A basic training course on assistance and protection against chemical weapons, co-organized by the Government of Finland and the OPCW, was held at the Crisis Management Centre (CMC) in Kuopio from 10 to 14 September 2012. Experts from 18 States Parties* participated.
The course provided training in planning for and building a support team in civilian protection and rescue operations in contaminated areas. The agenda also covered the provision of appropriate responses, including countermeasures against the use of chemical warfare agents or in the event of incidents involving toxic chemicals. A basic introduction was given in the use of individual protective equipment and in the monitoring, detection and decontamination of toxic chemicals.
The team atmosphere facilitated the exchange of information and experiences regarding the implementation of Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The course ended with a comprehensive exercise that included the use of sampling techniques.
* Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cuba, Hungary, Iraq, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Mauritius, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, Portugal, Peru, United Arab Emirates and Ukraine.