Science Diplomacy to Reinforce the Biological Weapons Convention: A Strategic Agenda for Global Biosecurity
Global Policy Opinion has published an article by Jasmina Saric, Cedric Invernizzi, Filippa Lentzos, Mary Onsarigo, and Luk Van Langenhove, calling for a coordinated science diplomacy strategy to bridge the gap between science and security, strengthen the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC), and advance international trust in biosecurity governance.
The article highlights the persistent and structural challenges facing the BWC, which, despite recent progress, lacks a verification regime and struggles with the rapid evolution of scientific and geopolitical pressures. The authors argue that the exponential pace of developments in the life sciences, combined with globalized research and limited regulatory oversight, has created new complexities and lowered barriers to the misuse of life sciences.
The article emphasizes the necessity of a focused, integrated approach across four priority areas: fostering responsibility in the life sciences, establishing scientific advisory mechanisms for the BWC, advancing regional leadership and capacity-building, and promoting strategic science communication. These recommendations address the ongoing challenges confronting the BWC, including the absence of a verification system and the rapid pace of scientific and geopolitical change.
The authors conclude that advancing these four areas in a focused and integrated manner will position science diplomacy as a strategic enabler for reinforcing the BWC and global biosecurity governance. They emphasize that trust, while fragile, remains the strongest foundation for international cooperation in biosecurity.
The Alliance extends its congratulations to our members, Jasmina Saric, Senior Scientific Collaborator at Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) and Luk Van Langenhove, Professor Emeritus at the Brussels School of Governance of the Vrije Univeristeit Brussel on the publication of their significant article in Global Policy Opinion
Read the article here.