Report on the 1st Preparatory Meeting for the Biological Weapons Convention Conference 2022

July 6, 2022 | Camille Harland |

The First Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention took place on 5-6 July at the Vienna International Center.

Ambassador Leonardo Bencini, presiding over the Ninth Review Conference, welcomed delegates with the message that "a continuation of the status quo would be a step in the wrong direction and would run the risk of the BWC gradually becoming irrelevant...Incremental improvements will no longer do. We have to be more ambitious, we have to collectively rise to the occasion."

UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu suggested that the Conference must prioritise strengthening implementation and institutions and explore new ways to ensure compliance.

György Molnár, President of the Eighth Review Conference, urged State Parties to overcome block mentality and hold cross-regional consultations to reach a consensus. The first day of the conference ended with a discussion of science and tech developments, which covered priorities in relation to S&T and the purpose of an S&T review mechanism.

The second day of the meeting included discussions of national implementation guided by Arman Baissuanov and emergency assistance and institutional strengthening guided by Dr Una Jakob.

The next Regional Preparatory Meeting will take place in Panama on 30-31 August.