Image source: @HFalconerMP
The UK has contributed recently £200,000 (over $262,000) to the OPCW Trust Fund to support the activities of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in Syria.
This contribution is considered as a part of a larger £650,000 UK commitment, which supports activities related to Syria and Ukraine, promotes innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects, and aids in the development of regional laboratories.
The portion allocated for Syria is intended to support the work of the OPCW’s Disarmament and Mass Destruction Assessment, Declaration and Dissemination Team (DAT), the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM), and the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT).
The signing ceremony took place at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London on 4 October 2024. The agreement was signed by the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Mr. Hamish Falconer, and the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Mr. Fernando Arias.
Ambassador Falconer expressed his satisfaction with the UK’s contributions to OPCW projects this year, particularly the support for Syria.
Director-General Arias welcomed the UK’s voluntary contribution, stating that it aims to advance the objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), including the OPCW’s work in Syria.
Arias added that this support would help address both current and future challenges. He encouraged all OPCW member states to consider making voluntary and kind contributions to support the organization’s priority activities.
The Chemical Weapons Convention has been in effect since 1997, and the UK is a member of the OPCW Executive Council, the organization’s governing body.
In 2014, the Declaration Assessment Team was established to work with the Syrian regime to resolve inconsistencies in Syria’s chemical weapons declaration. The Fact-Finding Mission was also established that year in response to ongoing allegations of chemical weapons attacks in Syria, with the aim of investigating the facts surrounding such allegations. The Investigation and Identification Team, which began work in 2019, is tasked with identifying those responsible for chemical weapons use in Syria.
Under Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention, member states have “the right to participate in the widest possible exchange of equipment, materials, and scientific and technological information relating to means of protection against chemical weapons.”
On 24 April 2024, the OPCW raised concerns over Syria’s claims of having fully dismantled its chemical weapons program. The OPCW noted that, despite Syria’s assurances, there are concerns about the ongoing development of chemical weapons in the country. While the OPCW confirmed in 2023 that it had verified the destruction of all declared chemical weapons stockpiles, questions remain regarding Syria’s compliance.
Chemical Violations Documentation Centre of Syria (CVDCS) has emphasized the importance of fully implementing and complying with the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Convention mandates the elimination of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, possession, stockpiling, transfer, or use of chemical weapons by member states.
The (CVDCS) also stresses the need for accountability for all those involved in the use of chemical weapons and calls for justice for victims and their families.
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