The Challenge: Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), a Threat to Peace, Security and Stability

Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) include chemical, biological, and radiological agents with the potential to indiscriminately inflict widespread death and destruction. The severe threat to humanity posed by the acquisition, possession and use of WMDs by hostile state and/or non-state actors, combined with the onset of more sophisticated and complex terrorism threats and actions in recent years, has renewed interest in and commitment to ensuring greater global participation and implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention and implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004).

Opened for signature on 10 April 1972 and entered into force on 26 March 1975, the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction, also known as the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) or Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), was the result of prolonged efforts by the international community to establish a new instrument that would supplement the 1925 Geneva Protocol.

The BWC is the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of WMDs, with States Parties committing to never, in any circumstances, develop, produce, stockpile or otherwise acquire or retain:

• Types and quantities of microbial or other biological agents or toxins (whatever their origin or method of production) that have no prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes;
• Weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict.

State party that signed and ratified	State party that has acceded or succeeded to the treaty
Unrecognized State abiding by the treaty	Signatory State
State not party and not signatory

In contrast to the Chemical Weapons Convention, the BWC has no verification mechanism to monitor compliance, and negotiations on the creation of such a mechanism have stalled to date. Until the establishment of more formal verification mechanisms, PGA believes that parliamentarians have an important role to play in addressing this challenge, given their unique prerogatives of oversight, accountability and control over the actions of the executive branch of government.

Complementing the duties imposed on State Parties by the BWC, and adopted on 28 April 2004, the United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1540 (2004) obliges the UN Members States under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to refrain from providing any form of support to non-State actors that attempt to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, in particular for terrorist purposes.

Parliamentarians are indispensable to the requirement of UNSCR 1540 (2004) that States adopt and enforce appropriate laws to this effect, including the preparation of voluntary national implementation and capacity building plans. Article 29 of UNSCR 2325 (2016) specifically identifies parliamentarians as key interlocutors and stakeholders in this process. In addition, Paragraph 172 of the Final Comprehensive Report of the UN Security Council 1540 Committee (2016) expressly acknowledges the essential role played by parliamentarians in enacting necessary legislation to implement UNSCR 1540 (2004).

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The Response: The BWC/ UNSCR 1540 (2004) Campaign

PGA launched the Campaign to Promote the Universality and Implementation of the BWC and Implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004) in December 2015, at its 37th Annual Forum in El Salvador. UNSCR 1540 calls on all States to “…refrain from providing any form of support to non-State actors that attempt to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, in particular for terrorist purposes.” As such, as it pertains to UNSCR 1540, the campaign seeks to marshal global parliamentary support for the non-proliferation and disarmament of WMDs with particular focus on this nexus of WMDs and potential terrorist exploitation.

This campaign is grounded in recognition of the clear linkages between the non-proliferation of WMDs, peace and security, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly as it pertains to SDG 16, which seeks “To promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies.” More specifically, Target 16.A which addresses the need to “strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime”, is of central relevance to this campaign.

Additionally, this campaign seeks to fulfill and is in line with key objectives and provisions outlined by The Secretary-General's Agenda for Disarmament, within the scope of the “Disarmament to Save Humanity” pillar of the Agenda. Specifically, within Actions 9, 10 and 11, the Secretary-General calls on States to ‘restore respect for the global norm against chemical weapons’, ‘be ready to investigate alleged use of biological weapons’, and ‘to develop frameworks to respond to any use of biological weapons’, respectively. These objectives centrally inform the organization and execution of the work of this campaign.

To achieve its goal, the campaign mobilizes PGA and non-PGA Members of Parliament (MPs) worldwide with a demonstrated track record of success in promoting signature and ratification of international treaties, to engage in promoting:

• The ratification of, accession to, or succession to the BWC and its implementation in domestic legal frameworks, supporting a strong, effective and universal BWC.
• The implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004) in domestic legal frameworks, supporting a strong and effective UNSCR 1540 (2004).