UNODA Occasional Papers No. 46: the Biological Weapons Convention at 50: Perspectives from Asia and Pacific

Amid rapid scientific, technological, and geopolitical shifts, the essays examine emerging biological risks alongside the promise—and perils—of breakthroughs in synthetic biology and AI. They stress the need for enhanced transparency, national capacities, and international cooperation to navigate these changes responsibly. This publication, BWC at Fifty: Perspectives from Asia and the Pacific, arrives at a pivotal moment. The next 50 years of the Convention will unfold amid rapid scientific and technological transformation, the increasing interlinkage between global health and security, and shifting geopolitical dynamics. Advances in synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, and life sciences promise great benefits for humanity, but they also bring new responsibilities. To keep the BWC effective and credible, it is essential to strengthen transparency, build national capacities for responsible science, and reinforce international cooperation. The essays in this volume reflect that potential. They explore emerging biological risks, preparedness and response capacities, and the enduring challenges of verification and compliance. Together, they demonstrate the importance of regional dialogue and highlight how collaboration across governments, scientific communities and civil society can help strengthen the Convention’s implementation. By bringing together these perspectives, this volume offers both a regional lens and a forward-looking agenda.