Awareness of Education about the Biological Weapons Convention (BTWC): Why this is needed by all life scientists and how that might be achieved

Research Report for the Wellcome Trust Project on `Building a Sustainable Capacity in Dual-use Bioethics`
By Malcolm Dando

Article IV of the BTWC requires that States Parties “prohibit and prevent” what is banned by Article 1. As long ago as the Second Review Conference in 1986 States Parties agreed that education and awareness of life scientists was an important element in prevention, yet discussions in Geneva in recent years have show quite clearly that such scientists are not aware of the Convention and their obligations under it. This paper argues that this is largely the result of the absence of such material in the education of life scientists and suggests ways in which States Parties might be able to use low cost practical initiatives to correct the educational deficiency and thereby strengthen the Convention and overall prohibition regime.

Author:
University of Bradford
Publish Date:
March 2011

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