ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF BWC IMPLEMENTATION Jesus R.S. Domingo PhD Assistant Secretary for UNIO Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs 3 September 2013
ASEAN Regional Forum ‐ to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on political and security issues of common interest and concern; and in the Asia ‐ Pacific region ‐ to make significant contributions to efforts towards confidence ‐ building and preventive diplomacy
ARF and Biosecurity • ARF members been actively engaged in advancing biosecurity and biosafety cooperation in the Asia ‐ Pacific region. • PHL, in partnership with Australia and the United States, organized a series of 4 ARF workshops within on the themes of a. Biological Threat Reduction, b. Biorisk Management, c. Disease Surveillance & Detection, and d. Preparedness and Response from 2009 to 2012. Submitted report to 2012 BWC MSP/MX
ARF WORKSHOP ON BIOLOGICAL THREAT REDUCTION, 10 ‐ 11 JUNE 2009, MANILA • Pubic health sector, law enforcement, intelligence community and academia have an important role to play in promoting biological security. • Enhanced cooperation among stakeholders, capacity building and funding are necessary to improve response capability to biological threats. • Need for enhanced cooperation within the ARF on mitigating biological threats.
ARF WORKSHOP ON BIORISK MANAGEMENT 28 ‐ 30 SEPT 2010, MANILA • A “whole government approach” is critical in improving national biorisk management. • Importance of instilling a culture of responsibility in industry and academic institutions. • National biosecurity and biosafety associations have a critical role to play. • Major challenges to be addressed : expansion of dual use research concern and rapid advances in synthetic biology. • Need for synergy with other existing programs and mechanisms
ARF WORKSHOP ON DISEASE DETECTION AND SURVEILLANCE, 13 ‐ 15 SEPT 2011, MANILA • Inter ‐ agency cooperation and cross ‐ disciplinary approach are important. • National, regional and international coordination is necessary for effectively preventing disease outbreaks and detecting diseases. • Existing mechanisms for conducting disease detection and surveillance in the Asia ‐ Pacific region: WHO’s IHR, APSED, GOARN; OIE’s WAHIS; FAO’s ECTAD
ARF WORKSHOP ON DISEASE DETECTION AND SURVEILLANCE 13 ‐ 15 SEPT.2011, MANILA • Strategic Framework on Health Development (2010 ‐ 2015) under the ASEAN Cultural Community Blueprint • ASEAN (through ASEAN +3) is in the process of developing terms of reference and a work plan to initiate a network of Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETP)
ARF WORKSHOP ON PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TO A BIOLOGICAL EVENT, 5 ‐ 7 SEPT. 2012, MANILA • It is important to enhance regional and international coordination for preparedness and response. • There is a need for reinforcement in physical security and access control and a graded approach based on risk assessment. • Senior ‐ level leadership is needed for an effective inter ‐ agency and multi ‐ sectoral response to an event. • Call on ARF to consider addressing funding, strategic risk communication, regional information sharing and early warning and the holding of exercises focused on a biological incident
ARF ACTIVITIES FOR 2013 AND 2014 • ARF CROSS ‐ SECTORAL SECURITY COOPERATION ON BIO ‐ PREPAREDNESS AND DISASTER RESPONSE: INCEPTION PLANNING WORKSHOP, 3 TO 5 SEPT 2013, MANILA • ARF ‐ WIDE WORKSHOP IN 2014
ARF CROSS ‐ SECTORAL SECURITY COOPERATION ON BIO ‐ PREPAREDNESS AND DISASTER RESPONSE: INCEPTION PLANNING WORKSHOP, 3 ‐ 5 SEPT 2013 MANILA • Develop concrete and follow ‐ on activities to build upon and implement the outcomes of the ARF BWC Workshops from 2009 to 2012. • Develop a Roadmap for Multilateral and Cross ‐ sectoral collaboration • Consider focus areas from various work plans, ARF ‐ ISM, EWG and AWGPPR. • Initial focus areas promoting multilateral Bio ‐ Preparedness and Disaster Risk Reduction Cooperation.
ARF CROSS ‐ SECTORAL SECURITY COOPERATION ON BIO ‐ PREPAREDNESS AND DISASTER RESPONSE: INCEPTION PLANNING WORKSHOP, 3 ‐ 5 SEPT 2013 MANILA • Build upon previous ASEAN and ARF security cooperation activities. • Desired Outcome: Enhance capacity for regional preparedness and generate support for developing a collective response to a biological event.
OTHER ACTIVITIES • 2011 BWC “Superweek” in Manila in preparation for 7 th BWC Review Conference • East Asia/Pacific Coordination in BWC Community in Geneva • ARF ISM on Non ‐ Proliferation and Disarmament, ARF CBM Seminar on UNSCR 1540 • CSCAP and CSCAP Study Group on Countering Proliferation of WMDs • Global Partnership Against the Spread Weapons and Materials of WMDs
OBSERVATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS • Need to further advance Bio as WMD concern in ARF – Nuclear is currently emphasized. • Within each ARF member country, need for better coordination and synergy within and among Foreign Affairs (ASEAN, UN and Bilateral / Regional Offices), other Ministries: Health, Agriculture, Defense, Justice, etc.; private sector, academe, etc. • Need for better inter ‐ state and inter ‐ regional / IO / UN coordination and synergy. • Enhance synergy between UNODA (BWC ‐ ISU), WHO, OIE, FAO, UNIDIR, etc. • Present Joint Paper in BWC MSP
Maraming Salamat Po ! Jesus “Gary” Domingo domingojs23@yahoo.com
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