About BWPP
Page Update: 17/12/07 |
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About the BioWeapons Prevention Project
The BioWeapons Prevention Project (BWPP) is a new global civil society activity that aims to strengthen the norm against using disease as a weapon. It was initiated by a group of non-governmental organizations concerned at the failure of governments to act.
The BWPP
tracks governmental and other behaviour that is pertinent to compliance
with international treaties and other agreements, especially those that
outlaw hostile use of biotechnology. The project works to reduce the
threat of bioweapons by monitoring and reporting throughout the world.
BWPP supports and is supported by a global network of partners.
The BWPP is currently developing a follow-up to its
Strategic
Programme 2004-06 in order to continue its concerted effort to generate an agenda
to monitor and strengthen the norms against the use of disease as a
weapon. The new Strategic Programme will be approved by the Board of Directors in December 2007.
The BWPP is an equal opportunity organization.
| 1. MONITORING |
2. REPORTING |
3. NETWORKING |
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The 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) and the 1925 Geneva Protocol comprehensively prohibit biological weapons but they make no provisions for monitoring or verifying compliance. BWPP aims to help fill this gap by monitoring implementation of the legal and political obligations never to develop, produce or use biological weapons. The project will also track the actions that governments and others take to reduce the bioweapons threat and to suppress exploitation of biotechnology for hostile purposes. Finally, BWPP will monitor relevant developments in industry and report on advances in science and technology.
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Project findings will be published in the BioWeapons Monitor, the first comprehensive and global account of developments related to biological weapons. The BioWeapons Monitor will be distributed widely to governments, the public and the media. The BioWeapons Monitor will include contributions from project network members and will be subject to review by the world's leading experts on biological weapons.
This website (www.bwpp.org) provides current information on the project. Occasional reports and press releases on recent developments. The combined expertise of BWPP members provides a unique resource for policymakers, the public and the media. The BWPP project office will be the first port of call and a clearing-house for all inquiries related to compliance with the norm against hostile use of disease.
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BWPP's global network of partners is an integral part of the project. Partners provide thematic, regional or country-specific expertise necessary for the collection and analysis of relevant data. The project website supports them in this work.
BWPP actively seeks new partner organizations in different parts of the world in order to increase global awareness about the threat of biological weapons. Network members may come from a variety of fields related to biological weapons, such as arms control, the environment and biotechnology.BWPP also intends to work closely with governments, industry, academia and international organizations. Project members believe that openness and accountability should be the shared goals of civil society and governments alike. The project encourages government and philanthropic support for its activities and solicits financial and other contributions. |
The project actively encourages civil
society organizations around the world to join
the supporting network. Becoming a network member simply requires
an expression of support for the BWPP mission statement, although active
participation in encouraged. Network activities are coordinated by staff
at the BWPP Geneva office. To get involved, to find out more about BWPP
and its activities or to be added to the project's mailing list, please
contact the BWPP
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