Wikipedia

List of parties to the Biological Weapons Convention

The list of parties to the Biological Weapons Convention encompasses the states which have signed and ratified or acceded to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), a multilateral treaty outlawing biological weapons.

Participation in the Biological Weapons Convention[1]

On 10 April 1972, the BWC was opened for signature. The Netherlands became the first state to deposit their signature of the treaty that same day. The treaty closed for signature upon coming into force on 26 March 1975 with the deposit of ratification by 22 states. Since then, states that did not sign the BWC can only accede to it.

A total of 197 states may become members of the BWC, including all 193 United Nations member states, the Cook Islands, the Holy See, the State of Palestine and Niue. As of February 2023, 185 states have ratified or acceded to the treaty, most recently South Sudan in February 2023.[1] As well, the Republic of China (Taiwan), which is currently only recognized by 11 UN member states, deposited their instruments of ratification of the BWC with the United States government prior to the US's decision to switch their recognition of the sole legitimate government of China from the Republic of China (ROC) to the People's Republic of China (PRC). A further five states have signed but not ratified the treaty.

Several countries made reservations when ratifying the agreement declaring that it did not imply their complete satisfaction that the BWC allows the stockpiling of biological agents and toxins for "prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes", nor should it imply recognition of other countries they do not recognise.

States Parties edit

According to the treaties database maintained by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, as of February 2023, 185 states have ratified or acceded to the BWC.[1] However, the status of the succession of a number of additional states to the BWC is unclear. For further details, see the Succession of colonies to the BWC section below.

Multiple dates indicate the different days in which states submitted their signature or deposition, varied by location. This location is noted by: (L) for London, (M) for Moscow, and (W) for Washington D.C.

