Seventh Review Conference: Practical Considerations Piers Millett Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit
Jobs for the RevCon … a conference of States Parties to the Convention shall be held at Geneva, Switzerland, to review the operation of the Convention, with a view to assuring that the purposes of the preamble and the provisions of the Convention… are being realized. Such review shall take into account any new scientific and technological developments relevant to the Convention. BWC Article XII
Jobs for the RevCon • Seventh RevCon to be held in Geneva not later than 2011 • Should review the operation of the Convention, taking into account, inter alia: – New scientific and technological developments – Progress on implementation – Progress in implementing decisions and recommendations of Sixth RevCon Article XII, Final Declaration, Sixth Review Conference
Jobs for the RevCon Implementation Support Unit • Review mandate & performance of unit 2007 ‐ 2010 Work Programme • Consider work & decide on any further action Confidence ‐ Building Measures • Comprehensive attention to implementation Promotion of Universalization • Review reports of annual chairs Decisions & Recommendations, Sixth Review Conference
Jobs for the RevCon States Parties are encouraged to inform the Seventh Review Conference of, inter alia , any actions, measures or other steps that they may have taken on the basis of the discussions at the … Meeting of Experts and the outcome of the … Meeting of States Parties Reports of the 2007 ‐ 2010 Meetings of States Parties
Role of the Depositories BWC not a UN convention BWC has 3 Depositories: Russia, UK & USA: • Convene meetings (& propose dates) • Maintain lists of ratification & accession • Promote treaty • Central point for communication with states • Seat on General Committee (Bureau) during RevCons BWC & RevCon Final Documents
General Assembly Resolution • First Committee adopts a BWC resolution • Formal link between BWC & UN • (Usually) passes by consensus • Most recent text: A/C.1/66/L.32 • Urges States to work together to achieve a consensus outcome which strengthens the Convention • Approved by 1 st Committee without a vote BWC & RevCon Final Documents
Preparatory Committee Deals with procedural matters • Organization of RevCon • Date & duration • Provisional agenda • Draft rules of procedure • Background documentation • Other issues Report of the PrepCom
Chairing Arrangements WG 4 th 5 th Review Conference Drafting Committee Committee of the Whole EG NAM
EG 5 th 6 th Review Conference Drafting Committee Committee of the Whole NAM WG
Amb. Paul van den IJssel (Netherlands) NAM 6 th 7 th Review Conference Ms. Judit Koromi Amb. Desra Pecaya (Hungary) (Indonesia) Drafting Committee Committee of the Whole WG EG
Organization of the RevCon • General debate • Working sessions • Informal Plenaries • Other events: – Industry Discussion Panel – Poster session – Speed networking – Side events Report of the PrepCom
Rules of Procedure • Same used since 1996 without changes • Practice can differ from content • Sets out roles for committees • Role of secretariat • Sets out how decisions are to be made • Determine who can participate and how • Sets requirement for formal credentials Report of the PrepCom
Budget & Administration BWC meetings: • Are paid for by States Parties • Are not United Nations events • Are serviced by the United Nations • Have secretariats formed around the ISU • The UN ODA hosts the ISU • Include the costs of the ISU
For more information: BWC Implementation Support Unit United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs Room C.115, Palais des Nations Geneva tel: +41 (0)22 917 2230 fax: +41 (0)22 917 0483 e ‐ mail: bwc@unog.ch www.unog.ch/bwc
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