THE HAGUE, Netherlands – 2 July 2019 – Member States of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) proposed ideas for enhancing the Organisation’s international cooperation initiatives at the 4th Review and Evaluation Workshop of the Components of an Agreed Framework for the Full Implementation of Article XI, held yesterday at OPCW headquarters.
The workshop discussed progress towards the full implementation of Article XI of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). This provision of the Convention involves cooperation among OPCW Member States in the field of peaceful uses of chemistry and in pursuit of economic or technological development.
OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, stated in his opening remarks: “This workshop aims to further strengthen the implementation of Article XI, which underpins one of the four pillars of the Convention – international cooperation. These programmes endeavour not only to promote peaceful uses of chemistry, but also to help prevent the re-emergence of chemical weapons. We will intensify our efforts to provide targeted and on-demand capacity building to further advance these objectives.”
The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the OPCW and Chairperson of the Conference of States Parties of the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Yun-young Lee, highlighted: “In light of our shared goal of ridding the world of chemical weapons and the increasing number of unprecedented challenges we face, Article XI is becoming more important than ever to consolidate the prohibition of chemical weapons and to prevent any re-emergence of such weapons. We, as representatives of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, reaffirmed our resolution to promote the full and effective implementation of Article XI.”
OPCW’s Technical Secretariat and panel experts shared information about OPCW international cooperation programmes. Representatives from OPCW Member States, including from National Authorities and Permanent Representations to the OPCW, reviewed obstacles and identified opportunities for expanding capacity building programmes and enhancing their effectiveness.
Background
The first workshop on Article XI was held at OPCW headquarters in November 2010, where experts and National Authorities gathered to discuss ways for promoting chemistry for peace and security.
Based on the outcomes of the first workshop, four regional Article XI workshops were convened in Asia, Latin American and Caribbean (GRULAC), Eastern Europe and Africa in 2012 and 2013 to review the needs of Article XI implementation in different regions. A further workshop was organised in 2014 to explore ideas that could help develop concrete measures to fully implement Article XI.
The first Review and Evaluation Workshop for Article XI was organised in 2016. The Secretariat annually organises the Review and Evaluation Workshop, which provides a platform for OPCW Member States to discuss the implementation of Article XI.
As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States, oversees the global endeavour to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Convention’s entry into force in 1997, it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.
Over 97% 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 Peace Prize.
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