BWC, the first multilateral disarmament treaty to ban an entire category of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), was opened for signature in April, 1972 and entered into force on 26th March 1975.
About BWC
- Formally known as “The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction”.
- Biological and toxin weapons are either microorganisms like virus, bacteria or fungi, or toxic substances produced by living organisms that are produced and released deliberately to cause disease and death in humans, animals or plants.
- Example: Anthrax, Botulinum toxin and Plague.
- Consequences may include food shortages, environmental catastrophes, devastating economic loss, and widespread illness, fear and mistrust among the public.
- Biological and toxin weapons are either microorganisms like virus, bacteria or fungi, or toxic substances produced by living organisms that are produced and released deliberately to cause disease and death in humans, animals or plants.
- Background: The Convention was negotiated by the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Provision: BWC effectively prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons.
- It supplements the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which had prohibited only the use of biological weapons.
- Membership: Almost universal membership with 188 States Parties and four Signatory States (Egypt, Haiti, Somalia, and Syria).
- India is a member of BWC.
Other Conventions/Treaties prohibiting WMD
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