Chemical safety and security actively promoted through ICCSS activities during the 20th Session of the OPCW Conference of the State Parties (The Hague 30/11-04/12)

The ICCSS Delegation took an active part in the yearly meeting of the States-parties at the OPCW. The ICCSS organized a series of side-events and a designated CHEMSS 2016 Exhibition to promote innovative ICCSS programs to enhance chemical safety and security worldwide and enhance a global chemical safety and security culture.

The ICCSS Delegation took an active part in the yearly meeting of the States-parties at the OPCW. The ICCSS organized a series of side-events and a designated CHEMSS 2016 Exhibition to promote innovative ICCSS programs to enhance chemical safety and security worldwide and enhance a global chemical safety and security culture.

During a first side event on the development and implementation of the Integrated Chemical Safety and Security Program (ICSSP) in Ukraine (30.11.2015), organized jointly  with the Embassy of Ukraine in the Hague, HE O.Horin, Ambassador of Ukraine in The Hague, confirmed a strong engagement of Ukraine Government of the major international program of cooperation (coordinated by OSCE, UN, Ukrainian Chemist Union and the ICCSS as the international co-ordinator) to introduce in Ukraine a modern management of chemical safety and security and protection of critical infrastructure, with an emphasis on transit and transportation of toxic chemicals. He requested the OPCW participation in the program. He also stressed the importance of the Ukraine Forum on Chemical Safety and Security during  the global chemical safety and security summit (www.chemss2016.org) on 18 April, 2016 in Kielce, Poland. Amb. Vaidotas Verba, head of OSCE in Kyivm confirmed an importance the OSCE attaches to the ICSSP implementation and its leadership in its implementation. Amb. Krzysztof Paturej,  head of ICCSS, an international coordinator of the ICSSP, outlined first projects agreed within the ICSSP and presented next steps. Since there is no financial resources for the ICSSP projects, the speakers invited donors to provide financial support for the ICSSP implementation.

A second side event presented a successful story of the development and implantation of the first stage of the Kenyan program and highlighted the next steps in its implementation. Amb. Kalimi Mworia, leader of the Kenyan program implementation outlined the development and the implementation of a sustainable training system composed of pilot training courses and train the trainers course, with an emphasis on monitoring chemicals in transit, border control and trafficking and education and awareness. Amb. Krzysztof Paturej The side event demonstrated an effectiveness of the CWC implementation through the bottom-up approach (through training the implementers at local level) rather than through the traditional legislative mechanisms.

A third side event: CHEMSS 2016 – Moving towards global chemical safety and security (01.12.2015), presented a draft program of the summit. Paul Walker, head of US Green Cross introduced a draft chemss2016 declaration on enhancing global chemical safety and security culture. A leading objective of this side event was also the promotion of CHEMSS 2016 among the OPCW audience and the guests of the conference and attracting media as partners for CHEMSS 2016. Amb. Kalimi Mworia presented the program and invited for the African Forum on Chemical Safety and Security during  the global chemical safety and security summit (www.chemss2016.org) on 18 April, 2016 in Kielce, Poland. The event highlighted the unique values of CHEMSS 2016. It is a first global event of all stakeholders and the grass-root-level initiative supported by the governments, industry, academia, media and civil society. CHEMSS 2016 is a truly global, non-political event confirmed by the participation in chemss2016 Program Committee of representatives of: US, China, Iran, Russia, Brazil, the EU member states, South Africa, Kenya and many others.

CHEMSS 2016 exhibition (www.chemss2016.org) was permanently displayed during the Conference of States-parties, to promote participation of representatives of governments, industry, academia, media and civil society. The exhibition presented 3 main areas of CHEMSS 2016: summit/congress, trainings/presentations and the international fair. The Exhibition will demonstrate chemss2016 as a beginning of developing global market for chemical safety and security.

Amb. Krzysztof Paturej, ICCSS head, addressed the Plenary Session of the Conference of States-parties, during the meeting with the civil society. He appealed to build a global movement to reduce chemical threats, free from political biases, with the OPCW in the center of these efforts. He insisted that in the process of renovating the OPCW agenda and accommodating the OPCW to join international efforts to meet these challenges, the OPCW should embrace chemical safety and security.  Chemical safety and security should be a vehicle which will allow the OPCW to assist its member states to reduce chemical threats and increase international cooperation. Amb. Paturej thanked the OPCW for a broad support expressed for the the Global Chemical Safety and Security Summit (www.chemss.2016.org) and accompanying Fair to be held in Kielce, Poland on 18-20 April, 2016, and invited the OPCW Director-General and the OPCW audience to attend chemss2016 and to take active part in its deliberations.

During the yearly meeting of the States-parties at the OPCW, members of the ICCSS team (amb. Krzysztof Paturej, Mrs Monika Witek, Ms Diana Pyrikova, Mr. Kuba Witek and Mr Piotr Olowski) conducted many meetings and bilateral consultations to promote ICCSS mission and programs.   

More information about side events: click here

Documents section (statements, presentations): click here