Review conferences
According to Article XII of the BTWC, the purpose of such a review conference is to assure
States Parties have also used the review conference process to improve the BTWC by developing methods to build trust, generate transparency, and, ultimately, offer security to states parties. They devised a series of confidence-building measures (CBMs) to promote transparency regarding certain treaty-relevant activities. Until today, they are trying to expand their scope and relevancy. They investigated and negotiated options for a comprehensive compliance and verification regime, but these efforts failed in 2001.
At the 5th Review Conference (2001-2002), which followed the failed attempt to adopt a formal compliance regime, a new process of annual expert and state party meetings was adopted, This proved a useful exercise focussing on the responsibilities of individual states parties and their citizens to prevent the hostile application of disease. The 6th Review Conference (2006) noted the value of this inter-sessional process and decided on a second round of annual meetings to improve the implementation of the BTWC. It also established a small Implementation Support Unit (ISU), a small permanent office to accompany the annual meetings and prepare the next review conference.
The 7th Review Conference is expected to be held in 2011.
‘that the purposes of the preamble and the provisions of the Convention [...] are being realized'. In addition, ‘such review shall take into account any new scientific and technological developments relevant to the Convention'.Although the article only mentions a single review conference to be held five years after the entry into force of the BTWC (which was in 1975), the states parties have come together every five years (with one exception) to assess the status of the convention and update the prohibition against biological weapons (BW). Review conferences were held in 1980, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001–2002 and 2006.
States Parties have also used the review conference process to improve the BTWC by developing methods to build trust, generate transparency, and, ultimately, offer security to states parties. They devised a series of confidence-building measures (CBMs) to promote transparency regarding certain treaty-relevant activities. Until today, they are trying to expand their scope and relevancy. They investigated and negotiated options for a comprehensive compliance and verification regime, but these efforts failed in 2001.
At the 5th Review Conference (2001-2002), which followed the failed attempt to adopt a formal compliance regime, a new process of annual expert and state party meetings was adopted, This proved a useful exercise focussing on the responsibilities of individual states parties and their citizens to prevent the hostile application of disease. The 6th Review Conference (2006) noted the value of this inter-sessional process and decided on a second round of annual meetings to improve the implementation of the BTWC. It also established a small Implementation Support Unit (ISU), a small permanent office to accompany the annual meetings and prepare the next review conference.
The 7th Review Conference is expected to be held in 2011.