Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

Archive Materials

For more recent coverage in Disarmament Diplomacy, go back to the main page on the BWC.

Coverage in Disarmament Diplomacy

• Security Council Resolution 1540: WMD and Non-state Trafficking, by Merav Datan, Disarmament Diplomacy, Issue No. 79, April/May 2005
• Strengthening the BWC: A Way Forward, by Jonathan B. Tucker, Disarmament Diplomacy, Issue No. 78, July/August 2004
• The Challenge of Biological Weapons: Proposals for Greater EU Effectiveness, by Ulla Jasper, Disarmament Diplomacy, Issue No. 78, July/August 2004
• Enforcing WMD Treaties: Consolidating a UN Role, by Barbara Hatch Rosenberg, Disarmament Diplomacy, Issue No. 75, January/February 2004
• Building on the Experience: Lessons from UNSCOM and UNMOVIC, by Terrence Taylor, January/February 2004
• BWC Meeting Adopts Minimal Report, In the News, December 2003
• Substance Hidden Under A Mountain Of Paper: The BWC Experts' Meeting In 2003, by Jez Littlewood, Disarmament Diplomacy, Issue No.73, October - November 2003
• Biological Disarmament Diplomacy in The Doldrums: Reflections After The BWC Fifth Review Conference, by Nicholas A. Sims, Disarmament Diplomacy, Issue No.70, April - May 2003
• BWC Special Paper No. 1, January 2003: Defending Against Biodefence: The Need for Limits, By Barbara Hatch Rosenberg
  Appendix: Draft Recommendations for A Code of Conduct for Biodefence Programmes
• Waiting for Godot or Saving The Show? The BWC Review Conference Reaches Modest Agreement, by Marie Isabelle Chevrier, Disarmament Diplomacy, No. 68, December - January 2003
• Preventing Terrorist Access to Dangerous Pathogens: The Need for International Biosecurity Standards, By Jonathan B. Tucker, Disarmament Diplomacy No.66, September 2002
• Australia Group Adopts New CBW Export Control Guidelines, News Review, Disarmament Diplomacy No.66, September 2002

BWC Statements and Documents

• 2005 Meeting of States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention, December 5 - 9, 2005
• Biological Weapons Convention Expert Meeting, June 13 - 24, 2005
• 2004 Meeting of States parties to the Biological Weapons Convention, December 10, 2004
• Biological Weapons Convention Experts meeting, 19-30 July, 2004
• Biannual CIA Report on WMD Proliferation, January 7
• Challenging 'the Very Existence of WMD': Speech by Jayantha Dhanapala, December 3
• US Reportedly Seeks Shutdown of BWC Debate
• Red Cross Launches Biotechnology Appeal
• John Bolton Speech on BWC & Roundtable on Arms Control, Tokyo, August 26/27
  • I. Speech on BWC, August 27
  • II. Roundtable on Arms Control, August 26
• Australia Group Agrees New CBW Export Control Measures, June 6
• Synthetic Virus Raises BW Concerns
• US Fact Sheet on BWC, May 22
• UK Green Paper on BWC, April 2

Biological Weapons Convention Review Conference, November 19 - December 7, 2001

• Left in Limbo: Review Conference Suspended On Edge of Collapse
  by Jenni Rissanen, Disarmament Diplomacy, January - February 2002
• Appendix: Draft Final Declaration

BWC Review Conference Bulletins

• BWC Review Conference Bulletin, December 9, 2001: Anger After The Ambush: Review Conference Suspended After US Asks for AHG's Termination, by Jenni Rissanen
• BWC Review Conference Stop Press, December 7, 2001: US forces BWC Conference to be Suspended without Agreement
• BWC Review Conference Bulletin, December 6, 2001: Endgame in Earnest: First Draft of Final Declaration Issued on Penultimate Day , by Jenni Rissanen
• BWC Review Conference Bulletin, December 5, 2001: Steady Progress Clears Way for Debate of Crucial Issues as Conference Enters Final Phase, by Jenni Rissanen
• BWC Review Conference Bulletin, November 30, 2001: Differences and Difficulties as Delegates Consider Wide Range of Proposals, by Jenni Rissanen
• BWC Review Conference Bulletin, November 26, 2001: Calm After the Storm: General Debate Concludes as The Hard Work Begins , by Jenni Rissanen
• BWC Review Conference Bulletin, November 23, 2001: NGO's share their Hopes, Fears and Proposals with Conference, by Jenni Rissanen
• BWC Review Conference Bulletin, November 19, 2001: Acrimonious Opening for BWC Review Conference, by Jenni Rissanen
• November 19: US Statement to the BWC Review Conference and Press Conference
• November 1, 2001: President Bush speech

BWC Update: Disarmament Diplomacy

• July - August 2001: A Turning Point to Nowhere?, by Jenni Rissanen
• May 2001: US Jeopardises BWC Protocol, by Jenni Rissanen
• April 2001: Hurdles Cleared, Obstacles Remaining: the Ad Hoc Group Prepares for the Final Challenge, by Jenni Rissanen
• March 2001: Chair Releases His "Composite Text" for Verification Protocol, by Jenni Rissanen
• February 2001: Pressure Mounts at Protocol Negotiations, by Jenni Rissanen
• July 2000: Protocol Ad Hoc Group Enters Deeper into Consultations, by Jenni Rissanen
• April 2000: Protocol Negotiations Continue Through 25th Anniversary of Convention's Entry into Force, by Jenni Rissanen
• January - February 2000: The BWC Protocol Negotiations 18th Session: Removing Brackets, by Jenni Rissanen

BWC Protocol Bulletins and Developments

• November 1, 2001: President Bush speech
• November 1, 2001: Preparations for Review Conference Intensify, US Lobbies Its Proposals
• October 25, 2001: Regrets and Uncertainty Over Protocol at First Committee
• October 15, 2001: United States' Position on Protocol Unmoved
• August 20, 2001: AHG Stumbles on Its Report - More Struggles Predicted
• August 15, 2001: AHG Debates Mandate
• August 10, 2001: Uncertain Future as AHG Drafts Report
• August 7, 2001: BWC AHG Struggles For A Way Forward - Difficult Report Writing Ahead
• August 3, 2001: Deep Disappointment But Restrained Reactions to US Decision
• July 25, 2001: United States Rejects Protocol
• May 7, 2001: "Middle-Mass" Grows as AHG Continues to Examine the Text
• April 23, 2001: Chair's "Composite Text" Receives Mixed Reaction
• April 2, 2001: Chair's "Composite Text" for BWC Protocol Out
• February 12, 2001: BWC AHG Faced With a Major Challenge

Useful Information and Links

• UN Department of Disarmament Affairs, for text of the BWC, relevant UN General Assembly resolutions, and official documentation from the previous Review Conference in December 1996
• Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, for extensive background information and research on Biological Weapons

Back to the Top of the Page

© 2007 The Acronym Institute.