Promoting the Universalisation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention

Building Stakeholdership in Support of

Malawi’s Ratification of the

Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention

A seminar organised by the BioWeapons Prevention Project

and the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (Malawi),

in cooperation with the Institute for Security Studies (South Africa)

Date: Thursday, 5 June 2008
Location: Nyasa Room, Cresta Crossroads Hotel, Lilongwe, Malawi

09:00-09:30 Registration

OPENING
09:30-09:45  Welcome by Mr Levi Mvula, Acting Programme Manager, Center for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), Malawi

Welcome by Dr Jean Pascal Zanders, Research Fellow, EU Institute for Security Studies, Paris, France and former Director, BioWeapons Prevention Project (BWPP), Geneva, Switzerland
Welcome by Mr Leif Sauvik, Counsellor, Chargé d’Affaires, Royal Norwegian Embassy

ADDRESSING BIOLOGICAL THREATS: WHY IS MALAWI CONCERNED?

10:00–10:20 The threat spectrum caused by infectious disease

Mrs Martha Kwataine, Coordinator, Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN), Malawi

10:20–10:40 Deliberate disease: aspects of warfare, terrorism and crime involving biological materials

Dr Jean Pascal Zanders, Research Fellow, EU Institute for Security Studies, Paris, France

10:40–11:00 Discussion

Coffee break

THE BIOLOGICAL AND TOXIN WEAPONS CONVENTION (BTWC) AND

THE NORM AGAINST THE HOSTILE USE OF DISEASE

11:30–12:00 The Biological Weapons Convention

Dr Piers Millett, Political Affairs Officer, BWC Implementation Support Unit, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, Switzerland

12:00–12:30 Relevancy of the BTWC regime: why Zambia acceded to the convention

Ms Inonge Limbambala, Acting First Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zambia

12:30–13:00 Discussion

Lunch

STATE PARTY PARTICIPATION IN THE BTWC REGIME
Chair: Dr Jean Pascal Zanders, Research Fellow, EU Institute for Security Studies

14:00–14:30 National implementation of the BTWC obligations

Ms Rocio Escauriaza, Legal Research Assistant, Verification Research, Training and Information Centre (VERTIC), United Kingdom

14:30–15:00 Malawi’s participation in the Chemical Weapons Convention

Mr Warren Gunda, Deputy Director, Department of Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affair, Malawi

15:00–15:30 Discussion

Coffee break

STAKEHOLDERSHIP IN THE BTWC
Chair: Ms Kathryn McLaughlin, Acting Director, BioWeapons Prevention Project

16:00–16:20 Health and food security: opportunities for international cooperation

Mr Hemphreys Masuku, Chief Environmental Health Officer, Ministry of Health, Malawi

16:20–16:40 Civil society stakes and responsibilities in preventing the misuse of biology and biotechnology

Ms Amelia du Rand, Institute for Security Studies, Pretoria, South Africa

16:40–17:30 Discussion

CLOSING SESSION

17:30–18:00 Meeting conclusions

Dr Piers Millett, Political Affairs Officer, BWC Implementation Support Unit, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, Switzerland

Final comments

Mr Levi Mvula, Acting Programme Manager, CHRR

Ms Kathryn McLaughlin, Acting Director, BWPP

Closing address

Mr B.M. Mbene, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malawi

18:30–20:30 Reception hosted by Mr Leif Sauvik, Chargé d’Affaires, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Malawi