Day of Remembrance Observed at the OPCW

A ceremony marking the annual Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare was held at the OPCW headquarters in The Hague on 29 April 2008. The solemn event was attended by representatives of OPCW Member States and of other international organisations, including the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and International Criminal Court.

In its Tenth Session in November 2005, the Conference of the States Parties decided to establish the Day of Remembrance on 29 April, the date when the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force in 1997. Its purpose is to preserve the memory of all victims of chemical warfare and reaffirm the OPCW’s mission to eliminate chemical weapons, thereby promoting the goals of peace, security, and multilateralism.

During the event, wreaths were placed at the Permanent Memorial at OPCW headquarters. Among the remarks of the featured speakers:

“We are gathered here today to pay tribute to all victims of chemical warfare – those who suffered death and injury in the most unspeakable manner. Their memory galvanises our own efforts and resolve to prevent such suffering from ever happening again.”
- Chairman of the States Parties to the CWC, H. E. Mr Abuelgasim Abdelwahid Shiekh Idris

“From the fields of Yeper and other battlefields of the Great War, to Halabja, the Iran-Iraq conflict and the terrorist attack in the Tokyo subway, those dreadful arms were extensively used prior to the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The suffering victims included innocent children, elderly and other civilians. Their anguish will continue to sustain our determination to fulfil the noble goals of the Chemical Weapons Convention.”
- OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter

“Expanding the international legal framework and making it more effective will contribute to commemorate all those who have perished through or suffered from chemical weapons. Their memory exhorts us to remain true to our pledge and to implement our obligations effectively.”
- Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr Ed Kronenburg

“The danger that arises from chemical weapons is great and undiminished. We have to do everything we can to curb that threat. Not only have we an obligation to ourselves to do so, and to the future generations who will live on our planet. We are obliged to do so in the name of all of those victims of chemical weapons since that ill-fated day, 22 April 1915 at Ypres.”
- Vice-Mayor of The Hague, Mr G.P.H. Huffnagel