Dodoma/ Dar-es-Salaam/ New York/ The Hague

PGA is pleased to have been informed earlier today that the Government of The United Republic of Tanzania has ratified on August 14th, 2019 the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC), thereby becoming the 183rd State Party. PGA wholeheartedly congratulates the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania. Particular tribute is also paid by PGA to Hon. Jasson Samson Rweikiza, MP, esteemed Chair of the PGA National Group in the United Republic of Tanzania, for his assiduous and unrelenting advocacy in support of the ratification of the BWC since 2016. 

• Hon. Jasson Samson Rweikiza, MP, Chair of PGA National Group in Tanzania

I am very pleased that the Government of Tanzania has deposited its Instrument of Ratification of the Biological Weapons Convention. This step represents the culmination of a number of years of efforts by a diverse range of stakeholders, including the PGA National Group in the Parliament of Tanzania. I look forward to progressing implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention in Tanzania in the coming months. Hon. Jasson Samson Rweikiza, MP, Chair of PGA National Group in Tanzania

• Hon. Naveed Qamar, MP (Pakistan)

While the global community is today confronted by a myriad of grave threats to international peace and security, one of the most serious of these threats is the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) - in particular, the possibility of acquisition and use of such terrible weapons by terrorists and terrorist organizations. It is incumbent upon all of us in a position to do so, to take all steps possible to push back and mitigate this threat. Ratifying and implementing relevant international treaties is an important part of this process. I, therefore, want to strongly congratulate the Government of Tanzania for having ratified the Biological Weapons Convention. I am aware that PGA Member Hon. Jasson Rweikiza MP, Chair of the PGA National Group has worked tirelessly for this result since 2016 and congratulate him wholeheartedly also for his own vital contributions leading up to this momentous day. I hope his own example, and those of a number of other PGA Members in supporting the universalization and implementation of the BWC, will now be followed by those few remaining countries worldwide that have yet to become States Parties to the BWC. Hon. Naveed Qamar, MP (Pakistan), PGA Executive Committee Member, Co-Convenor of PGA’s International Peace and Security Program, >Former Minister of Defense of Pakistan

• Hon. Antonio Niquice, MP (Mozambique

I am very pleased to hear that the Government of Tanzania has deposited its Instrument of Ratification of the Biological Weapons Convention. Many and diverse threats to peace and security exist around the world today, and in all regions. One particular - and ever-growing concern - is that every step must be taken to prevent access, use and manufacture of Biological Weapons - something which has become alarmingly easier to do in recent years - with advances in technology and science. The threat of use of such terrible weapons comes not only from potential rogue governments but also some Non State Actors, including terrorist organizations who have only contempt for human life as we know it. Tanzanian PGA member Hon. Jasson Rweikiza, MP, has made a big effort leading to this result, in particular bringing together parliamentarians and government officials and is to be highly commended for his decisive contributions. Hon. Antonio Niquice, MP (Mozambique), PGA Executive Committee Member, Co-Convenor of PGA’s International Peace and Security Program

Acknowledgments and Way Forward

This historic achievement was also facilitated by the important advocacy, démarches and other outreach efforts, over a number of years, by a number of national governments, organizations and individuals, foremost among them, the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Biological Weapons Convention at the United Nations in Geneva, whose many, vital initiatives in this arena worldwide PGA is honored and pleased to support and compliment.

PGA respectfully wishes to encourage the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania now to commence the process of preparation and introduction of legislation to give full effect to the BWC in its implementation into the national law of Tanzania. PGA's National Group in the Parliament of Tanzania stands ready to assist and move forward this process.

PGA is grateful to Global Affairs Canada and the Norwegian Foreign Ministry for their kind support of PGA's Global Parliamentary Campaign to Promote Universality and Implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention and Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004).

The Road to BWC Ratification: A Timeline of PGA Engagement

• On 27-28 March 2017, PGA organized a Regional Africa Parliamentary Workshop to Promote Universality and Implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention and Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) in the Parliament of Sierra Leone in Freetown. On this occasion, Hon. Jasson Rweikiza, MP, Chair of PGA’s National Group in the Parliament of Tanzania, delivered an informative presentation on the latest developments, obstacles, and opportunities with respect to the ratification of the BWC by Tanzania.
• On numerous occasions, including January 2017, Hon. Jasson Rweikiza, MP (Tanzania), expressed serious concern over the security situation in the neighboring countries, particularly the rise of terrorist groups allegedly armed with weapons of mass destruction. For this reason, and making use of his political and legal prerogatives, Hon. Rweikiza publicly encouraged the Government to proceed to ratification of the BWC.
• The prospect of the ratification became clearer in May 2018, when reputable media outlets cited Hon. Dr. Hussein Mwinyi, Tanzania’s Minister for Defense and National Service, confirming the intention of the Government to proceed to ratification of the BWC.
• On 17-18 September 2018, PGA strategically chose Tanzania as the host-country venue for the Regional Africa Parliamentary Workshop to Promote Universality and Implementation of the BWC and Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004). The Minister for Defence and National Service of Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Hussein Mwinyi announced at the Workshop that the Government was now closer to ratification of the BWC.
• In closing Remarks at this PGAWorkshop on 18 September 2018, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, Hon. Job Ndugai, MP, publicly called for the Government to present the BWC to Parliament for ratification.
• On November 14, 2018, the Parliament of Tanzania ratified the decision of the Cabinet of the Government of Tanzania to ratify the BWC
• During the Meeting of States Parties of the BWC in Geneva from 4-5 December 2018, the Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador James Msekela, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to ratification of the BWC, all domestic processes having been duly completed, kindly also acknowledging PGA's contribution in this endeavor.