THE HAGUE, Netherlands—7 July 2022— The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in partnership with the City of The Hague has opened a call for nominations for the 2022 OPCW-The Hague Award. Full details of the eligibility criteria and requirements for nominations, as well as the online nomination form, are now available on the OPCW official website.
Established in 2014, the Award extends the legacy of the OPCW’s 2013 Nobel Peace Prize ‘for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons’. The Award is part of the OPCW’s ongoing effort to highlight significant contributions made by individuals and organisations, widely from academia, researchers, chemical industry, and civil society to achieve a world free of chemical weapons.
The Award’s eligibility criteria have been expanded to reflect the wide mission of the OPCW to address emerging challenges. The Award also comprises a new category for young professionals, to ensure its future viability and to serve as an outreach tool to the younger generation. Focus areas include:
- Preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons
- Supporting national implementation of the Convention
- Promoting chemistry for peaceful purposes
- Preventing the threat of chemical terrorism
- Ensuring preparedness for chemical incidents and emergencies
- Promoting universality and awareness of the Convention
- Supporting victims of chemical weapons
- Eliminating chemical weapons
- Promoting the successful conclusion of the Convention
The €90,000 cash prize may be awarded to up to three recipients, each of whom will receive a share of the total.
Nominations are being accepted until 1 October 2022.
The Director-General of the OPCW, Ambassador Fernando Arias announced the call for nominations, remarking: “Achieving a world free of chemical weapons is a collective global endeavour involving many stakeholders and efforts. The OPCW-The Hague Award is an important platform to honour these efforts.”
The Award was established in partnership with the City of The Hague, which hosts the OPCW’s headquarters and is hailed as the international city of peace and justice.
The Mayor of the City of The Hague, Mr Jan van Zanen underscored: “The OPCW-The Hague Award presents a unique opportunity to showcase those making a real contribution towards a better and safer world. As the international city of peace and justice, The Hague is proud to collaborate with the OPCW on this award.”
The nominations will be evaluated by a panel comprising of the Director-General of the OPCW, the Mayor of The Hague, the Chairperson of the Executive Council of the OPCW, and officials from the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) and International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
An award ceremony will take place on 28 November 2022 during the Organisation’s annual Conference of the States Parties, held in The Hague.
The Director-General added: “We are looking forward to recognising the diverse and noble efforts to uphold the global norm against chemical weapons, bring visibility to chemical weapons issues, and ensure that future generations approach chemistry responsibility.”
Background
In 2013, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize ‘for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons’. To preserve the legacy of this achievement, the OPCW established the OPCW-The Hague Award in partnership with the Municipality of The Hague in 2014. The Award honours the efforts of individuals and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution towards a world free of chemical weapons.
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 99% 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.