State[1][2][3][4] Signed Deposited Method
  Afghanistan Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Mar 26, 1975 (L) Ratification
  Albania Jun 3, 1992 (W)
Aug 11, 1992 (L)
Mar 26, 1993 (M) 		Accession
  Algeria Sep 28, 2001 (W) Accession
  Andorra Mar 2, 2015 (W) Accession
  Angola Jul 26, 2016 (W) Accession
  Antigua and Barbuda Jan 29, 2003 (L) Accession
  Argentina Aug 1, 1972 (M)
Aug 3, 1972 (L)
Aug 7, 1972 (W) 		Nov 27, 1979 (W)
Dec 5, 1979 (L)
Dec 27, 1979 (M) 		Ratification
  Armenia Jun 7, 1994 (M, W) Accession
  Australia Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Oct 5, 1977 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Austria Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Aug 10, 1973 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Azerbaijan Feb 26, 2004 (M, W) Accession
  Bahamas Nov 26, 1986 (L) Accession
  Bahrain Oct 28, 1988 (L) Accession
  Bangladesh Mar 11, 1985 (M)
Mar 12, 1985 (W)
Mar 13, 1985 (L) 		Accession
  Barbados Feb 16, 1973 (W) Feb 16, 1973 (W) Ratification
  Belarus Apr 10, 1972 (M) Mar 26, 1975 (M) Ratification as   Byelorussian SSR
  Belgium Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Mar 15, 1979 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Belize Oct 20, 1986 (L)
Nov 25, 1986 (W)
Jan 13, 1987 (M) 		Succession from   United Kingdom
  Benin Apr 10, 1972 (W) Apr 25, 1975 (W) Ratification
  Bhutan Jun 8, 1978 (W) Accession
  Bolivia Apr 10, 1972 (W) Oct 30, 1975 (W) Ratification
  Bosnia and Herzegovina Aug 15, 1994 (W) Succession from   SFR Yugoslavia
  Botswana Apr 10, 1972 (W) Feb 5, 1992 (W) Ratification
  Brazil Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Feb 27, 1973 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Brunei Jan 31, 1991 (L) Accession
  Bulgaria Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Aug 2, 1972 (L)
Sep 13, 1972 (W)
Sep 19, 1972 (M) 		Ratification
  Burkina Faso Apr 17, 1991 (W) Accession
  Burundi Apr 10, 1972 (M, W) Oct 18, 2011 (L) Ratification
  Cabo Verde Oct 20, 1977 (M) Accession
  Cambodia Apr 10, 1972 (W) Mar 9, 1983 (W) Ratification
  Cameroon Jan 18, 2013 (W) Accession
  Canada Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Sep 18, 1972 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Central African Republic Apr 10, 1972 (W) Sep 25, 2018 (W) Ratification
  Chile Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Apr 22, 1980 (L) Ratification
  China Nov 15, 1984 (L, M, W) Accession
  Colombia Apr 10, 1972 (W) Dec 19, 1983 (W) Ratification
  Republic of the Congo Oct 23, 1978 (W) Accession
  Cook Islands Dec 4, 2008 (L) Accession
  Costa Rica Apr 10, 1972 (W) Dec 17, 1973 (W) Ratification
  Côte d'Ivoire May 23, 1972 (W) Mar 23, 2016 (M)
Apr 26, 2016 (L) 		Ratification
  Croatia Apr 28, 1993 (W) Succession from   SFR Yugoslavia[a]
  Cuba Apr 12, 1972 (M) Apr 21, 1976 (M) Ratification
  Cyprus Apr 10, 1972 (L, W)
Apr 14, 1972 (M) 		Nov 6, 1973 (L)
Nov 13, 1973 (W)
Nov 21, 1973 (M) 		Ratification
  Czech Republic Apr 5, 1993 (L)
Apr 9, 1993 (M)
Sep 29, 1993 (W) 		Succession from   Czechoslovakia
Signed 10 April 1972
Deposited 30 April 1973
  Democratic Republic of the Congo Apr 10, 1972 (M, W) Sep 16, 1975 (L)
Jan 28, 1977 (W) 		Ratification as   Zaire
  Denmark Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Mar 1, 1973 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Dominica Aug 1, 2016 (L) Succession[b]
  Dominican Republic Apr 10, 1972 (W) Feb 23, 1973 (W) Ratification
  Ecuador Jun 14, 1972 (W) Mar 12, 1975 (W) Ratification
  El Salvador Apr 10, 1972 (W) Dec 31, 1991 (W) Ratification
  Equatorial Guinea Jan 16, 1989 (M)
Jul 29, 1992 (W) 		Accession
  Estonia Jun 21, 1993 (W)
Jul 1, 1993 (M) 		Accession
