THE HAGUE, Netherlands–20 December 2021–The Kingdom of Denmark today made €224,000 in voluntary contributions to three different Trust Funds managed by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Of the €224,000, a contribution of €134,000 to the Trust Fund for Syria Missions will support the work of the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT), in charge of identifying those responsible for the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic.
€50,000 will be dedicated to support trainings at the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (CCT) for OPCW inspectors and other staff involved in non-routine missions, investigations, and Technical Assistance Visits.
An additional €40,000 to the Trust Fund for Security and Business Continuity will support planned security upgrades.
The contributions were formalised today between the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Denmark to the OPCW, H.E. Mr Jarl Frijs-Madsen, and the Director General of the OPCW, Mr Fernando Arias.
Ambassador Frijs-Madsen stated: “Denmark is proud to stand with the OPCW in preventing use of chemical weapons and holding those responsible for use to account. Denmark is investing with the OPCW to address the use of chemical weapons in Syria and to enhance the Organisation’s capacity to respond to new challenges in a changing world.”
Director-General Arias expressed thanks to Denmark, stating: “We sincerely appreciate Denmark’s commitment to upholding the Chemical Weapons Convention and its strategic investment in the work of the OPCW. These contributions will bolster the Organisation’s ability to respond quickly to future threats and to mitigate security risks it faces.”
Background
Denmark has been an active member of the OPCW since the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) entered into force in 1997.
The Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) is mandated to identify the perpetrators of the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic. The IIT was launched following a decision adopted by the Conference of the States Parties to the CWC at its Fourth Special Session held in June 2018.
The OPCW Trust Fund for Training enables the professional development of OPCW personnel in support of various activities, including non-routine inspections, fact-finding missions, investigations, and provision of technical assistance. It contributes to enhancing and sustaining the readiness of the Technical Secretariat to carry out both routine and non-routine operations and helps staff adapt their knowledge and skills to evolving requirements.
The Trust Fund for Security and Business Continuity helps the OPCW to enhance its digital resilience to ensure that the Organisation’s people, operations, and information are protected effectively. To date, the trust fund has been used to improve the security assurance of all OPCW’s networks and systems and enhance the business continuity preparedness of the organisation.
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 98% of all declared chemical weapon stockpiles have been destroyed under OPCW verification. For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.