CHEMICAL

WEAPONS
CONVENTION
10731 - Kaustubh Gavkhare

10732 - Sharayu Patil

10733 - Siddhesh Chavan

 OPCW
 The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
is an intergovernmental organisation and the implementing body for
the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which entered into force
on 29 April 1997. The OPCW, with its 193 member states, has its seat
in The Hague, Netherlands; it oversees the global endeavour for the
permanent and verifiable elimination of chemical weapons.
 History

 The Hague was chosen as the location for the seat of the organisation
after a successful lobby of the Dutch government, competing against
Vienna and Geneva.
 The organisation has its headquarters next to the World Forum
Convention Centre (where it holds its yearly Conference of States
Parties) and an equipment store and laboratory facility in Rijswijk.
 The headquarters were officially opened by Queen Beatrix of the
Netherlands on 20 May 1998.and consist of an eight-story building
built in a semi-circle. A permanent memorial to all victims is present at
the back of the building and is open to the public
Headquarter Of OPCW
 Asia

Africa Eastern Europe

Members Of
OPCW Belongs
To

Latin America and Western European

the Caribbean and Other States
Conflicts

The Chemistry in Conflict Workbook introduces the Chemical Weapons

Convention to high school chemistry students. It familiarises students
with the history of chemical weapons, the obligations of the Convention, and
the role of ethics in science. The workbook facilitates these learning
objectives through practical application, which includes lab activities, group
projects and independent learning exercises. Chemistry in Conflict uses a
multidisciplinary approach and can be applied to a broader curriculum or
adapted to incorporate current events to promote the work of the OPCW and
its continued relevance. 
Chapter 1

Defines chemical weapons and methods of detection and synthesis, as

well as the physiological effects of chemical weapon use. Students
will be able to explain chemical weapons from a technical point of
view,and apply this knowledge through activities to classify chemical
agents and identify the underlying biochemical processes of chemical
weapon exposure symptoms.
Chapter 2

Explains the history of chemical weapons development, the key

milestones and obligations of the Chemical Weapons Convention, and
the work of the OPCW. In completing this chapter’s lesson activities,
students will be able to explain the remit of the Convention and role of
the OPCW and engage in informed debate. 
Chapter 3

Provides an overview of chemical weapon development, the ethical

debates that accompany their use in conflict, and the three ethical
frameworks used when facing an ethical dilemma. Students will be
asked to apply these frameworks to a case study of dual use chemicals
in a debate.  
Chapter 4

Explores protection against chemical weapons, namely the

functionality of activated carbon gas masks. Supplementary activities
for this chapter will have students conduct experiments and research
projects to understand how activated carbon works at the molecular
level.