  Ethiopia Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) May 26, 1975 (L, M)
Jun 26, 1975 (W) 		Ratification
  Fiji Feb 22, 1973 (L) Sep 4, 1973 (W)
Oct 1, 1973 (L)
Oct 5, 1973 (M) 		Ratification
  Finland Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Feb 4, 1974 (L, M, W) Ratification
  France Sep 27, 1984 (L, M, W) Accession
  Gabon Apr 10, 1972 (L) Aug 16, 2007 (W) Ratification
  Gambia Jun 2, 1972 (M)
Aug 8, 1972 (L)
Nov 9, 1972 (W) 		May 7, 1997 (L)
Jun 10, 1997 (M)
Aug 1, 1997 (W) 		Ratification
  Georgia May 22, 1996 (L, M) Accession
  Germany Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Apr 7, 1983 (L, W) Ratification as   West Germany
Also ratified by   East Germany on 28 November 1972 prior to German reunification
  Ghana Apr 10, 1972 (M, W) Jun 6, 1975 (L) Ratification
  Greece Apr 10, 1972 (L)
Apr 12, 1972 (W)
Apr 14, 1972 (M) 		Dec 10, 1975 (W) Ratification
  Grenada Oct 22, 1986 (L) Accession
  Guatemala May 9, 1972 (W) Sep 19, 1973 (W) Ratification
  Guinea Nov 9, 2016 (L)[c] Accession
  Guinea-Bissau Aug 20, 1976 (M) Accession
  Guyana Jan 3, 1973 (W) Mar 26, 2013 (W) Ratification
  Holy See Jan 7, 2002 (W) Accession
  Honduras Apr 10, 1972 (W) Mar 14, 1979 (W) Ratification
  Hungary Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Dec 27, 1972 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Iceland Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Feb 15, 1973 (L, M, W) Ratification
  India Jan 15, 1973 (L, M, W) Jul 15, 1974 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Indonesia Jun 20, 1972 (M, W)
Jun 21, 1972 (L) 		Feb 4, 1992 (M)
Feb 19, 1992 (L)
Apr 1, 1992 (W) 		Ratification
  Iran Apr 10, 1972 (M, W)
Nov 16, 1972 (L) 		Aug 22, 1973 (L, W)
Aug 27, 1973 (M) 		Ratification
  Iraq May 11, 1972 (M) Jun 19, 1991 (M) Ratification
  Ireland Apr 10, 1972 (L, W) Oct 27, 1972 (L, W) Ratification
  Italy Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) May 30, 1975 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Jamaica Aug 13, 1975 (L) Accession
  Japan Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Jun 8, 1982 (W)
Jun 18, 1982 (L, M) 		Ratification
  Jordan Apr 10, 1972 (W)
Apr 17, 1972 (L)
Apr 24, 1972 (M) 		May 30, 1975 (M)
Jun 2, 1975 (W)
Jun 27, 1975 (L) 		Ratification
  Kazakhstan Jun 15, 2007 (M) Accession
  Kenya Jan 7, 1976 (L) Accession
  Kuwait Apr 14, 1972 (M, W)
Apr 27, 1972 (L) 		Jul 18, 1972 (W)
Jul 26, 1972 (L)
Aug 1, 1972 (M) 		Ratification
  Kyrgyzstan Oct 15, 2004 (M) Accession
  Laos Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Mar 20, 1973 (M)
Mar 22, 1973 (W)
Apr 25, 1973 (L) 		Ratification
  Latvia Feb 6, 1997 (L) Accession
  Lebanon Apr 10, 1972 (L, W)
Apr 21, 1972 (M) 		Mar 26, 1975 (L)
Apr 2, 1975 (M)
Jun 13, 1975 (W) 		Ratification
  Lesotho Apr 10, 1972 (W) Sep 6, 1977 (L) Ratification
  Liberia Apr 10, 1972 (W)
Apr 14, 1972 (L) 		Nov 4, 2016 (W) Ratification
  Libya Apr 10, 1972 (M) Jan 19, 1982 (M) Ratification
  Liechtenstein May 30, 1991 (W)
May 31, 1991 (M)
Jun 6, 1991 (L) 		Accession
  Lithuania Feb 10, 1998 (L) Accession
  Luxembourg Apr 10, 1972 (L, M)
Apr 12, 1972 (W) 		Mar 23, 1976 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Madagascar Oct 13, 1972 (L) Mar 7, 2008 (M, W) Ratification
  Malawi Apr 10, 1972 (W) Apr 2, 2013 (W) Ratification
  Malaysia Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Sep 6, 1991 (L, M)
Sep 26, 1991 (W) 		Ratification
  Maldives Aug 2, 1993 (M) Accession
  Mali Apr 10, 1972 (W) Nov 25, 2002 (W) Ratification
  Malta Sep 11, 1972 (L) Apr 7, 1975 (L) Ratification
  Marshall Islands Nov 15, 2012 (W) Accession
  Mauritania Jan 28, 2015 (L) Accession
  Mauritius Apr 10, 1972 (W) Aug 7, 1972 (W)
Jan 11, 1973 (L)
