This commemoration will provide an opportunity to pay tribute to the victims of chemical warfare, as well as to reaffirm the commitment of the OPCW to the elimination of the threat of chemical weapons, thereby promoting the goals of peace, security, and multilateralism.
The Conference of the States Parties at its Tenth Session (paragraph 23.3 of C-10/5, dated 11 November 2005) decided that a memorial Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare would be observed on 29 April each year––the date in 1997 on which the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force.
This year, the programme for the Day of Remembrance will include the following:
- a commemorative session in the Ieper Room, with statements by H.E. Mr Minoru Shibuya, Chairman of the Conference of the States Parties; H.E. Mr Rogelio Pfirter, Director-General of the OPCW; H.E. Mr Frank Heemskerk, Minister for Foreign Trade of the Netherlands; and Mr Jozias van Aartsen, Mayor of The Hague;
- a laying of flowers at the memorial site; and
- a reception.
The invitees will include representatives from the Member States of the OPCW, from local government, from non-governmental and international organisations, and a delegation of young students from the various international schools located in the area of The Hague.
Additional information may be obtained from the Protocol and Visa Branch, External Relations Division. The contact person is Ms Milijana Danevska, who can be reached at +31 (0)70 416 3772.