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Law & Governance
Introduction
National, regional, and global laws all play a significant role in health security. Legal and regulatory frameworks may facilitate or undermine the prevention, preparation, and response to public and global health emergencies, as well as biosecurity risks. Further, in our globalised world, the potential of disease spread across borders due to natural, accidental, or intentional biological events has increased, necessitating greater international collaboration, harmonisation, and agreement.
The International Health Regulations, the Biological Weapons Convention, Export Control laws, Biological Agents and Toxins laws, and others are examples of applicable legislative frameworks that govern various areas of health security. Emerging technologies, such as synthetic biology or artificial intelligence, exacerbate many issues and necessitate a rethink of whether present legal frameworks are appropriate. The law and governance programme’s goal are to enhance scholarship and policy in this evolving field.
Activities
A/Prof Berman gave two talks at the Global Health Security Conference, in Sydney on 19 June 2024, on the topics of “The Governance of Gene Synthesis in Asia: Preliminary Results” and “Legal Perspectives on Pathogen Genomics”. She also moderated a discussion on “Mitigating Dengue in Southeast Asia”.
Ms Shrestha presented her posted entitled, “Influencing Influenza: A Systematic review of Global Potential Pandemic Pathogen Research” at the Global Health Security Conference in Sydney.
A/Prof Berman moderated a panel discussion on “Intellectual Property, Technology Transfer and Law” panel at the “The World Together” in Pandemic Preparedness and Response, A Side Event at the Global Health Security Conference, Sydney (17 June 2024).
Ms Shrestha had presented her posted entitled, “Influencing Influenza: A Systematic review of Global Potential Pandemic Pathogen Research” Global Health Security Conference, Sydney (19 June 2024).
A/Prof Berman was a discussant at the Biosecurity Risk Reduction Initiative at the Nuclear Threats Initiative (NTI) AI Bio-Forum, in Cambridge on 3-5 June 2024.
A/Prof Berman served as moderator at the NTI Global Biosecurity Dialogue that has held in Bangkok from the 12-14 November 2023, on the topic of “Biosecurity Policy Frameworks: Regional strategies for effective risk reduction.”