Jan 15, 1973 (M) 		Ratification
  Mexico Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Apr 8, 1974 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Moldova Jan 28, 2005 (M, W) Accession
  Monaco Apr 30, 1999 (L) Accession
  Mongolia Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Sep 5, 1972 (W)
Sep 14, 1972 (L)
Oct 20, 1972 (M) 		Ratification
  Montenegro Jun 3, 2006 (M)
Dec 12, 2006 (L) 		Succession from   Serbia and Montenegro[d]
  Morocco May 2, 1972 (L)
May 3, 1972 (W)
Jun 5, 1972 (M) 		Mar 21, 2002 (L) Ratification
  Mozambique Mar 29, 2011 (L) Accession
  Myanmar Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Dec 1, 2014 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Namibia Feb 25, 2022 (L) Accession
  Nauru Mar 5, 2013 (W) Accession
    Nepal Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Nov 4, 2016 (L, W)
Nov 11, 2016 (M) 		Ratification
  Kingdom of the Netherlands Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Jun 22, 1981 (L, M, W) Ratification, for the whole Kingdom
  New Zealand Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Dec 13, 1972 (W)
Dec 18, 1972 (L)
Jan 10, 1973 (M) 		Ratification
  Nicaragua Apr 10, 1972 (L, W) Aug 7, 1975 (W) Ratification
  Niger Apr 21, 1972 (W) Jun 23, 1972 (W) Ratification
  Nigeria Jul 3, 1972 (M)
Jul 10, 1972 (L)
Dec 6, 1972 (W) 		Jul 3, 1973 (W)
Jul 9, 1973 (L)
Jul 20, 1973 (M) 		Ratification
  Niue Jun 14, 2018 (W) Accession
  North Korea Mar 13, 1987 (M) Accession
  North Macedonia Dec 26, 1996 (M)
Mar 14, 1997 (L)
Apr 23, 1997 (W) 		Succession from   SFR Yugoslavia[e]
  Norway Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Aug 1, 1973 (L, W)
Aug 23, 1973 (M) 		Ratification
  Oman Mar 31, 1992 (W) Accession
  Pakistan Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Sep 25, 1974 (M)
Oct 3, 1974 (L, W) 		Ratification
  Palau Feb 20, 2003 (W) Accession
  Palestine Jan 9, 2018 (L, M) Accession
  Panama May 2, 1972 (W) Mar 20, 1974 (W) Ratification
  Papua New Guinea Oct 27, 1980 (L)
Nov 13, 1980 (M)
Mar 16, 1981 (W) 		Accession
  Paraguay Jun 9, 1976 (W) Accession
  Peru Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Jun 5, 1985 (L, M)
Jun 11, 1985 (W) 		Ratification
  Philippines Apr 10, 1972 (L, W)
Jun 21, 1972 (M) 		May 21, 1973 (W) Ratification
  Poland Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Jan 25, 1973 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Portugal Jun 29, 1972 (W) May 15, 1975 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Qatar Nov 14, 1972 (L) Apr 17, 1975 (L) Ratification
  Romania Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Jul 25, 1979 (W)
Jul 26, 1979 (L)
Jul 27, 1979 (M) 		Ratification
  Russia Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Mar 26, 1975 (L, M, W) Ratification as   Soviet Union
  Rwanda Apr 10, 1972 (M, W) May 20, 1975 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Saint Kitts and Nevis Apr 2, 1991 (L) Accession
  Saint Lucia Nov 26, 1986 (L) Succession from   United Kingdom
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines May 13, 1999 (L) Succession from   United Kingdom
  Samoa Sep 21, 2017 (W) Accession
  San Marino Sep 12, 1972 (W)
Jan 30, 1973 (M)
Mar 21, 1973 (L) 		Mar 11, 1975 (L)
Mar 17, 1975 (W)
Mar 27, 1975 (M) 		Ratification
  Sao Tome and Principe Aug 24, 1979 (M) Accession
  Saudi Arabia Apr 12, 1972 (W) May 24, 1972 (W) Ratification
  Senegal Apr 10, 1972 (W) Mar 26, 1975 (W) Ratification
  Serbia Apr 27, 1992 (M)
Jun 5, 2001 (W)
Jun 13, 2001 (L) 		Succession from   SFR Yugoslavia
Signed 10 April 1972
Deposited 25 October 1973[9]
Succession from   Serbia and Montenegro[f]
  Seychelles Oct 11, 1979 (L)
Oct 16, 1979 (W)
Oct 24, 1979 (M) 		Accession
  Sierra Leone Nov 7, 1972 (W)
