Seminar om biologiske våben og andre masseødelæggelses-våben

TIME: Monday, 27 August at 09.30 – 12.00 hours

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, ground floor, Strandgade 71, Christianshavn, 1401 Copenhagen K

BACKGROUND

Building partner capacity to counter biological threats poses specific challenges to the health and security communities and demands strong, whole-of-government partnerships.

TIME: Monday, 27 August at 09.30 – 12.00 hours

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, ground floor, Strandgade 71, Christianshavn, 1401 Copenhagen K

BACKGROUND

Building partner capacity to counter biological threats poses specific challenges to the health and security communities and demands strong, whole-of-government partnerships.

In preventing, detecting, and responding to health emergencies of international concern, states must build capacity to address all biological events, whether the result of an intentional attack, accidental release, or naturally occurring infectious disease outbreak.

The Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (Global Partnership), was established in 2002 as an initiative to prevent terrorists, or states that support them, from acquiring or developing weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Since then, the Global Partnership has grown to include 24 partners and has allocated over 21 billion US dollar worldwide towards the prevention of WMD terrorism. During the 2011 G8 Summit in Deauville, France, Leaders agreed to extend the Partnership beyond 2012 and named biological security as a major focal area.

The seminar will highlight the importance of expanding partnerships between the health and security communities to counter biological threats and will outline the Global Partnership biosecurity effort in 2012.

Moreover, the seminar will emphasize the need for multi-sectorial, whole-of-government participation in global biological and health security efforts.

SPEAKERS

* Bonnie D. Jenkins, Ambassador, Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs, US Department Of State.
* Andrew Weber, Assistant Secretary of Defense, US Department of Defense.
* Erik-Jan van Oosterhout, Deputy Head Non-Proliferation, Disarmament, Arms Control and Export Control Policy Division, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
* Zurab Tchiaberashvili, Minister of Health, Republic of Georgia.
* Kris Beardsley, Director, Biological Counterterrorism and Domestic Security Policy, National Security Staff, The White House.
* Guénaël Rodier, Director, Communicable Diseases, Health Security & Environment, WHO Regional Office for Europe.
* Cindy Vestergaard, Researcher, DIIS.

PROGRAMME

09.30-09.40
Welcome by Cindy Vestergaard, Researcher, DIIS

09.40-10.00
Introduction by Bonnie D. Jenkins, Ambassador, Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs, US Department of State

10.00-11.30
Partnerships across the Health and Security Interface to Counter Biological Threats and Improve Global Health Security

10.00-10.15
Whole-of-Government Health and Security Partnerships to Reduce Biological Threats by Andrew Weber, Assistant Secretary of Defense, US Department of Defense

10.15-10.30
Netherlands Perspective – GP Funding for Activities to Improve Biological Security by Erik-Jan van Oosterhout, Deputy Head Non-Proliferation, Disarmament, Arms Control and Export Control Policy Division, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

10.30-10.45
Coffee Break

10.45-11.00
Georgia as a Regional Center for Improving Biosurveillance Across the Caucasus by Zurab Tchiaberashvili, Minister of Health, Republic of Georgia

11.00-11.15
Partnerships to Improve Health and Security through Raising Awareness of Dual use Research of Concern by Kris Beardsley, Director, Biological Counterterrorism and Domestic Security Policy, National Security Staff, The White House

11.15-11.30
World Health Organization (WHO) Activities at the Health and Security Interface by Guénaël Rodier, Director, Communicable Diseases, Health Security & Environment, WHO Regional Office for Europe

11.30-12.00
Q & A

Chair: Cindy Vestergaard, Researcher, DIIS

The seminar will be held in English.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required.

Please use our online registration form on http://www.diis.dk/sw121136.asp

And do so no later than Friday, 24 August 2012 at 12.00 noon.

Please await confirmation by e-mail from DIIS for participation.

Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)
The Conference Section
Strandgade 56, 1401 Copenhagen K
Ph. (+45) 32 69 87 51 and E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.diis.dk