briefed participants on the Seventh Review Conference.
From 5–6 March 2011, the ISU attended the workshop
Addressing Future Challenges to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention in Connection with Scientific and Technological Developments in Stockholm, Sweden. The event was organized by SIPRI with the support of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office. A member of the ISU delivered a statement on behalf of the President-designate.
On 15 March 2011, the ISU took part in a briefing on
The Role of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions in Preventing Acquisition and Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons in Ottawa, Canada. The ISU gave a presentation on preparations for the review conference.
From 16–19 March 2011, the ISU participated in the
2011 International Studies Association Annual Convention on Global Governance: Political Authority in Transition in Montreal, Canada. A member of the ISU presented a paper on “Common Understandings Identified during the 2007 to 2010 Intersessional Process of the Biological Weapons Convention”.
On 4 April 2011 a member of the ISU provided a briefing on the Convention for the International Peace Studies Programme of Trinity College Dublin, in Geneva, Switzerland.
From 8–10 April 2011, the ISU, Norway and Indonesia co-hosted the event
International Workshop on Developing Practical Proposals for the Seventh Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention in Montreux, Switzerland.
On 4 May 2011, the ISU participated in a universalization event in the Palais des Nations co-hosted by the President-designate and the Depositary Governments.
On 11 May 2011, the ISU participated in the UNICRI
Second Round Table Meeting of Centres of Excellence National Focal Points in South East Asia in Bangkok, Thailand. The ISU delivered a presentation on capacity building under the Convention, as well as the activities and role of the ISU.
From 16–17 May 2011, the ISU participated in the
Workshop on International Response and Mitigation of a Terrorist Attack Using Chemical and Biological Weapons or Materials at The Hague, Netherlands, organized by the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Taskforce Working Group on Preventing and Responding to WMD Attacks and hosted by the OPCW. At the workshop, the ISU gave a presentation on “Response and Mitigation: Role of the Biological Weapons Convention and ISU”.
From 9–10 June 2011, the ISU attended the
Seminar on Outlook and Perspectives for the BTWC Seventh Review Conference hosted by the German Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, Germany.
The ISU presented on the possible structure of a future intersessional process for the Convention.
On 14–15 June 2011, the ISU was invited to speak at the 12th
New Issues in Security Course at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy in Geneva, Switzerland. A member of the ISU gave a presentation on “Biological Weapons”.
From 15–17 June, the ISU attended
SB5.0: the Fifth International Meeting on Synthetic Biology in Stanford, California, USA. The ISU was invited to take part in a panel discussion that focused on security perspectives and engagement with the synthetic biology community.
From 16–17 June 2011 the ISU participated in the workshop
Between Control and Cooperation: Dual-use, Technology Transfers and the Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Berlin, Germany. The ISU gave a presentation on facilitating cooperation in the peaceful use of biotechnology.
On 27 June 2011, the ISU attended the
Symposium on Rinderpest Eradication: Achievements and Obligations in Rome, Italy. The ISU delivered a presentation on the post-eradication security risks of Rinderpest.
From 27 June–1 July 2011, the ISU took part in the
Biological Weapons Convention Conference Week for East Asia and the Pacific, held in Makati City, the Philippines. A member of the ISU acted as Vice-Chair, panellist, coordinator and delivered a presentation on the Convention.
On 28 June 2011, a member of the ISU briefed participants at the event
Looking Forwards: Seventh Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention, hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington D.C., USA.
On 29 June 2011 a member of the ISU provided a briefing on the Convention for the University of Freiburg Survey of International Organizations, in Geneva.
From 29–30 June 2011, the ISU participated in the 2011 Biotechnology Industry Organization's
Biosecurity Conference: Advancing Bioscience and Global Security in Washington DC, USA. The event featured over 15,000 attendees from 65 countries, representing industry, academia, and government.
From 6–7 July 2011, the ISU attended the
EU Seminar to Promote Confidence Building and in Support of a Process Aimed at Establishing a Zone Free of WMD and Means of Delivery in the Middle East hosted by the Council of the European Union in Brussels, Belgium.
From 19-20 July 2011, the ISU attended
Biosafety, Biosecurity and Biodefence: International Congress 2011 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The ISU delivered a presentation on the confidence-building measures.
From 20–22 July 2011, the ISU participated in the
RoSBNet Synthetic Biology Workshop in Oxford, United Kingdom. A member of the ISU gave a presentation on “Engineering Safe, Secure & Solely Beneficial Biology”.
From 2–3 August 2011, the ISU attended
Safe and Secure Science: Partners of Today and Tomorrow hosted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Health and Human Services and the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Crystal City, Virginia, USA. The ISU gave a presentation on “Biological Weapons Convention, Synthetic Biology and Global Health Security”.
On 26 August 2011 a member of the ISU provided a briefing on the Convention for the United Nations Disarmament Fellowship Programme, in Geneva.
On 31 August 2011, the ISU delivered a presentation on the Convention at the annual summer training program,
Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in a Changing World, run by the TMC Asser Institute in The Hague, Netherlands.
On 6 September 2011, the ISU participated in the
Rinderprest Re-occurrence Risk Assessment Meeting, hosted by the Royal Veterinary College in London, UK.
On 7 September 2011, the ISU gave an informal briefing to States Parties on the ISU in Geneva.
From 11–13 September 2011, the ISU participated in the workshop
Prospects for the 2011 BWC Review Conference, jointly hosted by the Clingendael Netherlands Institute of International Relations, Wilton Park, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, in The Hague, Netherlands. A member of the ISU acted as facilitator during a workshop session, and presented a summary at the conference wrap-up.
On 15 September 2011 a member of the ISU provided a briefing on the Convention for visiting Egyptian diplomats, in Geneva.
From 15–16 October 2011, the ISU participated in the 2011
International Genetically Engineered Machines Competition Asia Jamboree in Hong Kong. A member of the ISU contributed to efforts to ensure the safety and security of projects and was invited to act as a human practices judge.
From 1–2 November 2011, the ISU took part in the
Regional Workshop for South-East Europe on the Seventh Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention in Belgrade, Serbia. At the workshop, a member of the ISU gave a briefing on the Convention.
On 4 November 2011, a member of the ISU delivered a lecture entitled “Biological Weapons Convention: The Next Generation” at Princeton University in New Jersey, USA.
From 5–7 November, the ISU participated in the 2011
International Genetically Engineered Machines Competition World Championship Jamboree in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. In addition to interacting with teams on safety and security issues, the ISU was asked judge human practices aspects of projects.
From 8–9 November 2011, the ISU, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, and University for Peace, with the support of the Swiss Government, jointly hosted the workshop
Preparing for the Seventh Review Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. The ISU presented on the “Review Conference Rules of Procedure, Organization and Structure”.
From 15–16 November 2011, the ISU participated in the first meeting of the
Temporary Working Group on the Convergence of Chemistry and Biology, hosted by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague, Netherlands.
On 17 November 2011, the ISU participated in the Geneva Forum’s informal consultations on
Towards the 7th Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention. The ISU gave a presentation on “International Cooperation in the BWC: An Assessment”.
2012