The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Hague-based agency responsible for eliminating chemical weapons worldwide, has reported that steady progress is being made to eliminate global stockpiles of chemical weapons and their means of production. The OPCW is holding the Second Special Session of the Conference of State Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (Second Review Conference) from 7 April to 18 April 2008, in The Hague.

The Second Review Conference aims to review the operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and to address the current process of destruction of declared arsenals. The Conference will also address relevant technological developments, as well as review and re-examine the provisions of the CWC and provide guidance for the next phase of implementation. The First Review Conference was held in 2003, six years after the CWC entered into force.

On 3 April 2008, the OPCW published a Review of the Operation of the CWC since the First Review Conference. In his introduction to the report,  OPCW Director-General Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, assessed the progress made in 10 years of treaty implementation. He states that “at a time when the credibility of the multilateral system in this area has been questioned, [the OPCW has] demonstrated that global disarmament under strict international verification is possible”.

The report highlights the principle achievements realized by the CWC in the last 15 years.  183 countries have now ratified the Convention, representing 98% of the world’s population. Additionally,  the 65 chemical weapons productions facilities declared under the Convention by 12 states have been de-activated, destroyed or converted to peaceful uses. One-third of the 8.6 million chemical munitions and containers covered by the CWC have been destroyed and more than 3000 inspections have taken place at more than 1000 chemical weapons-related and industrial sites since 1997.

Of the 183 States Parties, 12 have declared chemical weapons production facilities (Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, France, India, Iran, Japan, Libya, Russia, Serbia, UK, US and another State Party) and six have declared chemical weapons stockpiles.(Albania, India, Libya, Russia, US and another State Party). In July 2007, Albania became the first of these countries to completely destroy its declared chemical weapons stockpiles. Five Signatory States have yet to ratify the CWC (Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Myanmar). Non-Signatory States include Angola, North Korea, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia and Syria.

OPCW Press Release