PGA s Global Parliamentary Campaign to Promote Universality and Implementation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC)

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1 PGA s Global Parliamentary Campaign to Promote Universality and Implementation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) Peter Barcroft Director, Peace & Democracy Programme, PGA 132 Nassau Street, Suite 1419 Phone: info@pgaction.org

2 ABOUT PGA PGA was established in 1978 in Washington, D.C. by a group of concerned Parliamentarians from around the world to take collective, coordinated and cohesive actions on global problems, which could not be successfully addressed by any one government or parliament acting alone. Founded during the Cold War era, an early focus and priority of the organization was mobilization of Parliamentarians worldwide in support of nuclear disarmament. Today, and reflecting the more complex and interconnected world in which it now lives, PGA and its members worldwide devotes their time and energies to promoting human rights, international justice and accountability, advocating for conflict prevention mechanisms and security sector reform as well as promoting gender, equality and nondiscrimination. 2 of 21

3 ABOUT PGA In 1984, PGA was instrumental in organizing the Six-Nation Peace Initiative, led by the Heads of States and Governments of Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden and Tanzania. This Initiative has been widely-credited with making an important contribution leading to the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) 12 years later. For The Six Nations Initiative, PGA received the first Indira Gandhi Peace Price in PGA played a role in the genesis of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (CWC) and its Membership made contributions in securing several ratifications of the CWC, facilitating its entry into force. 3 of 21

4 PGA's Global Parliamentary Campaign for the Universality and Implementation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention 5 of 21

5 Countries where PGA Members, including in one instance a sitting Foreign Minister, played a central role in the recent ratification, over the past two years, of the Biological Weapons Convention: GUINEA ANGOLA SAMOA LIBERIA NEPAL 6 of 21

6 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) 7 of 21

7 PGA's Global Parliamentary Campaign for the Universality and Implementation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention 1. Mobilizing PGA Members of Parliament (MPs) and other concerned Parliamentarians worldwide who possess a demonstrated track record of success in promoting signature and ratification of international treaties to also engage in promoting Universality and Implementation of the BTWC 2. International, Regional and National Parliamentary events to foster peer-to-peer dialogue and to provide essential platforms for sharing of respective experiences in promoting Universality and Implementation of the BTWC 3. Extensive, continuous provision of technical/legal advice to PGA Member MPs worldwide to better equip them in their advocacy and other law-making initiatives in support of Universality and Implementation of the BTWC. 8 of 21

8 37th Annual Parliamentary Forum on the topic of Role of Parliamentarians in Support of Peace and Security in San Salvador, El Salvador from 30 Nov - 1 Dec, 2015 This Forum took place on the 40th anniversary of the entry into force of the BWC and served to generate substantial political will among lawmakers in advance of the 8th BWC Review Conference, which took place in late of 21

9 Regional Africa Parliamentary Workshop in Freetown Sierra Leone in March 2017 Participating Countries: Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Tanzania High-Level Officials: UN Resident Representative, a Representative from UNDP, the High Commissioners from Canada and Nigeria, as well as representatives from the UK High Commission and Embassy of the United States, the Chief of the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Biological Weapons Convention, as well as the Sierra Leone CBRN National Focal Point of the European Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Centre of Excellence (CoE) Initiative of 21

10 Regional Latin America Parliamentary Workshop in Santiago, Chile in May 2017 Participating Countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Paraguay, Uruguay High-Level Officials: Coordination Officer, on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator, the Ambassador of Canada to Chile, the Chief of the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Biological Weapons Convention, as well as the Chilean Army Major, and National Focal Point on the BTWC in Chile of 21

11 Over 90% of all Participants in both these Workshops in Africa and Latin America, working in close consultation with us in the PGA Secretariat, have taken substantive, verifiable steps to promote ratification and/or implementation of the BTWC in their respective countries, subsequent to their participation in these Workshops supported by the Government of Canada of 21

12 PGA also organized 2 Field Missions to Haiti, in February and June of sending a delegation headed by prominent MPs from the Caribbean region, accompanied by PGA expert staff, who met with high level Governmental and Parliamentary officials in Port-au-Prince, including the Presidents of both Chambers of the Haitian Parliament to promote the ratification of the BTWC. I am pleased to report that as a result of these 2 Missions, the Government of Haiti has approved ratification of the BTWC, transmitted it to the National Assembly in March of this year and we are hopeful the National Assembly will act on it, with the encouragement of PGA Members, in the next session of Parliament in a few months time. As many of you are already aware, Haiti is the only country in the Americas which has not yet ratified the BTWC and we hope that this final piece in the jigsaw can be found within the next 6-12 months of 21

13 In The Dominican Republic, for example, PGA Executive Committee member, Dip. Victor Bisonó Haza authored important legislation passed in the Dominican Republic in 2016 which, inter alia, penalized, for the first time in his country, the manufacture, usage and development of Weapons of Mass Destruction, including Biological Weapons of 21

14 In Chad, under the initiative of PGA Member Hon. Theophile Yombombe, informed PGA in mid-july of 2017, that the Defense and Security Committee has sent a formal written recommendation to the Government of Chad calling for Accession by the Republic of Chad to the BTWC. In addition to sharing with PGA a copy of this Resolution from the National Assembly of Chad, Hon. Yomombe has also kindly provided copies of new draft legislation penalizing usage of weapons of Mass Destruction, including Biological Weapons of 21

15 Biological Weapons Convention Adopted 45 years ago Members of Parliament are vital for implementation of International Treaties such as the BTWC and related legislation of 21

16 Accession by The Independent State of Samoa to the BTWC under the strong leadership of PGA Member, Associate Government Minister for Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE),Hon. Taefu Lemi Taefu, MP of 21

17 You may well ask how, or what, is the relevance of PGA s BTWC Campaign in the context of the priorities of the World Organization for Animal Health, within the thematic framework of this Global Conference? 18 of 21

18 In the United States, Government efforts to control agro-terrorism are improving. The US Agriculture Department has defined Agro-terrorism as a "deliberate introduction of an animal or plant disease for the purpose of generating fear, causing economic loss, or undermining social stability," according to a recent Congressional Research Service report. As stated by the Director of US Homeland Security "Animal, plant and human health are inextricably linked, but agriculture, food and emergency response sectors do not traditionally coordinate and communicate - Director of US Homeland Security 19 of 21

19 GET IN TOUCH CONTACT US PGA Headquarters - UN Office, New York 132 Nassau Street, Suite 1419 Tel: Fax: PGA Foundation - The Hague Bertha von Suttner Building Laan van Meerdervoort AN, The Hague, Netherlands Tel: Fax: info@pgaction.org f t facebook.com/pgaction twitter.com/pgaction 20 of 21

20 THANK YOU