Graham S. Pearson is an Honorary Senior Visiting Research Fellow in the Department of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford. He was previously Director General and Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down, Salisbury. He has published several articles and papers on chemical and biological defence and arms control.
Discussion of Article VII at the Third Review Conference
1. At the Third Review Conference of the BTWC held on 9-27 September 1991, the Final Declaration of the States Parties noted with satisfaction that the provisions of Article VII had not been invoked. Article VII states that:
Each State Party to this Convention undertakes to provide or support assistance, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, to any Party to the Convention which so requests, if the Security Council decides that such Party has been exposed to danger as a result of violation of the Convention.
The Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference1 reaffirmed the undertaking made by each State Party to provide or support assistance in accord with the undertaking in Article VII. The Conference also took note of desires expressed that, should a request for assistance be made, it be promptly considered and an appropriate response provided. Timely emergency assistance could be provided by States Parties pending consideration of a decision by the Security Council. The Conference considered that should this Article be invoked, the United Nations, with the help of intergovernmental organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), could play a coordinating role.
Developments since the Third Review Conference
2. As this Article has not been invoked during the five years since the Third Review Conference and there have been no developments since the Third Review Conference in respect of Article VII, it is suggested that the Fourth Review Conference should adopt the same language as that in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference:
The Conference notes with satisfaction that these provisions have not been invoked.
The Conference reaffirms the undertaking made by each State Party to provide or support assistance, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations to any Party to the Convention which so requests, if the Security Council decides that such Party has been exposed to danger as a result of violation of the Convention.
The Conference takes notes of desires expressed that, should a request for assistance be made, it be promptly considered and am appropriate response provided. In this context, pending consideration of a decision by the Security Council, timely emergency assistance could be provided by States Parties if requested.
The Conference considers that in the event that this Article might be invoked, the United Nations, with the help of appropriate intergovernmental organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), could play a coordinating role.
1 United Nations, The Third Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction, Geneva, 9Ð27 September 1991, BWC/CONF.III/23, Geneva 1992.