Participants at the Fifth Workshop on Peaceful Development and Use of Chemistry
Advancement of key chemical safety and security capacities were at the core of the Fifth Workshop on Peaceful Development and Use of Chemistry, carried out by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from 2 – 4 November 2016.
Twenty-five participants from 14 Asian States Parties attended the workshop, and ranged from government officials responsible for the chemical industry and chemical industry representatives – to academics and chemists.
The workshop covered a broad range of issues, including Korean chemical industry’s safety management, chemical safety and security risk assessment for accident prevention and preparedness, substances used for accident prevention, accident prevention and misuse of chemicals, and mitigation of chemical security threats. Moreover, the participants learned about best practices in Responsible Care (chemical industry’s global initiative to improve safety and security.)
In addition to attending these presentations, participants went to the SK Petrochemical Plant to learn about practical aspects of chemical safety management from industry professionals.
The workshop was co-organised by the National Authority of the Republic of Korea. “Korea’s strong support of the implementation of the Convention and their voluntary contributions are invaluable to various areas of the Organisation, including multiple capacity-building workshops and activities,” noted OPCW’s, Senior International Cooperation Officer, Mr Rohan Perera, in his opening remarks.
Background
The Chemical Weapons Convention comprehensively prohibits the use, development, production, stockpiling and transfer of chemical weapons. Any chemical used for warfare is considered a chemical weapon by the Convention.
As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW oversees the global endeavour to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Convention’s entry into force in 1997 — with its 192 States Parties — it is the most successful disarmament treaty in existence, eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.
To date, nearly 93 per cent of all chemical weapon stockpiles declared by possessor states have been destroyed under OPCW verification. For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Prize for Peace.