The OPCW completed its 12th inspector training course on 7 May 2010 for 31 trainee inspectors from 20 countries: China, Germany, Greece, India, Jordan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Serbia, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
The 15-week training was supported by the governments of Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United States of America.
This year’s programme included lectures from experts in chemical demilitarisation and industry verification combined with 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 work with 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 212,000 inspector-days to inspecting some 1,440 military and industrial facilities.
OPCW News 11/2010