Assessing Readiness of International Investigations into Alleged Biological Weapons Use

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the readiness of a UN mechanism to investigate possible biological weapon use during disease outbreaks.

Contribution

The paper presents findings from a field exercise assessing the deployment readiness of the UN investigation mechanism.

Findings

The mechanism is well placed to investigate suspicious disease outbreaks.

The field exercise identified areas for continual improvement in the process.

Abstract

Without clarity if an outbreak is natural, accidental, or deliberate, infectious disease outbreaks of unknown or ambiguous origin can lead to speculation of a purposeful biological attack. Outbreaks in conflict settings are particularly prone to suspicions and allegations. In an increasingly confrontative global geopolitical landscape and with active information manipulation, outbreaks of ambiguous origin are likely to increase concerns of the deliberate use of biological agents. The United Nations General Assembly has agreed on and the United Nations Security Council has endorsed a mechanism to investigate allegations of deliberate use titled the United Nations Secretary-General’s Mechanism for Investigation of Alleged Use of Chemical or Biological Weapons. A recent full-scale field exercise evaluated the deployment readiness of the mechanism and found it is well placed to investigate suspicious disease outbreaks, with room for continual improvement.

Figures