Bradford Project on Strengthening the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention   Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford

For information about biological weapons and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC)

This web site to aims to provide a better means of spreading information on the process of strengthening the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention worldwide. It provides a variety of resources which are concerned with biological weapons and the BTWC, particularly the present negotiations in Geneva.

Of vital importance is the Ad Hoc Group of States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, which is meeting in Geneva to negotiate a legally binding Protocol to strengthen the effectiveness and improve the implementation of the Convention. This site has the latest documents from these meetings, which include the rolling text of the draft Protocol and the associated working papers. Also provided are the series of Bradford Briefing Papers which have prepared to aid the delegations participating in the Ad Hoc Group, plus a commentary on progress made in Geneva.

 New additions

  Six new Bradford Briefing Papers (October 1998) :

No.21	Outbreaks of Disease: Current Disease
No.20	Visits: An Essential Portfolio
No.19	The Future BTWC Organization: Observations from the OPCW
No.18	Visits: An Essential and Effective Pillar
No.17	The Strengthened BTWC Protocol: Implications for the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industry
No.16	The BTWC Protocol Implementation: Practical Considerations
No.15	Non-Compliance Concern Investigations: Initiation Procedures
No.14	National ImplementationMeasures: An Update
No.13	Article III : Further Building Blocks
No.12	Article III : Some Building Blocks

 Plus six specific papers concerning biological weapons and the BTWC:

•  The Threat of Deliberate Disease in the 21st Century

•  The Vital Importance of the Web of Deterrence

•  The Protocol to Strengthen the BWC: An Integrated Regime

•  The Protocol to Strengthen the BWC : An Integrated Regime (abstract)

•  Implementation of Article X: Present Status and Prospects for the Future

•  A Lean Organization to Strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention

And:

• Informal Ministerial Meeting - New York, 23 September 1998 (on the Negotiation Towards Conclusion of the Protocol to Strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention)

Information resources

     The Bradford BTWC Database

•  Bradford Briefing Papers and Books  
•  Ad Hoc Group documents  These include the rolling text and working papers.
•  Progress in the current Geneva negotiations  Commentary on the Ad Hoc Group meetings.
•  Key official texts  These include the text of the existing Convention.
•  BTWC Review Conference final documents  Fourth Review Conference, 1996.
•  Special Conference documents   (VEREX)

     Other links

• Information about biological weapons and the BTWC

• Home page for Joint Bradford - SIPRI Chemical and Biological Warfare (CBW) Project.  This is a joint initiative by the Bradford Project and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

• Feedback page.  To e-mail the Bradford Project or join the Web site mailing list.

• Forthcoming events

This Web site provides up to date information on the process of strengthening the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention  (BTWC)  worldwide. It  is part of the Project on Strengthening the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and Preventing Biological Warfare, which is based at the Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, UK.

 Updated 9 June 1999.