The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

OPCW's mission is to implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention to

achieve our vision of a world free of chemical weapons and the threat of their use, and in which
chemistry is used for peace, progress, and prosperity.
Organization

International organization established by the Chemical Weapons Convention (adopted 1992,

entered into force 1997) to implement and enforce the terms of the international treaty, which
prohibits the use, stockpiling, or transfer of chemical weapons by signatory states. The OPCW
was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013. Its headquarters are located in The
Hague, Netherlands.

The OPCW works to eliminate chemical weapons stockpiles, to ensure the nonproliferation of
existing stockpiles, to assist states in protecting themselves against chemical weapons attacks,
and to promote international cooperation in the use of chemistry for peaceful purposes. The
OPCW is authorized to perform inspections to verify that signatory states are complying with the
convention, which includes a commitment to grant inspectors full access to chemical weapons
sites and a common pledge to destroy all stocks of chemical weapons. The OPCW also performs
testing of sites and victims of suspected chemical weapons attacks. By the 2001 Relationship
Agreement between the OPCW and the United Nations, the OPCW reports on its inspections and
other activities to the UN through the office of the secretary-general.

During the two decades after its founding, the OPCW conducted several thousand inspections
around the world. The activities of the OPCW are conducted by three main bodies: The
Executive Council, which administers the daily activities of the OPCW; the
Technical Secretariat, which is charged with verifying states’ compliance with the convention;
and the Conference of the States Parties, which is the highest decision-making body of the
organization.

Membership
There are 193 parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention that are automatically members of
the OPCW. Other states which are eligible to become members are UN member states: Israel is a
signatory state that has not ratified the Convention; and Egypt, North Korea and South Sudan,
which have neither signed nor acceded to the Convention. Palestine was the most recent state to
submit its instrument of accession to the Convention. On 21 April 2021, Syria was stripped of its
voting rights at the OPCW after Syrian forces were found to have repeatedly used poison gas
during the Syrian civil war. A two-thirds majority of members voted to immediately revoke
Syria's privileges at the agency.
Relationship between WCO and OPCW
The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Organization for the Prohibition for Chemical
Weapons (OPCW) signed, on 13 January 2017, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that
expands cooperation to tighten national and international controls on the trade in toxic chemicals.
The new agreement puts in place procedures that enhance cooperation between the WCO and
the OPCW through consultations, exchanges of information and documents, technical
cooperation, as well as cross-representation at relevant meetings.
The strategic partnership constitutes a significant step forward to assist States Parties’ efforts in
enhancing the capabilities of national Customs authorities to exercise the oversight necessary
for the trade in dual-use chemicals. This helps them prevent the misuse of toxic chemicals, and
promote peaceful use of chemistry, thus contributing to a safer world. Current threats posed by
non-state actors make control over these transfers especially important for international security
What is a Chemical Weapon?
A chemical weapon is a chemical used to cause intentional death or harm through its toxic
properties. Munitions, devices and other equipment specifically designed to weaponize toxic
chemicals also fall under the definition of chemical weapons.

Importance of OPCW
1. Eliminating Chemical Weapons
The OPCW, together with its Member States, are committed to the complete elimination
of chemical weapons stockpiles under the watchful eye of the OPCW’s verification regime.
2. Supporting Victims of Chemical Weapons
The OPCW honors the memory of all victims of chemical weapons through its mission to
eliminate these weapons from the world.
3. Supporting National Implementation of the Convention
National measures to implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention are
essential to building an effective verification regime. These measures also help to build trust that
toxic chemicals are only used for peaceful purposes.
4. Preventing the Re-emergence of Chemical Weapons
Chemical weapons may re-emerge in a number of ways: through state-sponsored programmes,
through the actions of terrorist or other criminal groups, or through lone individuals. Chemical
weapons may be produced by repurposing existing chemical facilities or they may be made on a
smaller scale in purpose-built laboratories or even domestic settings. The OPCW works in a
variety of ways to prevent these scenarios from happening.
5. Promoting Peaceful Uses of Chemistry through International Cooperation
The promotion of free trade in chemicals and the open exchange of information and knowledge
about the peaceful applications of chemistry is an important part of the Chemical Weapons
Convention. These activities are meant to help strengthen the economic and technological
development of States Parties.
6. Ensuring Preparedness
The OPCW works with its Member States to help them protect themselves and their populations
against the possibility that chemical weapons may be used against them. The Convention enables
them to develop national protection programmes and to receive assistance, if needed, to build
their national capacity to respond to the use of chemical weapons.
7. Responding to the Use of Chemical Weapons
There are different ways in which the OPCW can respond to the use of alleged use of chemical
weapons, ranging from carrying out a formal investigation to providing emergency assistance.
8. Achieving Universality of the Convention
Universality underpins achieving a comprehensive, verifiable ban on chemical weapons. It
consolidates the international norm against the use of chemical weapons, reinforces the
Convention as a confidence-building measure, prevents proliferation, and helps prevent access to
chemical weapons by non-State actors.

