Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons facts for kids
Logo of the OPCW
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Member states of the OPCW (green)
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| Formation | 29 April 1997 |
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| Headquarters | The Hague, Netherlands |
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Membership
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193 member states (all states party to the CWC are automatically members. 4 UN Member States are non-members: Egypt, Israel, North Korea and South Sudan) |
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Official languages
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Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish |
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Director General
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Fernando Arias |
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Official organs
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Conference of the States Parties Executive Council Technical Secretariat |
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Budget
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€71.74 million/year (2021) |
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Staff
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approximately 500 |
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an international group. Its main job is to make sure that countries follow the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). This important agreement started on April 29, 1997.
The OPCW has 193 member countries. Its main office is in The Hague, Netherlands. The organization works to get rid of chemical weapons forever. It also checks to make sure no one uses them.
The OPCW checks that countries keep their promises. This means they must not use chemical weapons and must destroy any they have. The OPCW does this by checking official statements from countries. They also send inspectors to visit sites.
In 2013, the OPCW won the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. They received it for their big efforts to remove chemical weapons from the world. The Nobel Committee said the OPCW's work made using chemical weapons against international law.
Contents
History of the OPCW
The Hague was chosen as the home for the OPCW. It won against other cities like Vienna and Geneva. The main office is next to the World Forum Convention Centre. This is where the yearly meeting of member countries takes place.
The headquarters were officially opened on May 20, 1998. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands opened the building. It is an eight-story building shaped like a semi-circle. There is a special memorial at the back of the building. It honors all victims of chemical weapons. Anyone can visit this memorial.
The first leader of the OPCW, José Bustani, was removed from his job in 2002. Some member countries said they had lost trust in him. It was said that the U.S. government wanted him removed. This was because Bustani wanted Iraq to join the chemical weapons agreement. This would have allowed OPCW inspectors into Iraq. This might have made it harder for the U.S. to go to war against Iraq.
The U.S. gave reasons like "mismanagement issues" for his removal. Later, a court ruled that his removal was not proper. Bustani was given money for damages and his legal costs.
Nobel Peace Prize and Awards
On October 11, 2013, the OPCW won the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. They received it for their "extensive work to eliminate chemical weapons." The Nobel Committee mentioned recent events in Syria. Chemical weapons had been used there again. This showed how important it was to get rid of these weapons. By September 2014, the OPCW had helped destroy about 97% of Syria's declared chemical weapons.
In 2014, the OPCW–The Hague Award was created. This award honors people and groups who help get rid of chemical weapons. It was started after the OPCW won the Nobel Peace Prize. The money from the Nobel Prize, about €900,000, helped start this award fund. The City of The Hague also helps support it.
Expanding Powers and New Substances
In June 2018, the OPCW voted to get more powers. This new power allows them to decide who is responsible for using chemical weapons. This was a big change for the organization.
In November 2019, all OPCW member countries agreed on something new. They added Novichok agents to the list of banned chemicals. This was one of the first major changes to the treaty since the 1990s. It happened after the 2018 poisonings in the UK.
How the OPCW Works
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The Chemical Weapons Convention explains how the OPCW is set up. It also describes what it does. The main group is the Conference of the States Parties (CSP). All member countries can join this meeting. Each country has an equal vote. This conference usually meets once a year. It decides on all major issues for the OPCW.
The Executive Council (EC) is the managing part of the OPCW. It has 41 member countries. These countries are chosen by the conference for two years. The council helps manage the budget. It also works with the Technical Secretariat on all treaty matters.
The Technical Secretariat (TS) does most of the daily work. This is where most of the OPCW employees work. The main tasks are done by the inspection and verification teams.
All member countries help pay for the OPCW. Their payments are based on a system similar to the UN. The OPCW's budget for 2020 was about €70.9 million.
OPCW Powers
The OPCW can report if chemical weapons were used in an attack they investigated.
The OPCW can send inspectors to any member country. They look for proof that banned chemicals are being made. They can also send experts to help countries investigate crime scenes. This is useful if chemical agents might have been used.
