BTWC @ 40: Afternoon impressions

On 30 March 2015 the 40th anniversary of the entry into force of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) was celebrated in the Council Chamber at the United Nations in Geneva, the same room inwhich the treaty had been negotiated.

In the afternoon , the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding (CCDP) of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) convened a civil society academic seminar. Below are some impressions of that session (Please click for full-size images).

The full programme and texts of remarks are available from the website of the BTWC Implementation Support Unit.

(All pictures with my camera.)

1st panel: Making progress in strengthening the BWC

Chair: Dr Jean Pascal Zanders (CCDP)

Speakers: Dr Ursula Jenal, Dr Gary Burns, and Dr Piers Millett

2nd panel: Future challenges for strengthening the BWC

Chair: Mr Jarmo Sareva (UNIDIR)

Speakers: Mr Nicholas Sims, Dr Gunnar Jeremias, and Dr Iris Hunger

(Impressions from the formal commemoration in the morning can be viewed here.)