Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare

 A Test of – and Testament to – Multilateralism. From the mustard gas of World War I to precision Novichok attacks in Russia’s suppression of opposition, the creation of chemical weapons have long embodied humanity’s worst impulses. But they also represent something unexpectedly hopeful: one of the rare instances when the world has come together to say “never again” – and endeavored to bring that commitment to life. That global consensus took form in the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) , which entered into force 28 years ago this month. With 193 states parties , a Nobel Peace Prize and a verified destruction rate of 99% of declared chemical weapons stockpiles, the CWC stands as one of the most successful treaties in history. “This is a treaty that has stood the test of time,” says James Revill, PhD, Head of WMD and Space Security Programs at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR). “It’s comprehensively prohibited a class of weapons that are widely viewed as abho...

Kimball also warns of broader implications for nuclear disarmament . “The hard-won progress against nuclear weapons use, nuclear testing and nuclear proliferation is under stress,” he says. He specifically calls out the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between the U.S. and Russia, which expires in February 2026. “ If there’s not agreement to replace it, ” Kimball says, “the U.S. and Russia could rapidly expand their deployed nuclear warheads, which are currently capped at about 1,550 each.” He also warns of “ the first three-way nuclear arms race in history,” citing China’s expanding arsenal. Meanwhile, Iran’s uranium enrichment and North Korea’s expanding program continue to pose global threats.

  13 October 2025 -  Speech at the Sixteenth Asser Institute Training Programme on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction ; OPCW Deputy Director-General. This programme is specifically tailored for diplomats, providing a unique opportunity for embassy staff in The Hague to deepen their understanding of contemporary disarmament and non-proliferation issues while expanding their professional networks. The Global threat posed by nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons has become increasingly pressing. International treaties, such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) , are vital components in the global effort to mitigate these dangers. A key partner in this training programme is the OPCW, the body responsible for implementing the CWC. Through the OPCW’s efforts and the commitment of its 193 State Parties, nearly 98% of the world’s population is now protected by the CWC, and 99% ...

Disarmament Fellowship Established by the First Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to Disarmament, the United Nations Disarmament Fellowship, Training and Advisory Services Programme (Programme of Fellowships on Disarmament) has trained over 1,140 officials from 172 Member States since 1979. The Programme is implemented by the Geneva Branch of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). The Programme aims to train national officials, particularly in developing countries, to enable them to participate more effectively in international forums addressing disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control issues. Participants in the Programme are selected among candidates nominated by the United Nations Member States, each of which may submit one nomination per year. The selection is based on the training needs of developing countries for their young diplomats, candidates’ professional experience, and anticipated future responsibilities, as well as overall geogra...

  Chemical weapons are internationally banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention (hereinafter, “ the Convention ”), a multilateral agreement that places legally binding obligations of an unlimited duration on its States Parties. Scientific and technological considerations informed the negotiation of the Convention, and full and effective treaty implementation relies on technical knowledge and capability. Indeed, scientific principles underpin and inform the Convention ’s key articles, the definitions of chemical weapons and toxic chemicals, the modalities of verification and compliance, and the provision of assistance and training in critical implementation capabilities. Science also provides a sound technical basis to inform deliberations and decisions of chemical disarmament policymakers. Yet, unlike the prohibitions enshrined in the Convention, science and technology are dynamic, continually evolving in trans-disciplinary, convergent, and non-linear ways. Modalities for th...

  The verification regime applies to the Convention ’s disarmament objective, chiefly through the oversight of the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles and facilities. It applies to the Convention’s nonproliferation objective, through the oversight of the veracity of activities not prohibited by the Convention, such as industrial uses. Furthermore, it applies to the Convention’s counterproliferation objective, through the investigation of suspected violations. Chemical weapons disarmament: verificationregime related to the destruction of chemical weapons (CWC Articles III, IV, and V). To maximize States Parties’ adherence to their chemical disarmament obligations, a rigorous process of declarations and verification is applied. This process includes not only existing chemical weapons stockpiles but also old and abandoned chemical weapons. The declaration requirements, detailed in Article III, set the groundwork for compliance. Article IV directly mandates the destruction of d...

The history of the serious efforts to achieve chemical disarmament that culminated in the conclusion of the Chemical Weapons Convention began more than a century ago. Chemical weapons were used on a massive scale during World War I, resulting in more than 100,000 fatalities and a million casualties. However, chemical weapons were not used on the battleground in Europe in World War II. Following World War II, and with the advent of the nuclear debate, several countries gradually came to the realisation that the marginal value of having chemical weapons in their arsenals was limited, while the threat posed by the availability and proliferation of such weapons made a comprehensive ban desirable. Adopted in 1993, the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force on 29 April 1997. It determined, “ for the sake of all mankind, to exclude completely the possibility of the use of chemical weapons.” (Preamble) The States Parties to this Convention established the Organisation for the Prohib...