The COVID-19 pandemic painfully demonstrated how infectious diseases can cause global disruption. Mostly, it highlighted the lack of preparedness at the national, regional, and international levels.
As the world grapples with COVID-19 for a second year, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) is also pushing to bolster global defences against future disease threats.
What would be the consequences if such a disease was deliberately manipulated to be more virulent or even intentionally released in multiple places at once– thereby becoming a biological weapon?
The emergence, diffusion, and adoption of emerging biotechnology highlights the need for greater awareness of biosafety and biosecurity.
Informing young scientists about their critical role in these defences was the chief aim of the second Biosecurity Diplomacy Workshop for Young Scientists from the Global South, an interactive training programme launched in January by the Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit.
The programme was made possible with generous support from the European Union under Council Decision 2019/97/CFSP, adopted in support of the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention.
The young scientists joined from 17 countries in the Global South. The event aligned with UNODA’s vision to foster the role of youth and promote inclusiveness in scientific dialogue, in line with the Secretary-General's Disarmament Agenda.
Taking full advantage of the workshop’s virtual platform, the participants interacted with prominent scholars on topics such as science diplomacy, dual-use research of concern, ethical science and innovation, and global health security.
The young scientists actively shared their own knowledge about biosafety and biosecurity, as well as ideas to strengthen cross-regional cooperation under the Biological Weapons Convention.
Additionally, they presented their own research and networked with colleagues who attended the first workshop in 2019.
As they concluded the programme in March, participants felt empowered and motivated to promote sustainable change in their professional communities, in line with the Biological Weapons Convention’s objectives.
The group will continue with a range of tailored activities, including following the Biological Weapons Convention Meeting of Experts in September.
