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CBW Events is a project to create a record of events to enable and encourage understanding of how policies on the issues relating to chemical and biological warfare (CBW) and its prevention are developed.

COVID-19 impact reports

In conjunction with the BioWeapons Prevention Project, Richard Guthrie has been producing daily reports from the inter-governmental meetings of the Biological Weapons Convention since 2006. Following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, an additional series of reports is being produced in the same style to the BWC daily reports. The aim of this new series is to explore lessons to be learned from past BWC activities and discussions for responses to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as examining impacts of the pandemic on BWC activities.

For each report, documents and articles directly referred to are listed in the order they are mentioned. Links to other useful background reading are listed in chronological order. Inclusion of an item as background reading does not constitute an endorsement of its contents but reflects an assessment that it contributes to a relevant discussion. Any conclusions or opinions expressed in these reports are the responsibility of the author.

The reports in this series are:

Publication of this series will now pause, with an update being provided to coincide with preparations for whatever form the next gathering of BWC states parties will take. A subscription sign-up form is available to receive future reports.

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COVID-19 impact report number 1
The Biological Weapons Convention and responses to disease
Published Wednesday 10th June 2020

Documents referred to in COVID-19 impact report 1

Background reading for report 1

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COVID-19 impact report number 2
Distinguishing deliberate disease from natural events or accidental releases
Published Wednesday 17th June 2020

Documents referred to in COVID-19 impact report 2:

Background reading for report 2, listed in chronological order

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COVID-19 impact report number 3
BWC Article VII & Article X discussions relevant to disease outbreak response
Published Wednesday 24th June 2020

Documents referred to in COVID-19 impact report 3

Background reading for report 3, listed in chronological order

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COVID-19 impact report number 4
Discussion within BWC meetings in relation to disease surveillance
Published Wednesday 1st July 2020

Documents referred to in COVID-19 impact report 4

Background reading for report 4, listed in chronological order

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COVID-19 impact report number 5
A snapshot of pandemic lessons for the Biological Weapons Convention
Published Wednesday 8th July 2020

Documents referred to in COVID-19 impact report 5

Background reading for report 5, listed in chronological order

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COVID-19 impact report number 6
Implications of the pandemic for the practicalities of BWC meetings
Published Wednesday 15th July 2020

Documents referred to in COVID-19 impact report 6

Background reading for report 6, listed in chronological order

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COVID-19 impact report number 7
Pandemic influences on possible agenda topics for BWC meetings
Published Wednesday 22nd July 2020

Documents referred to in COVID-19 impact report 7

Background reading for report 7, listed in chronological order

 

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Financial support for this series of reports has been gratefully received from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland.


Daily reports from every formally convened meeting for the Biological Weapons Convention since 2006 are available via the BWC reports page.
Daily reports from the Second, Third and Fourth Review Conferences for the Chemical Weapons Convention (2008, 2013 and 2018) and the 24th Conference of States Parties (2019) are available via the CWC reports page.