Global prohibition regimes
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Mauritius

  • conventional weapons
    • APLs
    • CMs
    • SALWs
  • non—conventional weapons
    • nuclear weapons
    • chemical weapons
    • biological weapons
    • radiological weapons
  • others
    • drug control
    • endangered species
    • cyber—security

Biological weapons use living organisms such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi to cause death or injury. The early biological weapon’s incidents arguably date back to the antiquity. Specialized programs to develop biological weapons’ agents instead of opportunistic employment of infected were truly developed only in the 20th century. Biological weapons are mostly considered of limited value for regular war and were rarely used with meaningful results with a sole exception of Japanese campaign in China during World War II. Biological Weapons Convention constitutes major prohibition regime in this subtype of WMDs and most states adhere to it. However, spread of modern biotechnologies and the perceived rise of global Islamic terrorism put the threat of biological weapons being used by terrorists top on the national security agenda.

ACTUALITIES ON
biological weapons

test no countries
Treaties
related with
biological weapons

BWC 71-75

negotiated  April 10, 1972
ratified  March 26, 1975
countries involved  170

Rome Statute 1998

negotiated  June 17, 1998
ratified  July 1, 2002
countries involved  122

Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International

negotiated  June 8th, 1977
ratified  December 7th, 1978
countries involved  158
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