Third Regional Assistance-and-Protection Course on Chemical Emergency Response Held in Brazil

The OPCW and National Authority of Brazil organized the course for Latin American and Caribbean States Parties from 15 to 19 August 2011 in Rio de Janeiro. The course was attended by 23 participants representing 16 States Parties* in the region. This was the third training hosted by Brazil and the first time to be held in Rio de Janeiro.

The course was opened by Ambassador Carmen Ribeiro Moura, Acting Head of the International Affairs Office of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation; and Mr. Sergio Frazao Executive Secretary of the Brazilian National Authority. 

Ambassador Moura stressed the importance of the course in enabling the exchange of experiences and creating an efficient emergency response against chemical weapons. She stated that hosting the course demonstrated Brazil’s continued strong support for strengthening the regime of the OPCW and the realisation of a world free of chemical weapons.

During the course the participants were familiarized with CWC issues and the response to chemical threats, including Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention; CBRN threats; chemical warfare agents and medical countermeasures; individual protection; detection, identification and decontamination of chemical agents; planning and managing security for major events; and the Incident Command System (ICS). Participants also had an introduction to biological and radiological threats. The theoretical sessions were complemented with practical training, and at the end of the course participants planned and executed a full response to a chemical incident.

During the week the participants also visited a Brazilian army mobile laboratory and observed a demonstration of a mobile decontamination station.