The Twenty-Eighth Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CSP-28) opened today in The Hague, Netherlands. The session is livestreamed on the OPCW website.
"Current developments in peace and security heighten the threat of chemical weapons use. In these challenging times the Conference, as the highest decision-making body of the Organisation is required to take decisions and actions to preserve the norm against chemical weapons," said OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Fernando Arias, at the opening of the Conference.
Key discussion topics during the Conference will be:
the role of the OPCW and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in strengthening international peace and security, including preventing chemical weapons re-emergence;
addressing the threat from chemical weapons use;
science and technology developments relevant to the Convention's implementation;
promoting peaceful applications of chemistry and ensuring safe production and secure use of chemicals;
promoting universality of the Convention;
the biennial programme and budget for 2024-2025;
strengthening institutional governance at the OPCW.
The Conference is chaired by the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the OPCW, H.E. Mr Suljuk Mustansar Tarar, who assumed his duties from the outgoing Chairperson, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the OPCW, H.E. Mr Vusimuzi Madonsela.
On Monday, 27 November, an official ceremony for the OPCW-The Hague Award was held. This year the award honours three recipients:
The Spiez Laboratory in Switzerland
Dr Syeda Sultana Razia, Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and member of the OPCW Scientific Advisory Board (SAB)
Mr Hubert K Foy, Founding Director and Senior Research Scientist at the African Centre for Science and International Security in Ghana
On Wednesday, 29 November, the Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare will be observed with a minute of silence. The Conference will reaffirm its commitment to the norm against chemical weapons in all circumstances.
A number of side events focusing on topics related to the CWC are taking place in the margins of the Conference.
OPCW milestones since CSP-27: a year at a glance
Since CSP-27 last year, the OPCW has achieved several milestones related to the implementation of the Convention:
