The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which entered into force on 29 April 1997. Headquartered in The Hague, the OPCW is not a UN organ but operates under a Relationship Agreement with the United Nations signed in 2000, and reports annually to the UN General Assembly.
Its mandate is to achieve the permanent and verifiable elimination of chemical weapons. Core functions include:
- Verification of the destruction of declared chemical weapons stockpiles and former production facilities.
- Industry inspections at chemical plants worldwide to ensure dual-use chemicals are not diverted to weapons purposes.
- Assistance and protection for States Parties threatened by chemical weapons under Article X of the CWC.
- International cooperation on the peaceful uses of chemistry under Article XI.
The OPCW has three principal organs: the Conference of the States Parties (plenary body of all members), the Executive Council (41 members elected on a regional basis), and the Technical Secretariat, which conducts inspections and is led by a Director-General. Fernando Arias of Spain has served as Director-General since 2018, succeeding Ahmet Üzümcü of Türkiye.
Membership stands at 193 States Parties, making the CWC one of the most widely adhered-to disarmament treaties. Israel has signed but not ratified; North Korea, Egypt and South Sudan remain outside the regime.
The OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its work, including the destruction of Syria's declared chemical weapons stockpile following Syria's accession to the CWC that year. In 2018, States Parties voted to grant the Technical Secretariat authority to attribute responsibility for chemical weapons use, leading to the establishment of the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT), which has issued reports attributing several attacks in Syria to the Syrian Arab Armed Forces. OPCW also conducted technical assistance in the investigations of the 2018 Salisbury Novichok poisoning and the 2020 poisoning of Alexei Navalny.
Example
In April 2020, the OPCW's Investigation and Identification Team issued its first report attributing three 2017 chemical attacks in Ltamenah, Syria to the Syrian Arab Air Force.
Frequently asked questions
No. The OPCW is an independent intergovernmental organisation established by the Chemical Weapons Convention, but it cooperates with the UN under a 2000 Relationship Agreement and reports to the General Assembly.
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