Overview

Following consultations with BWC States Parties and a silence procedure, the Meetings of Experts are postponed to 30 August to 8 September 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further information about the modalities and practical arrangements for the MXs can be found below:

The Meetings of Experts will take place in Room XIX of the Palais des Nations. All those planning to attend the Meetings of Experts in person must register online at https://indico.un.org/event/20209/

Letter from the Chairperson of the Meeting of States Parties, dated 15 July 2021

ISU letter including Aide-Mémoire, dated 16 July 2021

Rules of Procedure

BWC/CONF.VIII/2 - Draft Rules of Procedures adopted at the Eighth Review Conference
(available in all six official UN languages)

Background

In December 2017, the BWC Meeting of States Parties agreed on an intersessional programme from 2018 to 2020 consisting of annual Meetings of States Parties and Meetings of Experts. The MSP agreed that the Meetings of Experts would be open-ended and will consider the following topics:

  • MX1 - Cooperation and Assistance, with a Particular Focus on Strengthening Cooperation and Assistance under Article X
  • MX2 - Review of Developments in the Field of Science and Technology Related to the Convention
  • MX3 - Strengthening National Implementation
  • MX4 - Assistance, Response and Preparedness
  • MX5 - Institutional Strengthening of the Convention

The 2017 Meeting of States Parties agreed that:

  • the purpose of the intersessional programme is to discuss, and promote common understanding and effective action on those issues identified for inclusion in the intersessional programme. The work in the intersessional period will be guided by the aim of strengthening the implementation of all articles of the Convention in order to better respond to current challenges.
  • The Meetings of Experts for eight days will be held back to back and at least three months before the annual Meetings of States Parties. All meetings will be subject mutatis mutandis to the rules of procedure of the Eighth Review Conference. The Meetings of Experts are open-ended and all meetings will reach any conclusions or results by consensus.
  • Each Meeting of Experts will prepare for the consideration of the annual Meeting of States Parties a factual report reflecting its deliberations, including possible outcomes.
  • The Ninth Review Conference will consider the work and outcomes it receives from the Meetings of States Parties and the Meetings of Experts and decide by consensus on any inputs from the intersessional programme and on any further action.

Segments

MX1 – Cooperation and Assistance, with a Particular Focus on Strengthening Cooperation and Assistance under Article X

The Meeting of Experts on Cooperation and Assistance, with a Particular Focus on Strengthening Cooperation and Assistance under Article X will take place from 30 to 31 August 2021, at the Palais des Nations, in Room XIX.

  • MX1 will be chaired by Mr. Kimmo Laukkanen of Finland and will consider the following topics:
    • Consideration of the reports of the States Parties on their full and comprehensive implementation of all provisions of Article X;
    • Review of the report by the ISU on the operation of the assistance and cooperation database established by the Seventh Review Conference and renewed by the Eighth Review Conference and consideration of its further operationalization, including measures to further strengthen the operation of the database, including in the light of BWC/MSP/2017/4;
    • Identification of challenges and obstacles to developing international cooperation, assistance and exchange in the biological sciences and technology, including equipment and material, for peaceful purposes to their full potential, and possible ways and means of overcoming these;
    • Development of guidelines and procedures for mobilizing resources, including financial resources on a voluntary basis to address gaps and needs;
    • Facilitation of education, training, exchange and twinning programs and other means of developing human resources in biological sciences and technology related to implementation of the Convention, particularly in developing countries;
    • Promotion of capacity building, through international cooperation, in biosafety and biosecurity and for detecting, reporting and responding to outbreaks of infectious disease or biological weapons attacks, including in the areas of preparedness, response, and crisis management and mitigation;
    • Collaboration with international organizations and networks related to combating infectious diseases at all levels, as well as regional and sub-regional cooperation to promote implementation of all articles of the Convention.

Click here for the annotated programme of work for the Meeting of Experts

MX1 30 August 2021 AM Session Recording and automatically generated transcripts

MX1 30 August 2021 PM Session Recording and automatically generated transcripts

MX1 31 August 2021 AM Session Recording and automatically generated transcripts

MX1 31 August 2021 PM Session Recording and automatically generated transcripts

MX2 – Review of Developments in the Field of Science and Technology Related to the Convention

The Meeting of Experts on Review of Developments in the Field of Science and Technology Related to the Convention will take place from 1 to 2 September 2021, at the Palais des Nations, in Room XIX.

