Chemical Weapons
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
With the entry-into-force of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) on 29 April 1997, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was formally established.
The OPCW Technical Secretariat is located in The Hague, the Netherlands. Currently, 184 nations, representing about 98% of the global population, have joined the CWC. The OPCW mission is to implement the provisions of the CWC and to ensure a credible, transparent regime to verify the destruction of chemical weapons; to prevent their re-emergence in any member State; to provide protection and assistance against chemical weapons; to encourage international cooperation in the peaceful uses of chemistry; and to achieve universal membership of the OPCW. The relationship between the United Nations and the OPCW is regulated by the relationship agreement signed in 2000.
Relationship agreement between the United Nations and the OPCW
(General Assembly Resolutions A/RES/55/283)