Nov 24, 1972 (L) 		Jun 29, 1976 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Singapore Jun 19, 1972 (L, M, W) Dec 2, 1975 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Slovakia Jan 1, 1993 (M)
May 17, 1993 (L)
Jun 10, 1993 (W) 		Succession from   Czechoslovakia
Signed 10 April 1972
Deposited 30 April 1973
  Slovenia Apr 7, 1992 (L, M)
Aug 20, 1992 (W) 		Succession from   SFR Yugoslavia
  Solomon Islands Jun 17, 1981 (L) Succession from   United Kingdom
  South Africa Apr 10, 1972 (W) Nov 3, 1975 (W) Ratification
  South Korea Apr 10, 1972 (L, W) Jun 25, 1987 (L, W) Ratification
  South Sudan Feb 15, 2023 (W) Accession
  Spain Apr 10, 1972 (L, W) Jun 20, 1979 (L, W) Ratification
  Sri Lanka Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Nov 18, 1986 (L, M, W) Ratification
Signed as Ceylon
  Sudan Oct 17, 2003 (L)
Oct 20, 2003 (M)
Nov 7, 2003 (W) 		Accession
  Suriname Jan 6, 1993 (L, M)
Apr 9, 1993 (W) 		Accession
  Swaziland Jun 18, 1991 (L) Accession
  Sweden Feb 27, 1974 (M)
Feb 27, 1975 (L, W) 		Feb 5, 1976 (L, M, W) Ratification
   Switzerland Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) May 4, 1976 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Tajikistan Jun 27, 2005 (M) Accession
  Tanzania Aug 16, 1972 (L) Aug 14, 2019 (L) Ratification
  Thailand Jan 17, 1973 (W) May 28, 1975 (W) Ratification
  Timor-Leste May 5, 2003 (W) Accession
  Togo Apr 10, 1972 (W) Nov 10, 1976 (W) Ratification
  Tonga Sep 28, 1976 (L) Accession
  Trinidad and Tobago Jul 19, 2007 (L) Accession
  Tunisia Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) May 18, 1973 (W)
May 30, 1973 (M)
Jun 6, 1973 (L) 		Ratification
  Turkey Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Oct 25, 1974 (M)
Nov 4, 1974 (L)
Nov 5, 1974 (W) 		Ratification
  Turkmenistan Jan 11, 1996 (M)
Mar 8, 1996 (W) 		Accession
  Uganda May 12, 1992 (W) Accession
  Ukraine Apr 10, 1972 (M) Mar 26, 1975 (M) Ratification as   Ukrainian SSR
  United Arab Emirates Sep 28, 1972 (L) Jun 19, 2008 (L) [11] Ratification
  United Kingdom Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Mar 26, 1975 (L, M, W) Ratification
  United States Apr 10, 1972 (L, M, W) Mar 26, 1975 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Uruguay Apr 6, 1981 (W) Accession
  Uzbekistan Jan 26, 1996 (M) Accession
  Vanuatu Sep 6, 2016 (L) Succession[g]
  Venezuela Apr 10, 1972 (W) Oct 18, 1978 (L, M, W) Ratification
  Vietnam Apr 10, 1972 (M) Jun 20, 1980 (M) Ratification as the   Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Signed by the   Democratic Republic of Vietnam and   Republic of Vietnam on 10 April 1972 prior to Vietnamese reunification[12]
  Yemen Apr 26, 1972 (M)
May 10, 1972 (L) 		Jun 1, 1979 (M) Ratification as   South Yemen
Also signed by   North Yemen on 10 April 1972 prior to Yemeni unification
  Zambia Jan 15, 2008 (L) Accession
  Zimbabwe Nov 5, 1990 (L) Accession
Notes
  1. ^ Croatia's effective date of succession was 8 October 1991.[5]
  2. ^ Dominica's effective date of succession was 3 November 1978.[2]
  3. ^ The Chairman of the Meeting of the States Parties to the BWC reported that Guinea had submitted an instrument of accession in 2011 that the depositaries deemed to be legally insufficient to become a party to the treaty.[6]
  4. ^ Montenegro's effective date of succession was 3 June 2006.[7]
  5. ^ Macedonia's effective date of succession was 17 November 1991.[8]
  6. ^ The FR Yugoslavia's (later Serbia and Montenegro) effective date of succession from the SFR Yugoslavia was 27 April 1992, while Serbia's effective date of succession from Serbia and Montenegro was 3 June 2006.[10]
  7. ^ Vanuatu's effective date of succession was 30 July 1980.[2]

