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 of countries. Its main job is to make sure the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is followed. This important agreement started on April 29, 1997.
The OPCW has 193 member countries and is based in The Hague, Netherlands. It works to permanently get rid of chemical weapons around the world. The group checks that countries keep their promises to not use chemical weapons and to destroy any they have. They do this by looking at official reports from member countries and by doing visits to sites.
The OPCW won the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize for its big efforts to remove chemical weapons. The Nobel Committee said that the OPCW's work has made using chemical weapons against the rules of international law.
Contents
History of the OPCW
The city of The Hague in the Netherlands was chosen as the home for the OPCW. Its main building is next to the World Forum Convention Centre. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands officially opened the headquarters on May 20, 1998. The building is shaped like a semi-circle and has eight floors. There is also a special memorial at the back of the building for all victims of chemical weapons.
In 2002, there was a disagreement about the first Director-General, José Bustani. He was removed from his position. Some believed this happened because he wanted Iraq to join the Chemical Weapons Convention. This would have allowed international inspectors into Iraq, which might have changed plans for a war against Iraq. The OPCW's rules say it should not be told what to do by any government.
On October 11, 2013, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. This was for their "extensive work to eliminate chemical weapons." The Nobel Committee also mentioned recent events in Syria, where chemical weapons had been used 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 have done great work to help create a world free of chemical weapons. The award uses money from the Nobel Peace Prize the OPCW received. The City of The Hague also helps fund it.
In June 2018, the OPCW members voted to give the organization more power. This new power allows the OPCW to say who is responsible when its rules are broken. In November 2019, OPCW member countries agreed to add Novichok agents to the list of banned substances. This was a major change to the treaty since the 1990s.
How the OPCW Works
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The OPCW's work is guided by the Chemical Weapons Convention. All countries that are part of the Convention are also members of the OPCW. The OPCW has three main parts:
- Conference of the States Parties (CSP): This is the main group, where all member countries meet, usually once a year. Each country has an equal vote. The Conference makes all the big decisions for the organization.
- Executive Council (EC): This is a smaller group of 41 member countries. They are chosen for two-year terms. The Council helps manage the budget and works with the Secretariat on all parts of the Convention.
- Technical Secretariat (TS): This is where most of the OPCW's staff work. They carry out the daily tasks and activities. Their main jobs include inspecting sites and checking that rules are being followed.
All member countries help pay for the OPCW's budget.
OPCW's Powers
The OPCW has important powers to help stop the use of chemical weapons:
- It can report if chemical weapons were used in an attack it has investigated.
- It can send inspectors to any member country to look for signs that banned chemicals are being made.
- It can send experts to help countries investigate crime scenes where chemical agents might have been used.
In June 2018, after the Skripal poisoning incident, the UK helped convince other members to give the OPCW new powers. This allowed the OPCW to assign blame for attacks. The vote passed with a clear majority.
Checking for Chemical Weapons
The OPCW carries out different types of inspections to make sure countries are following the rules.
Inspecting Chemical Weapons Destruction Sites
At places where chemical weapons are being destroyed, OPCW inspectors are present 24/7. They use cameras and other tools to check that weapons are being destroyed correctly and to count how many are gone.
Inspecting Chemical Factories
The OPCW also visits factories that produce certain chemicals. These inspections check that countries are correctly reporting what they produce and that they are not secretly making banned chemicals. The inspections vary in how long they last and how often they happen, depending on the type of chemicals being made. Inspectors check records and look for any signs of banned chemical production.
Challenge Inspections and Investigations
If a member country suspects that chemical weapons have been used or are being made illegally, they can ask for a "challenge inspection." The OPCW will then investigate to find the facts. So far, no challenge inspections have been needed. However, the OPCW has helped the United Nations investigate claims of chemical weapon use in Syria. To prevent misuse, a large majority of countries (three-quarters) can block a request for a challenge inspection.
Working with the United Nations
The OPCW is not a direct part of the United Nations, but it works closely with them. On September 7, 2000, the OPCW and the UN signed an agreement to coordinate their activities. OPCW inspectors use special UN travel documents.
Who are the Members?
All 193 countries that have joined the Chemical Weapons Convention are members of the OPCW. A few countries are not members: Israel has signed the Convention but not fully joined, and Egypt, North Korea, and South Sudan have not signed or joined at all. Palestine was the most recent to join.
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. Most members voted to remove Syria's privileges right away.
OPCW Leaders
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The OPCW is currently led by Director-General Ambassador Fernando Arias from Spain.
The Director-General is chosen by the Conference of the States Parties 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 chosen in October 2017. He is an experienced diplomat who has worked in many countries. Before leading the OPCW, he was Spain's Ambassador to the Netherlands and Spain's representative to the OPCW.
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
