PGA Regional African Workshop to Promote Biological Security
PGA Regional African Workshop to Promote Biological Security Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 9-10th May, 2022
Kindly Supported by:
Dar-Es-Salaam – 9-10th May 2022
On 9 and 10 May 2022, PGA’s International Peace
and Security Program organized a Workshop in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania with the
kind support from Global Affairs Canada. This activity included 27 participants
representing 16 African States and organizations, to promote Biological
Security in the region.
The First Session of the Workshop was opened by former PGA
Member, Hon. Dr. Pindi Chana, Minister for Natural
Resources and Tourism of Tanzania, followed by Hon. Pamela O’Donnell, High
Commissioner of Canada to Tanzania before the Workshop was officially declared
opened by the Chair of PGA National Group in Tanzania, Hon. Jasson Rweikiza. During
the course of the two-day Workshop, participants were able to share their own
insights and experiences in the promotion of Biological Security in their
respective countries but also regionally. Particular attention was devoted to the
Biological Weapons Convention (1972), UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) and, UN Security Council Resolution 2325 (2016).
Namibia aspires to
sustainable development in a democratic world, which operates in a rules-based
international order that promotes peace and security, for all peoples. As such,
on the 10th of February 2022, the Republic of Namibia submitted its instrument
of accession to the Biological Weapon Convention to the Government of United
Kingdom as one of the depository Governments. Our aim is to be part of the
global multilateral framework to enhance cooperation in addressing threats of
biological weapons.
Our country is now in the process of domesticating the BWC. In this regard, our
Government will seek the appropriate support from the Secretariat of the BWC
and the international community at large, to enable us to implement the
Convention.
Namibia will remain actively engaged and committed to the ideals of the
Convention, and our participation in this Workshop is a demonstration of that.
Let us keep in mind that pandemics and gaps in the implementation of the
Convention will increase the danger for all of us. Therefore, we must avoid
unnecessary politicization of these issues and be guided by scientific facts
and not emotion to ensure the safety of mankind. “Hon. Hamunyera
Hambyuka, MP, Namibia
Statements from each delegation were presented
through Tuesday, May 10, 2022. In addition, a UNODC expert, Mr. O'Neil
Hamilton, gave an excellent presentation on the implementation of the
Biological Weapons Convention and UNSCR 1540 in Africa, which elicited very
interesting comments and questions from the participants.
After vivid debates and exchanges, the
parliamentarians attending the Workshop adopted the Plan of Action of
Dar-es-Salaam which includes a number of specific measures/steps for
participant Parliamentarians to consider taking within their respective
Parliaments in order to promote greater Universality and Implementation of the
BWC, as appropriate, and implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004).
Within the coming months, PGA’s International
Peace and Security Program will continue to collaborate with participants to
provide assistance and also to follow-up on the actions they have taken in the
months following the workshop.
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