ICCSS actively participates in global efforts to get rid of chemical weapons

ICCSS President was among several civil society, academia and industry representatives, invited for the yearly conference of States Parties to Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The Conference conducted on 29 November  – 3 December in The Hague provided guidance for the work of the Organisation on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which implements  the CWC provisions, in 2022.

Despite the COVID-19 restrictions which made impossible to organise side-events or any gatherings to promote ICCSS activities, Amb. Krzysztof Paturej conducted a series of bilateral meetings with the Delegations, OPCW Technical Secretariat, civil society, academia and industry representatives. He presented the most recent ICCSS program activities, which have a direct relevance  to the OPCW mission. They include EU-CHEM-REACT program, which enables OPCW Technical Secretariat and National Authorities to train, at table and field exercises, inspectors an first responders against chemical emergencies. The ICCSS led Middle East Chemical Security program provides offers training and exercise opportunities, in train the trainers format, to implement CWC provisions and reduce chemical  threats at grass root level and in critical areas of chemical activities, including storage and transport of chemicals. Within newly kick-off program on industrial cybersecurity and reliability, CWC National Authorities will get access to modern competences and trainings to increase resilience of chemical industries against cyber threats. ICCSS presented a working paper on the development of program to support National Authorities to increase resilience of their chemical industries against cyber threats. ICCSS proposed to conduct a joint OPCW/ICCSS Seminar on these issues in spring 2022.

During the meeting with the OPCW Director-General, H.E. Amb. Fernando Arias, and OPCW Deputy Director-General, H.E. Amb. Odette Melono, ICCSS President congratulated OPCW DG with the re-appointment for the second term, for years 2022-2026. He highly assessed the work of the OPCW Secretariat.

During the session the ICCSS President signed an agreement with the OPCW Director-General on ICCSS financial contribution of Euro 5000 to the development of OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology.

 

Background

The ICCSS cooperation with the OPCW has a long history. ICCSS was founded by a group of former OPCW senior staff and inspectors. The ICCSS first major conference on ICCSS vision of integrated chemical safety and security  was conducted in 2012, in Tarnow, Poland, with 54 countries and international organisations, academia and industries. Amb. Krzysztof Paturej, ICCSS initiator, was engaged in the work on the CWC implementation as former Representative of Poland to the OPCW Preparatory Commission. He was first Polish Representative to the OPCW (1997-2001). He served as Chairman of the OPCW Executive Council, OPCW Conference of States Parties. Amb. K.Paturej was a senior staff at OPCW Secretariat, as Director of Office of Special Projects, in years 2012-2013. In 2013 Amb. K. Paturej was Chair of the OPCW Third Review Conference, which produced consensus  final  document. ICCSS regularly participates in the work of the OPCW as an active representative of civil society.

“International Centre for Chemical Safety and Security (ICCSS) actively participate in and supports the OPCW work and National Authorities with modern approaches and solutions to implement chemical safety and security and industrial cybersecurity. ICCSS contribution to is a concrete confirmation of our strong conviction that OPCW ChemTech Centre will be a flagship for all OPCW stakeholders, including civil societies, industry and academia, to enhance OPCW standing as the global leader in efforts to rid the world of chemical weapons and reduce chemical threats.”