OSCE and UNODA support Kyrgyzstan’s efforts in furthering implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention

From 16 to 18 August, Kyrgyzstan hosts a peer-review exercise on the implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in Issyk-Kul.

The peer-review aims to provide a platform to exchange best practices on national approaches to biosafety and biosecurity, define the roadmap on the further development of the legal framework for BWC implementation, including the draft law on biosafety and biosecurity.

More than 45 representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce R, Ministry of Health, State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan, as well as experts on biosafety and biosecurity from Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, the United States, Uzbekistan, European Union (EU) Delegation in Kyrgyzstan, EU Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence, International Science and Technology Center, World Organization for Animal Health, and the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)/UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)  participate in the peer-review and contributing to the advancement of a comprehensive national approach to biosafety and biosecurity.

“The peer-review exercise is voluntary in nature, and it serves as an important tool for building confidence in compliance to the BWC. It is also flexible and can be contextualized to the specific situation and circumstances of the country. We are grateful to the Kyrgyz government for being an active participant of the Convention, and co-organizing this event together with the UNODA and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek”, - shared Dr. Alex Lampalzer, Deputy Chief of the BWC Implementation Support Unit at the UNODA Geneva Branch.

The peer-review will help the national BWC implementing group to improve the system on prevention and reduction of risks of radiological, chemical, and biological emergencies, and identify opportunities for international co-operation and assistance.

“Securing the biosafety of the population is of utmost importance to the implementation of the BWC by Kyrgyzstan. The peer-review will help us to advance our efforts in implementation of the Convention provisions and adopt the best practices of other countries”, - said Ms. Damira Ashiralieva, Microbiology department lecturer, International High School of Medicine, Kyrgyzstan.

The event is organised by joint efforts of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the KR, ISU BWC/UNODA, European Union and OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek under the European Union Council Decision 2019/97 in support of the BWC. The event is part of range of activities within the framework of OSCE’s assistance to the Kyrgyz government in implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1540.