BWC confidence-building measures: Increasing BWC assurance through transparency and information sharing

Area of Science:

• International Security
• Arms Control
• Biosecurity

Background:

• The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) lacks a verification regime.
• Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) were established to enhance BWC compliance through transparency.
• Limitations of CBMs include low participation and data quality concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify actionable strategies for improving the value of BWC Confidence-Building Measures.
• To address challenges in BWC compliance and verification.
• To reduce the burden of CBM submissions on states parties.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with 53 international experts.
• Expert interviews included 38 participants from BWC delegations and 15 independent experts.
• Analysis focused on identifying opportunities to enhance CBM effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Identified specific opportunities to increase the value of CBMs.
• Proposed methods to mitigate the reporting burden on states parties.
• Provided insights into improving transparency and compliance with the BWC.

Conclusions:

• Concrete measures can enhance the effectiveness of BWC Confidence-Building Measures.
• Improving CBMs is crucial for strengthening compliance and assurance in the BWC.
• Further research supports efforts to bolster the BWC verification and compliance framework.