THE HAGUE, Netherlands — 15 November 2019 — Chemists, chemical engineers, industry and government stakeholders gathered to build a culture of chemical responsibility during a Peaceful Uses of Chemistry Forum organised by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in collaboration with the Moroccan National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in Casablanca, Morocco from 12 to 14 November 2019.
The forum aimed to create a platform for sharing lessons learned and best practices in chemicals integrated management throughout their lifecycle. The participants discussed the importance of learning modules on chemical security and other capacity building programmes. The forum also included a site visit to OCP Group Industrial Facility.
In his opening statement, Mr Mustapha El Alami El Fellousse, Head of the Division of the Global Issues, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation stressed Morocco’s commitment to being a substantive partner for CWC’s implementation and the importance of strengthening knowledge and institutional capacities of the States Parties in chemical security management.
The OPCW’s International Cooperation Officer, Ms Halimatussaadiah Mat Som, stressed the importance of sharing best practices in chemical security through robust capacity building programmes.
The forum was attended by 40 participants from: Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Iraq, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Sudan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and United States of America.
Background
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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