The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ (OPCW) Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) is responsible for identifying the perpetrators of the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic. The IIT identifies and reports on all information potentially relevant to the origin of those chemical weapons in those instances in which the OPCW’s Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) determines or has determined that use or likely use occurred, and cases for which the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) has not identified the perpetrators of chemical weapons use in Syria.
The IIT is comprised of a multi-disciplinary team of staff, which includes experienced investigators, analysts and a legal adviser who are led by a Coordinator. The team conducts its activities in an impartial and objective manner. The IIT is part of the OPCW Technical Secretariat and functions under the authority of the OPCW Director-General. The Technical Secretariat provides regular reports on its investigations to the OPCW’s Executive Council and to the United Nations Secretary-General for their consideration.
The OPCW Technical Secretariat established the IIT as mandated by the decision of the Conference of the States Parties entitled “Addressing the Threat from Chemical Weapons Use” (C-SS-4/DEC.3) dated 27 June 2018.
What does the IIT do?
Who is part of the IIT?
Under whose authority does the IIT operate?
What is the difference between the JIM and the IIT?
How did the IIT obtain its mandate?
Does the IIT only work on incidents of chemical weapons use in Syria?
What will happen to the report and findings of the IIT?
First Report of the IIT
Dated 8 April 2020
The first report by the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team focuses on the incidents in Ltamenah, Syrian Arab Republic on 24, 25, and 30 March 2017.