Deputy Director-General Mrs Grace Asirwatham at the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction. Photo: Richard Guthrie
The Deputy Director-General, Mrs Grace Asirwatham, addressed the opening session today of the 2012 Meeting of States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which is taking place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 10 to 14 December 2012. The meeting will focus on three main issues: cooperation and assistance, particularly on strengthening cooperation and assistance under Article X; developments in the field of science and technology related to the Convention; and strengthening national implementation.
In her address [PDF – 48 KB], the Deputy Director-General noted that 2012 marked the 15th anniversary of the OPCW and reviewed the highlights of the progress it has made during this time in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention. She further noted that the efforts of the OPCW and the BWC Implementation Support Unit to achieve effective implementation of both treaties parallel the United Nations’ own efforts to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
Mrs Asirwatham cited the important role played by the OPCW’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) in keeping the Organisation abreast of changes in science and technology that are relevant to the CWC, including the convergence of chemistry and biology. Another area of common interest the Deputy Director-General cited is education and outreach, where the SAB has initiated exchanges between experts on the CWC and BWC to promote awareness and understanding of the two conventions among the general public and scientific community.
Also on the opening day of the BWC meeting, the OPCW convened a side event to describe the activities of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to meeting participants. The SAB Chairman presented its recent report on developments in science and technology [PDF – 149 KB] and members of its Temporary Working Groups on the convergence of chemistry and biology and on education and outreach described activities in those areas.