Revised Statement by India on Working Paper on National Implementation during the 6th session of the Working Group on Strengthening BTWC, 19th August 2025
Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates,
I would like to introduce this paper, submitted jointly by India and the United States, on strengthening national implementation. At the heart of this paper lies a simple but urgent idea that while advances in science and technology bring great benefits, they also lower the barriers for misuse.
Terrorist groups and other non-state actors today may have greater access to biological knowledge and tools than ever before.
This makes it critical that States Parties have strong, effective, and practical measures at the national level to ensure that the Convention’s core objective is realized, which is that of preventing the development, acquisition, or use of biological weapons by anyone, anywhere.
The Working Paper outlines concrete national measures that can strengthen Articles III and IV of the BWC.
The suggested national implementation measures are, by definition, national. They must be designed, elaborated, and carried out by each State in line with its own constitutional processes, legal systems, and national circumstances. The measures, as suggested in our paper, are intended only as guidance or options for States Parties to consider, adapt, or build upon. The essence of effective implementation lies in national ownership.
Our suggested measures, which are proposed under a National Implementation Framework, includes ensuring robust bio-safety and bio-security management in domestic facilities; identifying and monitoring high-risk bio-agents; developing oversight mechanisms for research with dual-use potential; and creating transparent systems for domestic incident reporting, education, and training of relevant stakeholders.
At the same time, the paper emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and assistance, so that countries with greater experience, resources, or technical capacity can help others in building and maintaining these safeguards.
In presenting this paper, my delegation wishes to stress that discussions on national implementation do not come at the expense of discussions on compliance. These issues are related in purpose, but can be distinct in process. Treating them as separate tracks allows progress on both fronts, without one holding back the other.
Lastly, should there be appetite among delegations, we would be happy to suggest draft recommendations to the Chair for possible inclusion in the Rolling Text.
However, we are flexible, in case there are contrarian views.
Thank you.
