The First UN Conference for a WMD-free zone in the Middle East was held in New York from 18-22 November. This was an opportunity to advance the process towards the zone in order to rid the region of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons. Previous processes to begin negotiations on the zone have come to little, despite the compelling security advantages such a zone could bring to the region.

The METO is comprised of a network of civil society organizations and practitioners that have produced a living and adaptive text of a draft treaty for establishing the zone.

This side event will look at ways to contribute to a positive and practical narrative, and to outline METO’s attempts to do so. The event will also review the biological weapons-related issues raised at the recent UN Conference and options for moving forward.