Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Allow me first to wish you all a happy, healthy and fruitful New Year.
I am pleased to welcome you to the launch of the new e-Learning tool of the International Cooperation and Assistance Division.
I am delighted to see so many of you at today’s event, which is a testimony to your commitment to working together for a world free of chemical weapons.
It also demonstrates your support for the OPCW’s International Cooperation and Assistance Programme and the effective implementation of the Convention nationally and globally.
Making full use of all modern technological means when supporting the States Parties in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention remains a key priority for the Secretariat.
In doing so, we maximise the impact of our activities and reach the largest possible audiences across the globe, ensuring effective and efficient use of our human and financial resources.
As was indicated during the Annual Meeting of National Authorities in November last year, the Technical Secretariat has modernised and expanded its e-learning modules to enhance our support for national implementation of the Convention.
It is my pleasure and privilege to announce today the launch of this new, comprehensive e-Learning tool.
The relevant modules are now available to States Parties through the OPCW Learning Management System.
As you know, the OPCW achieved significant milestones in 2023, including the completion of the destruction of all declared chemical weapons and the inauguration of the Chem Tech Centre.
With destruction of declared stockpiles complete, and as we intensify our focus on preventing the re-emergence of these horrific weapons, national capacity development, training, and education activities in relation to the Convention are even more of a priority for the Secretariat.
The progress by States Parties in fulfilling their obligations under Articles VII, X and XI of the Convention is commendable. However, more needs to be done and the Secretariat is fully committed to assisting States Parties in this endeavour.
In this respect, the Secretariat is placing increasing emphasis on complementing traditional training and outreach activities with state-of-the-art virtual and remote learning tools.
Targeted utilisation of virtual capacity building tools optimises the use of scarce resources and enables the International Cooperation and Assistance Programme to further enhance its effectiveness and efficiency.
E-learning is transforming the way training is delivered and knowledge is shared globally, and ICA has embraced relevant opportunities from the outset.
Integrating e-learning, using hybrid and virtual means and methods, into ICA activities, requires high quality, user-friendliness, and broad accessibility of content.
Some of the new e-learning modules convey basic knowledge about the Convention and the OPCW, others provide specific technical information related to the implementation of the Convention, and a few are dedicated to building capacities of customs authorities to implement and enforce the transfer regime of the Convention.
You will hear more about the detailed content of the modules later today.
The primary beneficiaries of this extensive e-learning opportunity are National Authorities and other national stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Convention, including customs authorities and chemical industry. This new tool provides a flexible, user-friendly, and enhanced learning experience to these users.
I encourage National Authorities – and you – to raise awareness among all relevant national CWC stakeholders of this new and unique opportunity.
The Secretariat will continue to improve and expand this e-learning tool in the coming years, based on feedback from users and taking into account evolving capacity-building needs.
We look forward to your constructive feedback in this regard.
I thank you very much for your attention.