The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) jointly with the Republic of Korea organised the "Seoul Workshop on the Peaceful Development and Use of Chemistry" for OPCW Member States in the Asian Region from 16 to 18 November in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
The Workshop, funded by the Republic of Korea, focused on promoting the peaceful uses of chemistry and developing the capacity of Asian OPCW Member States in chemical safety and security management. Korean experts were invited to talk about dual-use chemicals, critical infrastructure protection, consequence of human error, cyber security, counter terrorism, and process safety management audits.
In her opening remarks, Ms Eun-Jin Park, Director, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, highlighted the importance of the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) through international cooperation, stating: "The Republic of Korea is committed to the Convention and has funded this Seoul Workshop for the last 10 years".
The course was attended by a total of 19 representatives from the following 12 OPCW Member States: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Iraq, Jordan, Maldives, Malaysia, Micronesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, and Viet Nam.
Background
The Seoul Workshop on Peaceful Development and Use of Chemistry for Member States of the OPCW in the Asian Region is a long-standing course on peaceful use of chemistry fully funded by the Republic of Korea. The course has continued since its first edition in 2012 to support Asian Member States' capacities in chemical safety and security management peaceful use of chemistry.
Article XI of the CWC, Economic and Technological Development, provides international cooperation in the field of chemical activities for the economic and technological development of States Parties.
As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States, oversees the global endeavour to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Convention's entry into force in 1997, it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.
Over 99% of all declared chemical weapon stockpiles have been destroyed under OPCW verification. For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.
