50 Years of Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar warned that the world is still “not adequately prepared” to confront the escalating threat of bioterrorism. Speaking at a conference marking 50 years of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), he said non-state actors could resort to biological agents, making global preparedness essential.

Key Highlights

• World Unprepared for Bioterror Threat: Jaishankar cautioned that bioterrorism poses a grave risk, while the current global framework lacks the capacity to respond effectively.
• Major Gaps in the BWC Framework: The Minister pointed out that the BWC:
  • has no compliance system,
  • lacks a permanent technical body,
  • and has no mechanism to monitor emerging scientific developments.
    He stressed the need to bridge these gaps to build global confidence.
• India’s Proposal: National Implementation Framework: India proposed a framework covering:
  • high-risk biological agents,
  • oversight of dual-use research,
  • domestic reporting systems,
  • incident management mechanisms.
• Global South Must Be Central: Jaishankar emphasised that biological threats cannot be dealt with in isolation, urging that the Global South must be central to BWC deliberations.
• Unequal Access to Medicines is a Global Risk: He termed inequitable access to vaccines and medicines not just a development issue but a global security risk.

Biological Weapons: What They Are

• Biological weapons spread disease-causing organisms or toxins to harm humans, animals, or plants.
• Agents may include bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or toxins (natural or synthetic).
• Such diseases can rapidly transcend borders, with devastating global consequences.

About the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

• The BWC bans the development, production, stockpiling, acquisition, transfer, and use of biological and toxin weapons.
• First multilateral treaty to prohibit an entire category of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).
• Negotiated in Geneva; opened for signature on 10 April 1972, entered into force on 26 March 1975.
• Today, it has 189 States Parties and four Signatory States.
• India is among the 189 States Parties, many of which are developing nations.

Sources: TH, MEA & UN