Specialists at the Fifth Seminar on Chemical Safety and Security Management, held from 21 – 23, February in Doha
The event, co-hosted by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons (NCPW) of Qatar, attracted 60 professionals from 19 Member States, including representatives from National Authorities, the chemical industry, industry associations, policy making bodies and academia.
“Since its inception in 2012, the Chemical Safety and Security Programme in Doha has evolved into a leading international forum that connects top experts in this field. Strong cooperation between the OPCW and its Member States brings us closer to achieving the OPCW’s wider goals of chemical disarmament, and promotion of peaceful uses of chemistry,” remarked OPCW’s Senior International Cooperation Officer, Mr Rohan Perera, in his opening speech.
During the seminar, participants spoke about new approaches to various aspects of chemical safety and security, including risk management, vulnerability assessment and threat reduction methods. Attendees underlined the importance of practice-sharing, education and outreach in building strong chemical safety and security worldwide.
Background
As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW oversees the global endeavour to permanently and verifiably eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Convention’s entry into force in 1997 – and with its 192 States Parties – it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.
To date, approximately 95 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.