The Chemical Weapons Convention

Edited by Ramesh Thakur and Ere Haru

The Chemical Weapons Convention: Implementation, Challenges and Opportunities

The Chemical Weapons Convention
Edited by Ramesh Thakur and Ere Haru

ISBN 92-808-1123-1
200 pages; paper; US$30.00
June 2006

Rebuilding societies where conflict has occurred is rarely a simple process; but where conflict has been accompanied by gross and systematic violations of human rights, the procedure becomes fraught with controversy.

The most complex and comprehensive disarmament treaty ever to be adopted, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is intended to provide robust assurance that chemical weapons will not be developed, produced, stockpiled, used or transferred.

To implement and enforce the CWC and verify the ongoing elimination of declared chemical weapons production capacity and stockpiles, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inspects military and industrial sites in dozens of countries. OPCW membership now embraces over 95 percent of the world's population and 98 percent of the relevant global chemical industry.

This book provides an in-depth explanation of the notable achievements of the CWC in a relatively short span since 1997, and examines the issues that must be addressed to ensure the regime's continuing vitality in the context of dynamic changes in the security environment, and in science, industry and technology.

Featuring contributions from government and OPCW officials and experts in international law, industry, government and media, this volume highlights the challenges in implementation and assesses and recommends the means necessary to preserve the global ban on chemical weapons perpetually.

"Provides an excellent survey of key issues related to the implementation of the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), as well as the challenges and opportunities facing the treaty in the coming years".

—Jonathan B. Tucker, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies, California, USA.

Editors

Ramesh Thakur is Senior Vice-Rector of the United Nations University (Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations), Tokyo, Japan. Ere Haru is Head, Training and Staff Development Branch, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, The Hague, the Netherlands.

Contents Overview

Foreword
Introduction
The Chemical Weapons Convention-multilateral instrument with a future
The first review conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention: A drafter's perspective
Implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention: A comparative case study
Chemical weapons destruction and the public involvement
Standing the test of time-Efforts to achieve universality of the CWC
Challenge inspection system of the Chemical Weapons Convention: Problems and prospects
Conclusion