Original document: S/936/2011

1. In its Note S/919/2011, dated 6 April 2011, the Technical Secretariat (hereinafter “the Secretariat”) provided the background information for the OPCW Conference on International Cooperation and Chemical Safety and Security, which will be held as a contribution to the International Year of Chemistry as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (A/RES/63/209). By focussing on the essential and unique role that the Chemical Weapons Convention (hereinafter “the Convention”) plays in ensuring that chemistry is exclusively used in the service of humankind, the conference will seek to enhance support for the objectives of the Convention— including in the area of international cooperation.

2. The Director-General wishes to invite relevant national institutions, international organisations, chemical industry, research centres, the scientific and academic communities, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to attend this conference, which will be held on 12 and 13 September 2011 at the OPCW Headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands.

3. This Note provides further information regarding the event, including a programme outline and a registration form.

Background
4. The conference is intended to promote the goals of the Convention by highlighting, in conjunction with major international stakeholders, both the achievements of the Organisation and the challenges that lie ahead. The stakeholders include States Parties to the Convention, the United Nations, and other relevant international and regional organisations, the chemical industry, particularly the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), as well as scientific and academic institutions, think tanks, and NGOs.

5. In addition to providing continuity to the OPCW’s focus on promoting national capacity-building for research, development, storage, production, and safe use of chemicals for purposes not prohibited by the Convention, security concerns will also be addressed. In this regard, the conference will serve as a forum for exploring sustainable ways and means of sharing knowledge and best practices to protect chemical plants from potential security threats. In order to prevent the misuse of toxic chemicals, it is crucial to strengthen measures to improve the safety and security of chemical plant sites.

6. Given the comprehensive prohibition on chemical weapons under the Convention, the OPCW is well placed to serve as a forum for governments and industry to promote efforts in the context of chemical safety and security issues. Inclusion of this aspect as a major topic to be covered by the conference is in keeping with the decisions of both the First and the Second Special Sessions of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (“the First Review Conference” and “the Second Review Conference”), held in 2003 and 2008, respectively. The Second Review Conference welcomed the fact that some States Parties had taken measures to minimise security risks at chemical facilities and encouraged States Parties to exchange experiences and discuss related issues (paragraph 9.94 of RC-2/4, dated 18 April 2008).

7. The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopted by consensus in September 2006, encourages the OPCW to continue its efforts, within its mandate, to help States to build capacity to prevent terrorists from accessing chemical materials, to ensure security at related facilities, and to respond effectively in the event of an attack using such materials.

Conference topics
8. The conference will cover a broad range of issues related to the implementation of the Convention and to the functioning of the OPCW in the context of peaceful uses of chemistry. General topics that will be covered at the conference include international cooperation, chemical safety, and chemical security. Strengthening safety and security at chemical plant sites and in transportation is an important task in preventing the misuse and/or unintended release of toxic chemicals.

1. International cooperation: Issues and national experiences with respect to chemical management and the relevant conventions, innovations in chemistry, and their applications for developing countries; international collaboration in the promotion of centres of excellence in the field of chemistry; and the OPCW’s work in promoting international cooperation.
2. Chemical safety: Issues related to the promotion of green chemistry, the promotion of Responsible Care© (chemical safety for small enterprises, safety management in the chemical industry, lessons in chemical safety from incidents and accidents, and issues related to chemical-safety management), and emergency planning and response.
3. Chemical security: The potential of the OPCW as a global platform to promote cooperation in the prevention of and preparedness against the misuse of toxic chemicals as well as in response capabilities; and lessons learned from national and international agencies in providing support to enhance security at chemical facilities and in transportation. This discussion will also focus on enhancing awareness, training, and best practices.

Venue and date
9. The two-day conference will be held in The Hague, at the OPCW Headquarters, on 12 and 13 September 2011.

Format
10. The conference will be conducted in both plenary and interactive panel-discussion formats. Presentations will be given by distinguished scientists, as well as speakers from international and regional organisations, the chemical industry, and national institutions.

Call for nominations
11. Member States are invited to nominate participants for the conference, representing individuals and experts from related fields mentioned in paragraph 12 below. Due to the limited funds available for sponsorship, the Secretariat expects to be able to sponsor only a limited number of participants with qualifications directly relevant to the content of the conference.

12. Participants for sponsored places are sought from across the following sectors:

1. relevant national, regional, and international institutions;
2. the chemical industry (manufacturing, research, trade, and distribution);
3. academia (chemistry, chemical engineering, research, and related disciplines);
4. national, regional, and international chemical and chemical-industry associations; and
5. NGOs.
   

13. The conference will be conducted in English. All participants must therefore possess a good command of English.

14. Each nomination should specify whether sponsorship is a condition for the nominee’s participation. For sponsored participants, the Secretariat will cover the costs of travel and medical insurance, and will provide a limited subsistence allowance to cover meals and sundry expenses. The Secretariat will also arrange and pay for accommodation for sponsored participants. Sponsored participants who do not intend to use the accommodation arranged by the Secretariat are requested to indicate that as soon as possible, so that the Secretariat does not incur hotel cancellation fees. In any case, the Secretariat will not cover the costs of any accommodation it has not arranged.

15. When making travel arrangements for sponsored participants, the Secretariat will seek the most economical options. The Secretariat will purchase tickets and send them to participants. Participants will be allowed to purchase tickets locally only if this leads to further savings for the Secretariat, and if the Secretariat authorises it. Sponsored participants shall bear all costs resulting from any changes they make, once the Secretariat has purchased tickets.

16. Participants who have not been sponsored by the Secretariat are requested to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements.

17. In order for the Secretariat to keep costs at a minimum, sponsored participants are expected to arrive no earlier than 11 September 2011 and to depart no later than 14 September 2011.

18. Participants are requested to obtain any necessary visas (including transit visas) before travelling to the Netherlands.

Please register here.