State with limited recognition, abiding by treaty edit

The Republic of China (Taiwan), which is currently only recognized by 11 UN member states, deposited their instruments of ratification of the BWC with the United States government prior to the US's decision to switch their recognition of the sole legitimate government of China from the Republic of China (ROC) to the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1971. When the PRC subsequently ratified the treaty, they described the ROC's ratification as "illegal". The ROC has committed itself to continue to adhere to the requirements of the treaty, and the United States has declared that they still consider them to be "bound by its obligations".[13]

State Signed Deposited Method
  Republic of China Apr 10, 1972 Feb 9, 1973 Ratification

Signatory states edit

The following four states have signed, but not ratified the BWC.[14]

State Signed Ratification status[a][14]
  Egypt Apr 10, 1972 (L, M) No action expected in near future
  Haiti Apr 10, 1972 (W) Waiting for further information, assistance, or have other priorities[b]
  Somalia Jul 3, 1972 (M) Waiting for further information, assistance, or have other priorities
  Syria Apr 14, 1972 (M) No action expected in near future
Notes
  1. ^ As per the 2023 Report of the Chairman on Universalization Activities to the Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction.
  2. ^ As of September 2017, a ratification bill has been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers and submitted to parliament.[15][16]

Non-signatory states edit

The following 8 UN member states have neither signed nor ratified the BWC.[14]

State Ratification status[a][14]
  Chad Waiting for further information, assistance, or have other priorities[b]
  Comoros Process well advanced[c]
  Djibouti Waiting for further information, assistance, or have other priorities[20]
  Eritrea Waiting for further information, assistance, or have other priorities
  Israel No action expected in near future
  Kiribati[d] Process started[e]
  Micronesia Process started[f]
  Tuvalu[d] Process started
  Status unclear: see succession of colonies to the BWC below.
Notes
  1. ^ As per the 2023 Report of the Chairman on Universalization Activities to the Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction.
  2. ^ Parliamentarians for Global Action reported in June 2017 that Chad's National Assembly had recommended the government ratify the agreement.[17][15]
  3. ^ In 2007, the Chairman of the Meeting of the States Parties to the BWC reported that ratification of the BWC had been approved by the government of Comoros pending signature by the President.[18][19] In October 2023, the BWC Implementation Support Unit and United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs reported that Comoros government officials had informed them that ratification would be brought forward to parliament during the current session.[14]
  4. ^ a b Neither Kiribati or Tuvalu are listed as parties to the BWC in documents from the Meetings of the States Parties to the BWC,[14] but their status is unclear. See succession of colonies to the BWC below.
  5. ^ Kiribati's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations committed in 2016 to recommend accession to the treaty.[21] Accession is expected in 2020 according to Parliamentarians for Global Action.[22][needs update]
  6. ^ The Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia introduced a resolution approving ratification of the convention in June 2019.[23][24]

Succession of colonies to the BWC edit

The status of several former dependent territories of a state party to the BWC, whose administrating power ratified the Convention on their behalf, with regards to the Convention following their independence is currently unclear. According to the Vienna Convention on Succession of States in respect of Treaties (to which 22 states are party), "newly independent states" (a euphemism for former colonies) receive a "clean slate", such that the new state does not inherit the treaty obligations of the colonial power, but that they may join multilateral treaties to which their former colonizers were a party without the consent of the other parties in most circumstances. Conversely, in "cases of separation of parts of a state" (a euphemism for all other new states), the new state remains bound by the treaty obligations of the state from which they separated. To date, this Convention has only been ratified by 22 states.

The United Kingdom attached a territorial declaration to their instrument of ratification of the BWC in 1975 stating in part that it applied to:[25]

"... in respect of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Dominica and Territories under the territorial sovereignty of the United Kingdom, as well as the State of Brunei, the British Solomon Islands Protectorate and, within the limits of the United Kingdom jurisdiction therein, the Condominium of New Hebrides [subsequently renamed Vanuatu]."