  • MX2 will be chaired by Mr. Kazuhiro Nakai of Japan and will consider the following topics:
    • Review of science and technology developments relevant to the Convention, including for the enhanced implementation of all articles of the Convention as well as the identification of potential benefits and risks of new science and technology developments relevant to the Convention, with a particular attention to positive implications;
    • Biological risk assessment and management;
    • Development of a voluntary model code of conduct for biological scientists and all relevant personnel, and biosecurity education, by drawing on the work already done on this issue in the context of the Convention, adaptable to national requirements;
    • Any other science and technology developments of relevance to the Convention and also to the activities of relevant multilateral organizations such as the WHO, OIE, FAO, IPPC and OPCW

Click here for the annotated programme of work for the Meeting of Experts

MX2 1 September 2021 AM Session Recording and automatically generated transcripts

MX2 1 September 2021 PM Session Recording and automatically generated transcripts

MX2 2 September 2021 AM Session Recording and automatically generated transcripts

MX2 2 September 2021 PM Session Recording and automatically generated transcripts

MX3 – Strengthening National Implementation

The Meeting of Experts on Strengthening National Implementation will take place on 3 September 2021, at the Palais des Nations, in Room XIX.

  • MX3 will be chaired by Mr. Arman Baissuanov of Kazakhstan and will consider the following topics:
    • Measures related to Article IV of the Convention;
    • CBM submissions in terms of quantity and quality;
    • Various ways to promote transparency and confidence building under the Convention;
    • Role of international cooperation and assistance under Article X, in support of strengthening the implementation of the Convention
    • Issues related to Article III, including effective measures of export control, in full conformity with all Articles of the Convention, including Article X.

Click here for the annotated programme of work for the Meeting of Experts

MX3 3 September 2021 AM Session Recording and automatically generated transcripts

MX3 3 September 2021 PM Session Recording and automatically generated transcripts

MX4 – Assistance, Response and Preparedness

The Meeting of Experts on Assistance, Response and Preparedness will take place from 6 to 7 September 2021, at the Palais des Nations, in Room XIX.

  • MX4 will be chaired by Ambassador Elena Kuzmanovska Biondic of the Republic of North Macedonia and will consider the following topics:
    • Practical challenges facing the implementation of Article VII, and possible solutions;
    • A set of guidelines and formats to assist a State Party, if required, when submitting an application for assistance in the framework of Article VII;
    • Procedures, including the establishment and use of the assistance database, to improve the prompt and efficient response without preconditions to a request of assistance by a State Party under Article VII, and coordination and cooperation among States Parties and with relevant international and regional organizations such as WHO, OIE and FAO, as appropriate;
    • Examination of how the concept of mobile biomedical units might contribute to effective assistance, response and preparation with a view to enhancing implementation of the Convention;
    • Exploration of approaches by which States Parties, individually or collectively, might contribute to the strengthening of international response capabilities for infectious disease outbreaks, whether natural or deliberate in origin;
    • Exploration of means to prepare for, respond to and render assistance in case of the possible hostile use of biological agents and toxins against agriculture, livestock as well as the natural environment.

Click here for the annotated programme of work for the Meeting of Experts

MX4 6 September 2021 AM Session Recording and automatically generated transcripts

MX4 6 September 2021 PM Session Recording and automatically generated transcripts

MX4 7 September 2021 AM Session Recording and automatically generated transcripts

MX5 – Institutional Strengthening of the Convention

The Meeting of Experts on Institutional Strengthening of the Convention will take place on 8 September 2021, at the Palais des Nations, in Room XIX.

  • MX5 will be chaired by Ms. Grisselle del Carmen Rodriguez Ramirez of Panama and will consider the following topic:
    • Consideration of the full range of approaches and options to further strengthen the Convention and its functioning through possible additional legal measures or other measures in the framework of the Convention.

Click here for the annotated programme of work for the Meeting of Experts

MX5 8 September 2021 AM Session Recording and automatically generated transcripts

MX5 8 September 2021 PM Session Recording and automatically generated transcripts

Side Events

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions and the renovations of the Palais des Nations under the Strategic Heritage Plan, the Implementation Support Unit will not have the capacity or resources to facilitate in-person side events during the Meetings of Experts. The BWC side events communicated below are taking place in virtual mode or outside of the Palais des Nations. Please check the registration link if you wish to participate.

31
August2021
Advancing a Human-Centered Approach to Global Biosafety and BiosecurityOrganizers: International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA)
Link for registration
Invitation to the event is available here
13:15 - 14:45 CEST
1
September2021
Mapping Maximum Biological ContainmentOrganizers: King's College London
Link for registration
Invitation to the event is available here
More information can be found from the policy brief and GlobalBioLabs website
13:15 - 14:15 CESTVirtual
2
September2021
Promoting youth engagement in responsible science under the Biological Weapons ConventionOrganizers: International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA), International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM), Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security (CHS), Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)
Link for registration
13:15 - 14:45 CEST
6
September2021
Long-term decision-making in the face of extreme biological risksLink for registration
Invitation to the event is available here
13:15 - 14:45 CESTGeneva Press Club
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