Section introducing the ICRC’s Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity initiative, along with background information on biological weapons and international efforts to control them.
Developments in biotechnology have the potential to benefit people world-wide. Yet they may also be put to hostile uses as weapons of war or weapons which spread terror. The ICRC initiative on Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity was prompted by the need to reduce the risk that biotechnology will be used to the detriment of humanity. It is intended to promote serious reflection on the risks, rules and responsibilities related to advances in this area.
The centrepiece of the ICRC initiative is an appeal to governments, the scientific community, the military, industry and civil society, which was launched on 25 September 2002. Prior to the public launch of this appeal there was a meeting of government and independent experts in Montreux, Switzerland, to discuss issues in the fields of biotechnology, biological weapons, international law, ethics and social responsibility.
Preventing hostile use of the life sciences: From ethics and law to best practice The following "Principles of Practice" incorporate some key points of discussion about ethics relating to life sciences. They apply to all stakeholders in the life sciences. The objective is to build a bridge from pertinent ethics and laws which should prevent poisoning and deliberate spread of infectious disease to best practice within the life science community. (Focus\Biotechnology and weapons)
11-11-2004
Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity: ICRC outreach to the life science community on preventing hostile use of the life sciences The ICRC is involved in a number of activities around the world as part of its initiative on Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity. This kind of promotion and dissemination of international humanitarian law rules at the individual and institutional level against biological weapons is vital. In an increasingly inter-connected world, awareness and preventive action is required at every level of society to help reduce the risk of technology developed to benefit humanity being used for hostile purposes. (Focus\Biotechnology and weapons)
Risks of potential misuse of the life sciences for hostile purposes Poisoning and the deliberate spread of disease have for many centuries been the subjects of public abhorrence. They are proscribed in diverse cultures, religions and military traditions. They are also formalized in international rules including the 1925 Geneva Protocol, the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention and the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention. (Focus\Biotechnology and weapons)
20-1-2004
Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity: introduction The 'Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity' initiative of the ICRC is introduced here, along with background information about the prohibition of biological weapons. The ICRC's concept of the 'web of prevention', intended to contribute to minimizing the risks of the life sciences being used for hostile purposes, is outlined. (Focus\Biotechnology and weapons)
20-1-2004
Appeal on Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity ICRC's appeal to the political and military authorities and to the scientific and medical communities, industry and civil society on the potentially dangerous developments in biotechnology. (Focus\Biotechnology and weapons)
Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity - Related sites Links to organizations, academic institutions, medical associations and other sites providing further information on biotechnology, biological and chemical weapons and related issues. (Focus\Biotechnology and weapons)
20-7-2005
ICRC Publication
Biotechnology, weapons and humanity, poster no 2 Two posters are now available to help promote the aims of the ICRC's public Appeal on Biotechnology, Weapons & Humanity. They are intended to encourage scientists, physicians, health professionals and the wider life science community to uphold the international rules to prevent the misuse of biotechnology for hostile purposes. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Humanitarian law)
23-3-2004 ICRC Publication Includes PDF
Biotechnology, weapons and humanity, poster no 1 Two posters are now available to help promote the aims of the ICRC's public Appeal on Biotechnology, Weapons & Humanity. They are intended to encourage scientists, physicians, health professionals and the wider life science community to uphold the international rules to prevent the misuse of biotechnology for hostile purposes. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Humanitarian law)
23-3-2004 ICRC Publication Includes PDF
Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity Following on from the launch of the ICRC's public appeal on Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity in September 2002, this leaflet has been produced. It highlights some of the existing and emerging capabilities for use of scientific advances in the field of biotechnology for hostile purposes and the risks that they pose for humanity if not controlled. It also outlines measures that can be taken by governments, industry, scientists and other actors to minimise the threat of poisoning and deliberate spreading of disease. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Humanitarian law)
26-9-2003 ICRC Publication Includes PDF
International Review of the Red Cross
Neurobiology: A case study of the imminent militarization of biology The biological, medical (and legal) communities should face the near certainty that unless active steps are taken to prevent it, biology will become the next major military technology, and that neuroscience — and by implication much of the rest of modern biology — will
become highly vulnerable to use or abuse in entirely unintended, but clearly
foreseeable, ways. Mark Wheelis and Malcolm Dando(Info resources\International Review\2005 - No. 859)
30-9-2005 International Review of the Red Cross Includes PDF
Biotechnology, weapons and humanity The ICRC is promoting consideration of the risks, rules and responsibilities related to advances in biotechnology which may lead to their hostile use to cause poisoning and deliberately spread disease. (Info resources\International Review\2002 - No. 848)
31-12-2002 International Review of the Red Cross Includes PDF
Official Statement
Preventing the use of biological and chemical weapons: 80 years on Speech delivered by Jacques Forster, vice-president of the ICRC during the International seminar on the Biological and Chemical Weapons Threat, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the 1925 Geneva Protocol prohibiting asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases
and bacteriological methods of warfare. Jacques Forster, vice-president of the International Committee of the Red Cross(Humanitarian law\Weapons\Chemical weapons)
Hostile Use of the Life Sciences Article by Meng-Kin Lim, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on 24 November. Meng-Kin Lim was a participant at an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) roundtable in September 2005, also entitled 'Hostile Use of the Life Sciences' (Focus\Biotechnology and weapons)
24-11-2005 Press article
Science and Prohibited Weapons This article is published with the kind permission of Science Magazine, where it first appeared on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the 1925 gas Protocol. Robin Coupland and Kobi-Renée Leins(Focus\Biotechnology and weapons)
Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity Workshop 4, 28th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Geneva, 2 to 6 December 2003 (Focus\RC Movement\International Conference\28th Conference)
Report on “Biotechnology, Weapons and Humanity” Council of Delegates of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2003 (Focus\RC Movement\Council of Delegates\2003)
30-6-2003
Coping with the Weapons of Tomorrow Annual debate, jointly organized by the ICRC, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the BBC World Service - 8 May 2003 (Focus\Biotechnology and weapons)
Key document