In June 2018, after the Skripal poisoning, the UK suggested a change. They convinced other members that the OPCW needed new powers. These powers would allow the OPCW to assign blame for attacks. Despite Russia's opposition, the vote passed. It had 82 votes for and 24 against. This was more than the two-thirds majority needed.
Inspections by the OPCW
Checking Chemical Weapons Destruction
The OPCW has inspectors at all places where chemical weapons are destroyed. These inspectors work 24/7. They watch to make sure the weapons are destroyed correctly. They also check the amounts of weapons being destroyed. Because these places can be dangerous, inspectors often use CCTV systems to watch.
Inspections in Industry
OPCW inspections also check factories and industries. They make sure countries follow the rules for making and using certain chemicals. They also check that countries have correctly reported their industrial activities. The type of chemical determines how often and how closely inspections happen.
For some chemicals, inspectors check if all produced chemicals can be accounted for. They also look for clues that banned chemicals might be made secretly. The time for these inspections can range from 24 hours to no time limit, depending on the chemical type.
Challenge Inspections
If someone claims chemical weapons were used or made illegally, the OPCW can investigate. These are called "challenge inspections." So far, none of these have happened. However, the OPCW did help the United Nations investigate claims of chemical weapon use in Syria.
The OPCW only does these inspections if another member country asks. They first check the proof given. To prevent misuse, a large majority of three-quarters of countries can block a challenge inspection request.
Working with the United Nations
The OPCW is not a special agency of the United Nations. However, it works closely with the UN on many issues. On September 7, 2000, the OPCW and the UN signed an agreement. This agreement explains how they will work together. OPCW inspectors also use special UN travel documents. These documents explain their role and rights.
Who are the Members?
List of parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention All 193 countries that have signed the Chemical Weapons Convention are members of the OPCW. Some other countries could join. These include UN member states like Israel, which has signed but not fully joined. Egypt, North Korea, and South Sudan have not signed or joined. Palestine was the most recent to join the agreement.
On April 21, 2021, Syria lost its voting rights at the OPCW. This happened after Syrian forces were found to have used poison gas many times during the Syrian civil war. More than two-thirds of the members voted to immediately take away Syria's privileges.
Leadership of the OPCW
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The current leader of the OPCW is Director-General Ambassador Fernando Arias from Spain.
The Director-General is chosen by the Conference of the States Parties. They can serve for a maximum of two four-year terms. Here is a list of past and current Directors-General:
| Country | Name | Start of term |
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 Brazil |
José Bustani | 13 May 1997 |
 Argentina |
Rogelio Pfirter | 25 July 2002 |
 Turkey |
Ahmet Üzümcü | 25 July 2010 |
 Spain |
Fernando Arias (Current) | 25 July 2018 |
Ambassador Arias was recommended by the OPCW Executive Council in October 2017.
Ambassador Arias has a long history as a diplomat. He used to be Spain's Ambassador to the Netherlands. He was also Spain's main representative to the OPCW. He has served as Ambassador to the United Nations in New York. He was also Ambassador to Mali, Mauritania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria.
Court Ruling on Director-General's Dismissal
In 2002, the United States called a special meeting of the OPCW member countries. They asked for the removal of José Bustani, who was the Director-General at the time. Bustani was removed after a vote on April 22, 2002. 48 countries voted to remove him, 7 voted against, and 43 did not vote.
Bustani later said the United States caused his removal. He claimed this was because he had convinced Saddam Hussein to join the Chemical Weapons Convention. This would have meant OPCW inspectors checking Iraq's weapons. This might have stopped the American plan to invade Iraq.
Bustani took his case to the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization. On July 16, 2003, the court ruled that his dismissal was wrong. The OPCW was ordered to pay him money for damages. Bustani did not ask to get his job back.
See also
- 1990 Chemical Weapons Accord
- Australia Group
- Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare
- International Dialogue on Underwater Munitions (IDUM)
- Chemical bombing of Sardasht
- Halabja poison gas attack
