Basic Course for personnel of National Authorities involved in the national implementation of the CWC
Representatives of 42 National Authorities (NA) from across the globe made headways in enhancing their capacity for domestic implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), during a course held by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) at the Organisation’s Headquarters from 18-22 July.
“National Authorities are responsible for ensuring that State Parties adhere to their obligations under the Convention. The OPCW stands ready to help them enhance their capacity in fulfilling their complex tasks,” said the Director of OPCW’s International Cooperation and Assistance, Hamza Khelif. He underscored the participants’ responsibility of “not only carrying the torch by applying the skills and knowledge gained during this course but also passing the torch to others so that they can fulfil their obligations under the Convention”.
The programme focused on NAs’ vital tasks in ensuring that the CWC is wholly put into effect on a national level. Attendees analysed key obligations of the Chemical Weapons Convention and OPCW’s role in its implementation, and received training on declaration submission, rules of import and export of scheduled chemicals, support for OPCW inspections, and NAs’ role in education and outreach. The course also included a visit to the OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store.
The course was attended by representatives of Albania, Angola, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, Iraq, Laos, Lesotho, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Serbia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Singapore, Sudan, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.
The Basic Course for Personnel of National Authorities is an element of a broader educational programme offered by the OPCW to States Parties to enhance their capabilities to implement the CWC fully on a national level. The program also includes regular meetings of National Authorities, educational packages about the CWC, implementing legislation related courses and other capacity-building events.For more details: