DIREZIONE GENERALE
PER GLI AFFARI POLITICI E DI SICUREZZA
Within the framework of the EU Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear
Centres of Excellence (EU CBRN CoE) Initiative
With the support of the 2017 Italian Presidency of the Global Partnership (IT GP) against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction
Pilot African Regional Conference on
Comparative review of biological threats needs assessments and national action plans
implemented under WHO (IHR-JEE), EU CBRN CoE, 1540 UNSCR and BWC
25-26 October 2017
Hotel Tour Hassan Rue Chellah, Hassan, Rabat, Morocco
(opening remarks statement)
Distinguished experts and delegates,
on behalf of the 2017 Italian Presidency of the Global Partnershipagainst the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, I am honored to introduce this Regional Conference focusing on biosafety and biosecurity priorities in the context of the post Ebola crisis.I am particularly delighted to address experts from various African countries, international organizations and Global Partnership partners.
Let me first of all thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperationof the Kingdom of Morocco for hosting this event, as well as all other Authoritiesof the Kingdom of Morocco, which have been involved in the preparatory works.
I would also like to commend the European Commission and the EU CBRNCentres of Excellence Initiative for the heavy work, undertaken jointly with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) andthe Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, for convening this Conference and setting the conceptual basis behind it.
Dear colleagues,
Italy attaches great importance to the Global Partnership and its core principles of prevention in the nuclear, chemical, radiological and biological domain,rooted in the Summit Declaration of 2002in Kananaskis in Canada. At present, the Global Partnership is a forum of thirty members, as well asinternational organizations, specialized institutionsand observer countries,engaged in non-proliferation and CBRN risk mitigation.
We are convinced that today’s challenges of prevention frompotentialmisuse of CBRN materials require – even more than in the past –a coordinated endeavor and common vision, alsofrom the perspective of emerging threats fostered by scientific developments.
Under our G7 Presidency, we have placed Africa among the top priorities of the Global Partnership. Consequently, the plenary session of the last Global Partnership meeting, held in Rome in February, was widelydevoted to the efforts displayed by African countries in CBRN risk prevention and their commitment to implementing the relevant international and regional initiatives.
This reflects our intention to build upon the work undertaken so far in Africa with needs assessments and national action plans, prepared within the framework of the EU CBRNCentres of Excellence Initiative, theJoint External Evaluation (JEE) under the WHO International Health Regulations, the SecurityCouncil Resolution 1540 and the Biological Weapons Convention, and provide new energy and momentum in our joint response to fill the identified gaps.
As Global PartnershipPresidency, we are therefore looking forward to the debate of this 2 days conference in order to enter into the details of the operational capabilities for risk prevention and mitigationof your countries, starting from the domain of biosafety and biosecurity in the light of the dramatic effects provoked by the recent Ebola crisis.
Distinguished experts and delegates,
as you very well know, while outbreaks of infectious diseases have surfaced all over the globe, no continent has been hit harder than Africa.The Ebola epidemic was West Africa’s first real experience with the catastrophic consequences of the virus. What began as an epidemic outbreak, quickly escalated into a humanitarian, social, economic and security crisis. Between 2014 and 2016,according to WHO figures,Ebola claimed the lives of more than 11.300 people, infected over 28.500 victims and brought huge damages to families and communities.
On 2014 the World Health Organization acknowledged that Ebola constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), calling for a coordinated international response and setting the ground for the consequent UN Security Council Resolution 2177. Let me remind you that before Ebola the WHO has declared a PHEIC only twice.
In response to the WHO and UN appeals for action, at that time the Italian Development Cooperation has mobilized its humanitarian lines of assistance for an amount of more than 10 million euro. The World Food Programme, UNICEF and the International Federation of Red Crosshave received funds for health operations of rapid diagnosis, quarantine, treatment and public information and education regarding the epidemic risks.The affected communities have also been supported by Italian NGOs with evacuation operations, prophylactic treatments and training for local health operators.The Rome-based Institute for Infectious Diseases “LazzaroSpallanzani” and the Milan-based University Hospital “Luigi Sacco” have also contributed with capacity building and awareness raising activities, including on-site training and simulation exercises.
Dear African partners,
It is now crucial to invest in prevention. Your countries have been invited today at this Conference because you have already undertaken a very relevant step with a needs assessment or a national action plan prepared within one of the existing operational frameworks (EU CBRN CoE, WHO,1540 UNSCR, BWC).
It is now time to ensure a proper follow-up and take action in order to have in place the required capabilities, should another epidemic occur again. In this respect, we aim at proceeding as coordinated as possible. This Conference has been exactly convened in order to establish a common framework of priorities by comparing your voluntary country assessments and action plans and discuss altogether new capacity building initiatives.
Examples of very concrete undertakings are already there. Let me recall, among others, the recently launched Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which is committed to strengthening Africa’s disease intelligence, outbreak response and prevention capacity through surveillance and laboratory networks throughout the continent.
Distinguished experts and delegates,
The next Global Partnership meeting, to be held in Rome on 15-17 November, will continue to focus on African priorities for CBRN risk prevention and mitigation. We aim at informing the plenary session about the results of this Conference so that Global Partnership members will be able to take into account your biosafety and biosecurity priorities. I wish you therefore a fruitful and intense debate during these 2 days.
Thank you for your attention.
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