Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

A nuclear, biological, or chemical weapon that may kill many people at once while also destroying man-made structures, natural resources, and the environment as a whole is referred to as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD). Nuclear bombs have been deployed twice in military engagements, killing hundreds of thousands of people in an instant in Hiroshima and Nagasaki by Japan. The force and fire from an atomic bomb explosion would spread radioactivity.

What is Biological Weapons Convention?

It has established a strong norm against biological weapons and is a crucial component of the international community's efforts to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

WMDs are weapons with the potential to kill and destroy people on such a large scale and without regard for whom they harm that their very existence in the hands of an adversary state can be viewed as a grave threat.

The Convention, formally named "The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Manufacturing, and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction," was negotiated in Geneva, Switzerland, at the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament.

It became available for signature on April 10, 1972, and went into effect on March 26, 1975.

Biological Weapons consist of two types −

Weaponized Agent

It is possible to create biological weapons utilizing almost any disease-causing agent (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or rickettsia) or toxin (poisons derived from animals, plants, or microorganisms, or comparable chemicals generated synthetically). To make the agents better suited for widespread manufacture, storage, and distribution as weapons, they can be improved from their original state. Aflatoxin, anthrax, botulinum toxin, foot-and-mouth disease, glanders, plague, Q fever, rice blast, ricin, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, smallpox, and tularaemia are only a few examples of historical biological weapons programs.

Delivery Mechanism

There are numerous ways that biological weapons can be delivered. Biological weapons have previously been delivered using rockets, bombs, hand grenades, and missiles. Several programs have created spray tanks for vehicles like boats, cars, and trucks. The development of various sprays, brushes, injection systems, and ways to contaminate food and clothing, as well as other delivery mechanisms for assassinations or sabotage operations, has also been recorded.

Terms of BWC

BWC prohibits −

The creation, accumulation, purchase, retention, and production of −

• Biological substances and poisons "of sorts and in proportions where prophylactic, protective, or other peaceful aims are not justified;"

• "Designed to utilize such chemicals or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict" includes weapons, equipment, and delivery vehicles.

• The transfer of, or aid in obtaining, the aforementioned agents, toxins, weapons, gear, and delivery vehicles.

In addition, within nine months after the convention's entry into effect, states-parties must destroy or divert the "agents, poisons, weapons, equipment, and means of delivery" mentioned above to peaceful uses. The Geneva Convention of 1925, which forbids the employment of biological and toxic weapons, is reiterated by the BWC. It does not ban biodefense initiatives either.

Historical Context of BWC

The Geneva Protocol, which was signed there in June 1925 and went into effect in February 1928, is officially known as the Protocol for the Ban of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous, or Other Gases and of Bacteriological Techniques of Warfare. By outlawing their use, it served as the first significant step toward an all-encompassing prohibition on biological weapons. With regards to the Protocol's applicability as well as the use of chemical or biological weapons in retaliation, a number of states did, however, ratify it with reservations. The Geneva Protocol was effectively reduced to a no-first-use agreement solely as a result of these concerns.

After the Second World War, biological and chemical weapons were initially discussed in the context of disarmament negotiations. But these debates went on for a long time without coming to a conclusion. Following the conclusion of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) negotiations in 1968, the UK took the initiative to help break the deadlock in the discussions on chemical and biological weapons. In a working paper it provided, the UK suggested decoupling the discussion of biological weapons from that of chemical weapons and focusing initially on the former.

Conclusion

Weapons of mass destruction are military tools that have a high potential for mass casualties and injury. Nuclear bombs and biological, chemical, and radioactive weapons are among these. One of the most potent weapons ever made is the nuclear bomb. They use the energy released when radioactive material's atoms are divided to destroy on a grand scale. Weapons that use biological, chemical, or radioactive agents can make people or animals sick or even kill them. The development of contemporary human science can be stunted by WMD, and they can potentially cause a massive catastrophe that is unsolvable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How many countries signed Biological Weapons Convention treaty?

Ans. Till date, the Biological Weapons Convention has 185 States Parties and four Signatory States. Besides, there are eight States which have neither signed nor acceded to the Convention.

Q2. What did the Biological Weapons Convention do?

Ans. The creation, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling, and use of biological and toxin weapons are all expressly prohibited by the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).

Q3. Are bio weapons a war crime?

Ans. France began its own program to develop biological weapons in the early 1920s despite having sporadic intelligence. Its leader was the creative chemist Auguste Trillat, who studied in Germany and developed and tested ideas for airborne diseases' persistent virulence.

Q4. What is the latest update in reference to biological weapons?

Ans. Six nations, including four States Parties to the BWC, were allegedly running covert biological weapons programs, according to the US. The United States specifically identified Iran as being in violation, along with Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan (not a signatory), and Syria (a signatory).

Q5. Where do biological weapons come from?

Ans. It is believed that any disease-causing organism (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions or rickettsiae) or toxin (poisons derived from animals, plants or microorganisms, or similar substances produced synthetically), have the potential and hence can be used in the creation of biological weapons.