Biological Weapons Convention
First Regional Workshop: Proceedings

IN FEBRUARY 2005 A REGIONAL WORKSHOP WAS ORGANISED
BY THE ASIA PACIFIC CENTRE FOR MILITARY LAW (APCML) AT THE MELBOURNE LAW SCHOOL FOR SOUTH-EAST ASIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON MORE EFFECTIVE NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1972 BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION.

The Regional Workshop was co-hosted by the Australian Department of Defence and the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, and was convened by Dr Bob Mathews, a Principal Research Scientist with the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation.

The Workshop was officially opened on 21 February by Senator the Hon Robert Hill, Australian Minister for Defence. He was joined by the Indonesian Consul General to Melbourne, Mr M Wahid Supriyadi. In addition to Australia and Indonesia, the other countries represented at the Workshop were Brunei, Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. A number of international organisations also participated, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Health Organization.

Workshop participants discussed obligations of States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention, codes of conduct for scientists involved in biological research, different approaches to national implementing legislation, enhanced security of pathogens and toxins, biological defence and surveillance, detection and combating of infectious diseases, and the role of the Convention in raising barriers to bio-terrorism. Those discussions constitute the basis of this edited volume from the Workshop.

The Workshop motif reproduced on the cover of this volume has three components which represent the synthesis of science, the law and protection against disease. The images in the background are anthrax spores. The page of text is the first page of the Biological Weapons Convention. The figure is that of the plague doctor in the typical uniform worn in the 17th century when treating patients with the plague.

Download the full Proceedings (PDF 4109KB)

Download the Proceedings in separate parts:

Introductory Pages
Title Page
ISBN & Cataloguing-in-Publication
Table of Contents
Foreword by Dr Bob Mathews
List of Participants
Photograph of Participants

I Opening Addresses
Opening Speech, by Senator the Hon Robert Hill, Australian Minister of Defence
Opening Remarks, by Indonesian Consul General to Melbourne, M Wahid Supriyadi
Workshop Convenor's Address at the Opening Ceremony: Overview of the BWC Regional Workshop
Address at the Workshop Dinner: Counter-Terrorism & Non-Conventional Weapons, by Ambassador Les Luck

II Setting the Scene: International Legal Prohibitions
A History of Biological Weapons: Black Death & Yellow Rain, by Dr Annabelle Duncan
A Brief History of Biological Weapons Disarmament, by Dr Bob Mathews
General Obligations under the Biological Weapons Convention: Key Provisions, by Professor Tim McCormack
Outcomes of the Biological Weapons Convention Review Conferences, by Dr Bob Mathews
Efforts to Strengthen the BWC through a Legally Binding Instrument, by Dr Bob Mathews
Article X of the BWC: Technological Constraints & Legal Considerations, by Isroil Samihardjo
Confidence Building Measures under the BWC, by Dr Josy Meyer & Dr Kylie Brown
International Compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention, by Dr Ada Cheung

III National Implementation: Legislation Requirements
National Implementation of the BWC, by Treasa Dunworth, Dr Bob Mathews & Professor Tim McCormack

IV National Implementation: Practical Experiences
Addressing the 'Dual-Use' Dilemma: The BWC 'General Purpose Definition' of BW, by Dr Bob Mathews
The Development of the Australia Group Export Control Lists, by Dr Bob Mathews
Australian Export Controls, by Brad Howlett
Experiences of Cambodia in Implementing the BWC, by Major Yin Sothy
Experiences of Lao People's Democratic Republic in Implementing the BWC, by Major Feuangxay Milakong
Experiences of Thailand in Implementing the BWC, by Dr Namchai Chewawiwat
Experiences of Viet Nam in Implementing the BWC, by Le Hoai Trung
Experiences of Malaysia in Implementing the BWC, by Dr Zalini Yunus, Ms Wong Mee-Choo & Dr R Devan K Ramu

V Security & Oversight of Pathogenic Micro-Organisms & Toxins
Enhancing Bio-Security, by Andrew Leask
Preparation Efforts towards Biological Threats & Implementation of Bio-Safety & Bio-Security in Indonesia, by Dr Dini Latief, Agus Suwandono & Frans Suharyanto

VI Raising Barriers to Bio-Terrorism
Raising Barriers to the Acquisition of WMD by Non-State Actors: The Role of Arms Control Treaties & UN Security Council Resolution 1540, by Dr Bob Mathews

VII Disease Surveilance
Preparedness for Deliberate Epidemics: The World Health Organization Approach, by Dr Ottorino Cosivi
Anthrax in Indonesia: Prevention of Illegal Release of the Agent, by Dr Abdul Adjid
Strengthening Surveillance, Detection, Diagnosis & Combating Diseases Affecting Humans, Animals & Plants in Malaysia, by Dr R Devan K Ramu
Allegations of Use, by Dr Bob Mathews

VIII Codes of Conduct
The BWC 3-Year Program of Work 2005: Codes of Conduct for Scientists, by Dr Bob Mathews & Prof John Webb
International Committee of the Red Cross Initiative on Biotechnology, Weapons & Humanity, by Dominique Loye
Summary of the Panel Discussion on Codes of Conduct

IX Summary of Deliberations
Concluding Session
BWC Regional Workshop Summary of Deliberations

Annexes
Annex 1 Text of the Biological Weapons Convention
Annex 2 Australian National Implementation Legislation
Annex 3 Final Document of the Fifth Review Conference (2002)
Annex 4 Report of the Meeting of Experts (2003)
Annex 5 Report of the Meeting of States Parties (2003)
Annex 6 Report of the Meeting of Experts (2004)
Annex 7 Report of the Meeting of States Parties (2004)
Annex 8 Site Visits to the DSTO and the Animal Health Laboratory
Annex 9 Australia's CBM Declaration (2004)
Annex 10 WHO, Laboratory Biosafety Manual (3rd ed, 2004) Pt II 'Laboratory Biosecurity' (courtesty of the WHO)
Annex 11 ICRC Public Appeal on Biotechnology, Weapons & Humanity (2002)
Annex 12 ICRC, 'Preventing Hostile Use of the Life Sciences: From Ethics & Law to Best Practice' (2004)