On behalf of the Government of Ethiopia, the African Union Commission, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Director-General wishes to invite National Authorities to nominate representatives to attend the Seventeenth Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Africa, which will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 12 to 14 June 2019.
Background
At its Eighth Session, the Conference of the States Parties adopted a plan of action regarding the implementation of obligations under Article VII of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Third Review Conference highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to national implementation in line with each State Party’s constitutional requirements, to filling gaps in national implementation, and to ensuring that national implementation measures are consistent with the provisions of the Convention. The Review Conference also encouraged the Technical Secretariat to explore innovative methods of providing assistance on tailor-made approaches as a potential means to further advance the implementation of Article VII.
This regional meeting of National Authorities will serve as a forum in which the States Parties in the region will discuss the needs and priorities in implementation of the Convention at the national, subregional, and regional levels. The inputs from the participants and outcomes of the discussions will be considered when designing the fifth phase of the OPCW’s Programme to Strengthen Cooperation with Africa on the Chemical Weapons Convention. Apart from representatives of National Authorities and the African Union, the meeting will be open to interested international organisations and potential donors that may have a role in supporting the OPCW’s Africa Programme.
The last day of the meeting will serve as a forum in which the representatives of National Authorities will discuss various national implementation issues by analysing their experiences with regard to benefiting from international assistance programmes and by presenting good practices in organising national capacity-building events with the funding and support provided by national governments. In addition, the Secretariat also plans to present a new version of the national implementation framework and to seek feedback on it from National Authorities.
Objectives
- Discuss the national, subregional, and regional needs and priorities of the African States Parties in the implementation of the Convention.
- Discuss and identify opportunities for practical support from and cooperation with the African Union, its institutions, and its Regional Economic Communities.
- Discuss possible support from international organisations and donors for national implementation of the Convention.
- Discuss the experiences of National Authorities and other national stakeholders in participation in OPCW assistance programmes, as well as in organising national capacity-building and awareness-raising events related to national implementation of the Convention.
- Discuss an updated version of the national implementation framework for the Convention.
- Hold bilateral meetings with the representatives of National Authorities on issues pertaining to national implementation, including progress with the adoption of national implementing legislation.
Expected Results
- Improved understanding of the needs and priorities of the African States Parties, as well as opportunities for cooperation with the African Union and its structures.
- Identification of assistance and funding opportunities that could be integrated into the fifth phase of the OPCW’s Africa Programme.
- Increased awareness of the benefits and results of participation in OPCW capacity-building programmes as well as awareness of good practices in the implementation of national capacity-building programmes by States Parties.
- The collection of feedback on the design of a national implementation framework for the Convention and review of the national implementation status of the States Parties.