Gabriele Kraatz-Wadsack (IMAGO / Götz Schleser)
Monitoring Iraq’s dual-use capabilities: An interview with Gabriele Kraatz-Wadsack
By Filippa Lentzos, July 21, 2021
Gabriele Kraatz-Wadsack (IMAGO / Götz Schleser)
Gabriele Kraatz-Wadsack carried out 25 UNSCOM inspection missions, including eight as Chief Inspector, by far the most of any woman conducting biological weapons inspections in Iraq. Trained as a veterinarian and a microbiologist, Kraatz-Wadsack served in the German armed forces, conducting medical biodefense research, before she joined UNSCOM in 1995. Since 2006, Kraatz-Wadsack has held several senior positions at the United Nations, including Chief of the WMD Branch and Chief of the Regional Disarmament Branch both in the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, and as Chief of Staff in the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism for Syria.
In this interview with Filippa Lentzos, senior lecturer at King’s College London and Bulletin biosecurity columnist, Kraatz-Wadsack discusses her experiences as a biological inspector.
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Keywords: Al Hakam, Rihab Rashid Taha, UNSCOM, biological inspections, dual-use, growth media
Topics: Biosecurity
Filippa Lentzos
Filippa Lentzos is a Senior Lecturer in Science & International Security at the Department of War Studies and Co-Director of the Centre for... Read More
A fascinating read. It was a pleasure to work with and for Gabriele during my UNSCOM days!