 |
 |
|
|
News Section Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity Section introducing the ICRC’s Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity initiative, along with background information on biological weapons and international efforts to control them.
Developments in biotechnology should serve only to benefit humanity. The ICRC initiative on Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity was prompted by the risk that new technologies from life sciences could be put to hostile use. The centrepiece of the ICRC initiative is an appeal to governments, the scientific community, the military and industry to recognise the risks, the rules and their responsibilities in this domain.
When launching the appeal in 2002, the ICRC proposed a Ministerial Declaration on Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity. Whilst States were favourable in principle, there was no consensus as to the optimal timing for adoption of such a Declaration. In parallel, successful outreach to the scientific community has been achieved via specific roundtables in London, Moscow and Kuala Lumpur, numerous contacts with scientific institutions and by publication of a brochure "Preventing hostile use of the life sciences" See also : A Model Law: the Biological and Toxin Weapons Crimes Act  Key document21-11-2006 Biological weapons: ICRC appeals to States, scientists and industry At the Sixth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention (Geneva, 20.11 - 8.12.2006), the ICRC has called for renewed efforts by States, scientists and the biotechnology industry to ensure universal adoption and effective implementation of the treaty. (Humanitarian law\Weapons\Biological weapons) Official Statement 11-11-2004 Preventing hostile use of the life sciences: From ethics and law to best practiceThe following "Principles of Practice" incorporate some key points of discussion about ethics relating to life sciences. They apply to all stakeholders in the life sciences. The objective is to build a bridge from pertinent ethics and laws which should prevent poisoning and deliberate spread of infectious disease to best practice within the life science community. (Focus\Biotechnology and weapons) 7-5-2004 Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity: ICRC outreach to the life science community on preventing hostile use of the life sciencesThe ICRC is involved in a number of activities around the world as part of its initiative on Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity. This kind of promotion and dissemination of international humanitarian law rules at the individual and institutional level against biological weapons is vital. In an increasingly inter-connected world, awareness and preventive action is required at every level of society to help reduce the risk of technology developed to benefit humanity being used for hostile purposes. (Focus\Biotechnology and weapons) 20-1-2004 Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity: introductionThe 'Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity' initiative of the ICRC is introduced here, along with background information about the prohibition of biological weapons. The ICRC's concept of the 'web of prevention', intended to contribute to minimizing the risks of the life sciences being used for hostile purposes, is outlined. (Focus\Biotechnology and weapons) Montreux Meeting of Experts16-9-2002 Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity: 23-24 September 2002 - The Montreux Meeting, Switzerland(Focus\Biotechnology and weapons) ICRC Publication26-9-2003 Biotechnology, weapons and humanityFollowing on from the launch of the ICRC's public appeal on Biotechnology, weapons and humanity in September 2002, this leaflet has been produced. It highlights some of the existing and emerging capabilities for use of scientific advances in the field of biotechnology for hostile purposes and the risks that they pose for humanity if not controlled. It also outlines measures that can be taken by governments, industry, scientists and other actors to minimise the threat of poisoning and deliberate spreading of disease. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Humanitarian law) ICRC Publication Includes PDF International Review of the Red Cross30-9-2005 Neurobiology: A case study of the imminent militarization of biologyThe biological, medical (and legal) communities should face the near certainty that unless active steps are taken to prevent it, biology will become the next major military technology, and that neuroscience — and by implication much of the rest of modern biology — will
become highly vulnerable to use or abuse in entirely unintended, but clearly
foreseeable, ways. (Info resources\International Review\2005 - No. 859) International Review of the Red Cross Includes PDF Official Statement11-12-2006 Functional Perspective on the Biological Weapons Convention and
Chemical Weapons ConventionPresentation by the International Committee of the Red Cross, Special meeting on combating the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, their delivery systems, and related materials, Permanent Council of the Organization of American States Committee on hemispheric security, Washington, 11 December 2006 (Humanitarian law\National implementation\Topics\Weapons) Official Statement 10-6-2005 Preventing the use of biological and chemical weapons: 80 years onSpeech delivered by Jacques Forster, vice-president of the ICRC, during the International seminar on the Biological and Chemical Weapons Threat, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the 1925 Geneva Protocol prohibiting asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases.
and bacteriological methods of warfare. (Humanitarian law\Weapons\Chemical weapons) Official Statement 25-9-2002 Appeal on Biotechnology, Weapons and HumanityICRC's appeal to the political and military authorities and to the scientific and medical communities, industry and civil society on the potentially dangerous developments in biotechnology. (Focus\Biotechnology and weapons) Official Statement Press article24-11-2005 Hostile Use of the Life SciencesArticle by Meng-Kin Lim, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on 24 November. Meng-Kin Lim was a participant at an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) roundtable in September 2005, also entitled 'Hostile Use of the Life Sciences' (Focus\Biotechnology and weapons) Press article 20-7-2005 Science and Prohibited WeaponsThis article is published with the kind permission of Science Magazine, where it first appeared on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the 1925 gas Protocol. (Focus\Biotechnology and weapons) Press article More in this section6-12-2003 Biotechnology, Weapons and HumanityWorkshop 4, 28th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Geneva, 2 to 6 December 2003 (Focus\RC Movement\International Conference\28th Conference) 4-12-2003 Statement to the Conference Commission on 'Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity', 4 December 2003Professor Malcolm Dando, Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, United Kingdom. 28th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Geneva, 2 to 6 December 2003 (Focus\RC Movement\International Conference\28th Conference) 30-6-2003 Report on "Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity"Council of Delegates of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2003 (Focus\RC Movement\Council of Delegates\2003) Other site19-1-2007 University of Bradford Department of Peace StudiesStrengthening the Biological Weapons Convention website (Info resources\Other sites\Institutes and universities) Other site 19-1-2007 UNOG - United nations office at GenevaDisarmament - The Biological Weapons Convention (Info resources\Other sites\United Nations) Other site 19-1-2007 United Nations Department of Disarmament Affairs information on the Biological Weapons Convention Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (Info resources\Other sites\United Nations) Other site 19-1-2007 Harvard Sussex Program on chemical and biological weapons (hsp)HSP seeks to instil the traditions, practice and benefits of scholarship into the formation of public policy on issues involving biological and chemical weapons. University-based research and publication, other forms of international communication, constructive association with people in policy-shaping and policy-making circles, and training of young people are the means HSP uses. (Info resources\Other sites\International law) Other site 19-1-2007 BioWeapons Prevention Project (BWPP), Geneva, Switzerland The BioWeapons Prevention Project (BWPP) is a new global civil society activity that aims to strengthen the norm against using disease as a weapon. It was initiated by a group of non-governmental organizations concerned at the failure of governments to act. (Info resources\Other sites\International law) Other site 23-5-2005 Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons entered into force on 29 April 1997. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was created under the Convention to ensure the implementation of its provisions and to provide a forum for consultation and co-operation. (Info resources\Other sites\International law) Other site 23-2-2005 Stockholm International Peace Research InstituteResearch projects (e.g. arms control, arms production, military technology, nuclear weapons, chemical and biological weapons, etc.). List of publications (annotations and chapters of Institute yearbook). Library catalogue. Access to various Institute databases (e.g. data on military expenditure). Links. (Info resources\Other sites\Institutes and universities) Other site  |
