The OPCW completed its 10th inspector training course
The OPCW completed its 10th inspector training course on 28 April 2009 for 16 trainee inspectors from 15 countries: Canada, China, Colombia, Finland, India, Iran, Japan, New Zealand, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Serbia, South Africa, Sweden, Tunisia, and United States of America.
The 13-week training was supported by the governments of Belgium, France, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Switzerland and United States.
This year’s programme combined lectures from experts in chemical demilitarisation and industry verification with a case studies review and table-top exercises to ensure familiarity with on-site inspection procedures. The practical side of the course included field training to impart skills required for protection against use of chemical weapons and potential toxic exposure, and involved handling of live blister and nerve agents. The inspectors also received medical and communications instruction and were tutored in OPCW safety procedures.
The new recruits will join an international team of more than 180 OPCW inspectors. Since entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention in April 1997, the Organisation has devoted a total of 193,724 inspector-days to inspecting some 1,400 military and industrial facilities.