Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an international organization that works to eliminate chemical weapons stockpiles (reserve supplies) around the world. Chemical weapons are such agents as gases, liquids, sprays, and powders that are used to injure or kill people.
The OPCW is based at The Hague in the Netherlands. The organization was established in 1997 to put into force the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The treaty took effect that same year. The CWC is an international agreement to ban the production, storage, and use of chemical weapons worldwide.
The OPCW has more than 190 member nations that have agreed to work together to eliminate chemical weapons. The organization carries out inspections of procedures for destroying chemical weapons. It also evaluates members’ own declarations, in order to verify whether they are following the treaty. In addition, the OPCW works to prevent the reemergence of previous chemical weapons threats as well as new threats.
The OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize for its work. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the prize to the organization for its “extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.” The award also honored the OPCW’s long-standing efforts to implement the chemical weapons treaty “through inspections, destruction, and by other means.”
See also Arms control; Chemical-biological-radiological warfare (CBR).