PUNTA CANA RESOLUTION

INTRODUCTION
Following the recent terrorist attacks in Tunisia, Turkey, Lebanon, France, Mali and other
countries, as well as on a Russian airliner over Egypt, by violent extremist groups which threaten
the security and safety of people, as well as economic development, political stability and social
cohesion of countries in all parts of the world; the G20 Statement of 16 November 2015 on the
Fight Against Terrorism in which the G20 condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the recent
heinous terrorist attacks as an unacceptable affront to all humanity, the United Nations Security
Council’s Resolution of 20 November 2015 wherein the Council unequivocally condemned, in
the strongest terms, the terrorist attacks perpetrated by ISIL (also known as Da’esh) in Sousse
(Tunisia), Ankara (Turkey), over Sinai (Egypt), Beirut (Lebanon) and Paris (France) and called
upon its Member States that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures, in
compliance with international law, to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and
suppress terrorist acts.
RECOGNITION
a) Customs authorities around the world are the first line of defense against many criminal
and violent extremist and terrorist organizations that exploit international boundaries,
thereby highlighting the important role of Customs in border security through
management of the movement of goods, money, people and means of transport across
borders through the management of the movement of goods, people and means of
transport,
b) Customs has a key role to play in tackling cross-border provision of material support to
terrorism and terrorist financing;
c) Customs authorities, through the deployment of effective and efficient control measures,
contribute to national economic prosperity (through fair and accurate revenue collection),
economic development (through trade facilitation), public health and safety (through
suppression of illicit trade), and national security (through prevention and detection of
smuggling of restricted, prohibited and strategic goods);
d) The World Customs Organization (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure and
Facilitate Global Trade was adopted as a global instrument to act as a deterrent to
 international terrorism, secure revenue collection and promote trade facilitation
worldwide
e) The sharing of intelligence and close cooperation between Customs authorities and with
other
f) law enforcement agencies to achieve common objectives in the context of border security
is a key element in effectively addressing this threat
g) The WCO Security Programme concentrates on strengthening the capacity of Customs
administrations to address security threats nationally and internationally through the use
of its international standards and technical assistance programmes in areas such as
passenger controls through the use of Advance Passenger Information (API) and
Passenger Name Record (PNR) controls on goods such as materials for explosives,
weapons of mass destruction and small arms and light weapons; and controls on financial
flows linked to crime and terrorism financing
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The Recommendation of the Customs Co-operation Council Concerning the Use of
Advance
2. Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) for Efficient and
Effective Customs Control (June 2015)
3. The Recommendation of the Customs Co-operation Council Concerning the Protocol
Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and
Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention Against
Transnational Organized Crime (29 June 2002)
4. The Recommendation of the Customs Co-operation Council on the need to Develop and
Strengthen the Role of Customs Administrations in Tackling Money Laundering and in
Recovering the Proceeds of Crime (25 June 2005)
RESOLUTIONS
1. Endorses close cooperation at national, regional and international level between Customs
authorities and between Customs and other law enforcement authorities in relation to
information exchange and investigations, with a view to enhancing border security, and
identifying, disrupting and dismantling criminal and destabilizing organizations and
individuals.
2. Invites Customs authorities to include security as part of their mandate and functions,
where appropriate, by including security in their strategic plans and disseminating the
goal to the front lines.
3. Advocates a deeper engagement with partner intergovernmental organizations, using all
relevant bilateral and multilateral platforms.
4. Underlines the importance of the WCO Compliance and Enforcement Package, in
particular the WCO Security Programme, particularly in relation to illicit movements of
firearms and explosives and terrorist financing.
5. Invites Customs authorities to use the full range of detection and investigative techniques,
including risk profiling, API/PNR analysis, intelligence sharing, controlled deliveries,
 forensic techniques, detector dogs and non-intrusive equipment, and upgrading them to
high standards and to use the full extent of the law to secure an appropriate level of
punishment that would act as an effective deterrent.
6. Requests Customs authorities to participate actively in enforcement operations addressing
emerging border-security-related concerns.
7. Encourages Customs authorities to seek powers where they do not have sufficient powers
to make their contribution in the fight against terrorism including preventing the
financing of terrorism through other illegal activities.
8. Encourages governments to provide financial, human and service support to ensure that
Customs authorities can make their contribution nationally, and also internationally for
the WCO Security Programme activities.
9. Encourages Customs authorities to study and make use of the available WCO Security
Programme training and reference materials.
10. Commits to supporting Customs in enhancing border security capabilities, including
advance passenger risk analysis as well as advance cargo risk analysis, and where
necessary developing new tools and guidelines such as the Border Security Initiative and
the Cross-Border Mutual Administrative Assistance, and including those to make high-
risk commodity identification more effective.
11. Stands together as one with its Members in offering solidarity, support and commitment
to provide any and all assistance available.