Forging the Biological Weapon Convention: A Brief History of the Creation of the BWC

Summary

The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) stands as a monument to international ambition: the first multilateral treaty to comprehensively ban an entire category of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The treaty’s origins are deeply rooted in the horrors of 20th-century warfare, advancements in biotechnology, and the geopolitical tensions of the Cold War.

March 26, 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the convention entering into force. This is the optimum time to re-examine the BWC’s history, the forces that shaped it, and the persistent challenges that undermine its effectiveness. The goal of this article is not to serve just as a historical exercise, but as a vital examination of our present vulnerabilities to biological threats and the future of global biosecurity.