OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü and Deputy Director-General Hamid Ali Rao (both center) with participants at the Symposium on Women in Chemistry.
The Symposium on Women in Chemistry, which was held at the OPCW Headquarters today, was attended by over 60 participants from 40 countries, including officials from OPCW States Parties, the scientific community, chemical industry, academia and civil society.
To further advance the participation of women as key stakeholders in the scientific community, chemical industry, and other fields of chemistry, the Symposium focused on promoting diversity, equal opportunity and cooperation.
The day was organised around thematic presentations and discussions featuring prominent role models who addressed various areas of concern for women working in chemistry-related fields. Group discussions engaging the participants sought to identify opportunities and solutions for promoting education, building capacity, and career advancement. In addition, the women chemists shared their professional experiences with other participants.
In his remarks to welcome participants, the OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü highlighted the role played by women in further advancing the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, “The OPCW highly values the role of women in our mission to rid the world of chemical weapons, and to ensure that chemistry is used solely for peaceful purposes.”
After the Symposium, the OPCW Laboratory will conduct a three-day analytical chemistry course for interested participants.