Biological and Chemical Disarmament and Security
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One project focuses on (non-)compliance with and enforcement of the norms against biological and chemical weapons, including investigation of and reactions to alleged use and the effects of disinformation. It is embedded in the joint research project CBWNet in which we, together with our cooperation partners at the Institute of Peace Research and Security Policy (IFSH), the University of Gießen and the University of Hamburg, analyze the normative structure of chemical and biological weapons control and develop options to strengthen it in a sustainable way.
In our second project we monitor and analyze relevant scientific and technological developments in biology, chemistry and other pertinent disciplines as well as their interrelations with political processes. We look at dual-use risks and misuse potentials and at opportunities to strengthen the existing prohibition regimes, including in the areas of verification, identification and attribution. This research is carried out in the framework of the Cluster for Natural and Technical Science Arms Control Research (CNTR).
Projects
PhD Projects
Recent events in the Middle East, Ukraine, and North Korea show that the risk of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons is still high. While existing international security regimes related to these weapons are robust, they are in crisis. Violations and contestation of regimes create shocks and junctures that would either strengthen or weaken them. Compliance and enforcement are the normative practices to address such violations. The robustness of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons regimes correlates to the effectiveness of existing enforcement norms and procedures. Having all three regimes at a turning point makes analyzing the evolution of enforcement practices across the three regimes timely. The project involves a cross-regime analysis of enforcement norms and procedures to study the differences and offer an understanding of the implications for the regimes.
- Sicherheitsrelevante Forschung in den Lebenswissenschaften: Neue Impulse aus der Biowaffenkontrolle
| 2025
Nixdorff, Kathryn; Jakob, Una; Kelle, Alexander (2025): Sicherheitsrelevante Forschung in den Lebenswissenschaften: Neue Impulse aus der Biowaffenkontrolle, Biologie in unserer Zeit, 55: 2. - Chemical Weapons Disarmament in Syria – A Door Opening?
| 2025
Jakob, Una (2025): Chemical Weapons Disarmament in Syria – A Door Opening?, PRIF Blog.
Publication - Identifying Chemical Warfare Agents Through Analytical Chemistry
| 2025
García López, Carmen (2025): Identifying Chemical Warfare Agents Through Analytical Chemistry, CNTR Fact Sheet.
Publication - Investigation of Alleged Use of Biological Weapons – Strengthening the UN Secretary-General's Mechanism
| 2024
Jakob, Una; Kloth, Stefan; Mergler, Ines (2024): Investigation of Alleged Use of Biological Weapons – Strengthening the UN Secretary-General's Mechanism, PRIF Report, 7, Frankfurt/M. DOI: 10.48809/prifrep2407
ISBN: 978-3-911092-00-5 - DNA Sequencing, Synthesis and Screening in Biosecurity
| 2024
Reis, Kadri (2024): DNA Sequencing, Synthesis and Screening in Biosecurity, CNTR Fact Sheet.
Publication - Chemical Weapons Investigation Mechanisms in Syria: Standards of Proof and Methods of Work
| 2024
Albalawi, Almuntaser; Burck, Kristoffer (2024): Chemical Weapons Investigation Mechanisms in Syria: Standards of Proof and Methods of Work, Zeitschrift für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42597-024-00125-2 - The Concepts of Biosafety and Biosecurity
| 2024
Hoffberger-Pippan, Elisabeth; de Vries, Barry; Veini, Sannimari; Chinchilla, Mónica (2024): The Concepts of Biosafety and Biosecurity. The Need for a Coherent Approach, CBWNet Working Paper, No. 12.
Publication - Chemical, Biological and Health Security Threats
| 2024
Jakob, Una; Lentzos, Filippa (2024): Chemical, Biological and Health Security Threats, SIPRI Yearbook 2024, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 415–456.
Publication - Applying Ethics in the Handling of Dual Use Research: The Case of Germany
| 2024
Jakob, Una; Kraus, Florian; Kraemer, Felicitas; Lengauer, Thomas (2024): Applying Ethics in the Handling of Dual Use Research: The Case of Germany, Research Ethics: Sage Journals. DOI: 10.1177/17470161241261044 - B-Waffen-Übereinkommen: Neunte Überprüfungskonferenz 2022
| 2023
Jakob, Una (2023): B-Waffen-Übereinkommen: Neunte Überprüfungskonferenz 2022, Vereinte Nationen, 6/2023, 276.
Publication - Chemical, Biological and Health Security Threats
| 2023
Jakob, Una; Lentzos, Filippa (2023): Chemical, Biological and Health Security Threats, SIPRI Yearbook 2023, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 391–434.
Publication - Chemical Attacks under the Convention against Torture: A New Possible Avenue?
| 2023
Hoffberger-Pippan, Elisabeth; de Vries, Barry (2023): Chemical Attacks under the Convention against Torture: A New Possible Avenue?, PRIF Blog.
Publication - The 9th Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention
| 2023
Jakob, Una (2023): The 9th Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention, PRIF Blog.
Publication - The Biological Weapons Convention
| 2022
Jakob, Una (2022): The Biological Weapons Convention, in: Marauhn, Thilo; Myjers, Eric (eds), Research Handbook on Arms Control Law, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 258–277. - Chemical Weapons Allegations and Russia’s Invasion in Ukraine
| 2022
Burck, Kristoffer; Jakob, Una; Jeremias, Gunnar; Kelle, Alexander; Marauhn, Thilo; Meier, Oliver; Nixdorff, Kathryn; Trapp, Ralf; de Vries, Barry (2022): Chemical Weapons Allegations and Russia’s Invasion in Ukraine, CBWNet News.
Publication - Chemical, Biological and Health Security Threats
| 2022
Jakob, Una; Lentzos, Filippa (2022): Chemical, Biological and Health Security Threats, SIPRI Yearbook 2022, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 473–512. - Russian allegations of biological weapons activities in Ukraine
| 2022
Jakob, Una; Jeremias, Gunnar; Kelle, Alexander; Marauhn, Thilo; Meier, Oliver; Nixdorff, Kathryn; Trapp, Ralf; de Vries, Barry (2022): Russian allegations of biological weapons activities in Ukraine, PRIF BLOG.
Publication - WMD Compliance and Enforcement in a Changing Global Context
| 2021
Wunderlich, Carmen; Müller, Harald; Jakob, Una; United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (2021): WMD Compliance and Enforcement in a Changing Global Context, Genf.
Publication
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