Latin America and the Caribbean and the OPCW

Latin America and the Caribbean is a major stakeholder in the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). This publication lists some of the benefits which membership in the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) has brought to States Parties in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The goal of the OPCW is to free the world of chemical weapons, and 188 countries —including 33 in Latin America and the Caribbean— have now joined forces to achieve it. This goal is enshrined in the Convention, which entered into force on 29 April 1997.

This region has a long-standing tradition of pioneering disarmament initiatives in the field of weapons of mass destruction. This tradition began before the conclusion of the CWC with such signal achievements as the 1967 Treaty of Tlatelolco for the prohibition of nuclear weapons in Latin America, and the Mendoza Declaration, signed in 1991, which unilaterally banned chemical and biological weapons from a large portion of Latin America. In this sense, the presence and active support of Latin America and the Caribbean in the OPCW is a continuation of the region's policies over the years and its strong commitment to peace and security.

OPCW Member States in Latin America and the Caribbean have made significant contributions to the advancement of national implementation, in particular with the establishment of a regional network of legal experts, inspiring other regions to pursue similar support networks to achieve the effective implementation of the Convention.

The Conference of States Parties elected Costa Rica and Ecuador as Vice-Chairs at its Thirteenth Session, who will hold office until successors are elected at the next regular session of the Conference. Argentina and Bolivia are members of the Credentials Committee.

Past Chairpersons of the Conference from Latin America and the Caribbean were:

• H.E. Mr José Antonio Arróspide Del Busto of Peru (Tenth Session, November 2005);
• H.E. Mr Jaime Lagos of Chile (Fifth Session, May 2000).

Seven States from Latin America and the Caribbean always represent the region on the Executive Council, serving on a rotational basis. One additional State Party is alternately designated by States Parties in the regions of Asia and of Latin America and the Caribbean, serving as a rotating member from these regions.

For the period 12 May 2010 to 11 May 2011, the members of the Council from Latin America and the Caribbean are Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico and Uruguay.

Past Chairpersons of the Council from Latin America and the Caribbean were:

• H.E. Mr Jorge Lomónaco Tonda of Mexico (2009-2010)
• H.E. Mr José Antonio Arróspide Del Busto of Peru (2004-2005)
• H.E. Mr Ignacio Pichardo Pagaza of Mexico (1999-2000)

Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru are represented on OPCW subsidiary bodies, including the Advisory Body on Administrative and Financial Matters, the Confidentiality Commission, and the Scientific Advisory Board.

The contribution of States Parties from Latin America and the Caribbean is reflected in a number of senior posts in the Technical Secretariat that are held by nationals from the region, including the Director-General, the Legal Adviser, and the Head of the Inspectorate Management branch.

In 2007, National Authorities met in Chile to discuss practical aspects of implementing the Convention (May). The training of national inspection escorts in Latin American and Caribbean Member States was the focus of a workshop in Argentina (April). Training courses for National Authority personnel were hosted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (January), France (March and October), Spain (July), and Brazil (September). In preparation for the training course in Brazil, representatives of lusophone States Parties and States not Party were briefed in The Hague on the implementation of the Convention (June). The role played by national parliaments in enacting national implementing legislation was discussed in a regional meeting of parliamentarians in Latin America and the Caribbean which took place in Colombia (July), with funding support from the EU Joint Action programme.

In total, more than 650 participants from States Parties in Latin American and the Caribbean have benefited from the OPCW’s implementation support programmes since their inception in December 2000.