This declaration bound the territories of Kiribati and Tuvalu to the terms of the Convention.[26] Following their independence, none of these states have made unambiguous declarations of succession to the BWC.[26] Dominica and Vanuatu's statuses were likewise ambiguous from their independence until 2016.

Kiribati edit

In 1979, Kiribati gained their independence and subsequently, the President of Kiribati sent a note to the UNSG stating that:[26]

... the Government of the Republic of Kiribati declares that, with regard to multilateral treaties applied or extended to the former Gilbert Islands, it will continue to apply the terms of each such treaty provisionally and on the basis of reciprocity until such time as it notifies the depositary authority of its decision with respect thereto.”

Since then, none of the depositaries for the BWC has received an instrument of accession or succession to the Convention from Kiribati.[1] However, the Government of Kiribati has made statements suggesting that it does not consider itself a party to the treaty.[26]

Tuvalu edit

Following independence in 1978, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu sent a note to the UNSC stating that:[26]

"The Government of Tuvalu desires that it should be presumed that each treaty purporting or deemed to bind Tuvalu before Independence has been legally succeeded to by Tuvalu and that action should be based on such presumption unless and until the Government of Tuvalu decides that any particular treaty should be treated as having lapsed."

Since then, none of the depositaries for the BWC has received an instrument of accession or succession to the Convention from Tuvalu.[1] However, the Government of Tuvalu has made statements suggesting that it does not consider itself a party to the treaty.[26]

Dominica edit

After becoming independent in 1978, the Prime Minister of Dominica sent a note to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UNSG) stating that:[26]

“The Government of Dominica declares that, with regard to multilateral treaties applied or extended to the former British Associated State of Dominica, it will continue to apply such terms of each treaty provisionally and on the basis of reciprocity until such time as it notifies the depositary authority of its decision in respect thereof.”

The Government of Dominica later stated that it did not consider itself bound by the Convention.[26] However, Dominica was listed as a state party to the BWC in documents from the Meetings of the States Parties to the BWC.[19] The UK Treaty Office (as depositary) did not receive an instrument of succession from Dominica until 2016.[2]

Vanuatu edit

In 1980, the territory gained their independence. Vanuatu was listed as a state party to the BWC in documents from the Meetings of the States Parties to the BWC,[19] however the Government of Vanuatu made statements suggesting that it did not consider itself a party to the treaty[26] and the UK depositary had no record of receiving an instrument of succession to the BWC from Vanuatu until 2016.[26][27]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Disarmament Treaties Database: Biological Weapons Convention". United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  2. ^ a b c d "Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction". Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2015-02-10.
    "Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction". Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Retrieved 2019-04-27.
  3. ^ "Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction". United States Department of State. 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  4. ^ Конвенция о запрещении разработки, производства и накопления запасов бактериологического (биологического) и токсинного оружия и об их уничтожении (in Russian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. 2013-04-17. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  5. ^ "Croatia: Succession to Biological Weapons Convention". United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
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  7. ^ "Montenegro: Succession to Biological Weapons Convention". United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
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  9. ^ "Serbia: Succession to Biological Weapons Convention". United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  10. ^ "Serbia: Succession to Biological Weapons Convention". United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  11. ^ "UAE ratifies BWC". United Nations Office at Geneva. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  12. ^ "Viet Nam: Signature of Biological Weapons Convention". United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  13. ^ "China: Accession to Biological Weapons Convention". United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
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  16. ^ "Maigre bilan du Parlement : Près d'une vingtaine d'instruments internationaux en souffrance". 2018-11-19. Archived from the original on 2018-11-27. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
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  19. ^ a b c "Report on universalization activities" (PDF). Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction. 2015-11-05. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2017-10-31.
  20. ^ "Report on universalization activities1" (PDF). Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction. 2021-09-23. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  21. ^ "Eighth Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction" (PDF). 2016-06-15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-25. Retrieved 2017-09-25.
  22. ^ "Campaign for Universality and Implementation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) & Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004)". Parliamentarians for Global Action. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  23. ^ "A Resolution" (PDF). 2019-06-13. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  24. ^ "Report on universalization activities". Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction. 2019-10-08. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
  25. ^ "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Ratification of Biological Weapons Convention". United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
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