Global Event for BWC National Contact Points (NCPs)

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit (BWC ISU) will organize a Global Workshop for National Contact Points (NCPs) for the BWC.

The workshop will be held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, from 28 to 29 November 2024. It is aimed at national representatives or entities serving as BWC NCPs, as appointed by their respective national authorities or who attended the regional training courses for BWC NCPs conducted in 2023 and 2024.

Participation will be limited to one representative per State Party.

The global workshop aims to:

• Share the key outcomes, recommendations and lessons learned from the regional training courses delivered to BWC NCPs and introduce a set of new tools and resources available to NCPs developed by UNODA;
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and interaction, by providing a platform for NCPs to exchange information, knowledge and best practices on aspects related to their critical role regarding national implementation of the BWC;
• Foster networking with a view to promote a sense of community and empowerment among NCPs worldwide, offering an opportunity for NCPs from different regions to interact and collaborate;
• Promote CBMs under the Convention, as well as highlight related challenges and effective practices including CBM assistance opportunities available to States Parties; and
• Contribute to the discussions within the framework of the Working Group on the Strengthening of the BWC. 

The workshop will be conducted in English, with simultaneous interpretation available in Arabic, French, Russian and Spanish.