Distinguished Members and Observers of the Advisory Board,
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Nineteenth Session of the OPCW Advisory Board on Education and Outreach.
Your presence here today reflects our shared commitment to the mission of the OPCW.
I would like to recognise the important advisory role of the Board, and the valuable insights it provides which help to increase the impact of our education and outreach activities.
Distinguished members and observers,
One week ago, we marked the 100th anniversary of the signing of the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which banned the use of biological and chemical weapons in war.
The Chemical Weapons Convention built on the foundation of the Protocol, establishing a comprehensive and verifiable ban on chemical weapons.
The Convention tasks the OPCW with overseeing the destruction of any declared chemical weapons stockpiles.
In July 2023, the OPCW reached a pivotal milestone with the completion of the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles declared by possessor States Parties.
This was a monumental accomplishment for multilateral disarmament.
However, our mission is not complete.
Our focus is on preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons, and we are facing several challenges in that regard.
A century on from the Geneva Protocol, the international security situation continues to erode, and the norm against the use of these horrible weapons has been repeatedly tested.
New technologies are being developed faster than we can evaluate their impact.
In the past decade, despite our collective achievements, chemical weapons have been used in Iraq, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Syria and the Russian Federation.
In the ongoing war in Ukraine, there are allegations of use of chemical weapons by both sides. The Secretariat has documented the presence of riot control agents on the battlefield in Ukraine in several instances.
As we look ahead, we must remain prepared to respond to the use of chemical weapons and assist our States Parties should the worst occur.
At the same time, the work to destroy Abandoned Chemical Weapons and Old Chemical Weapons is ongoing, and the OPCW must remain equipped for future destruction operations.
To that end, retaining the knowledge, skills, and technology related to chemical weapons remains a strategic priority.
During this session, Mr Anton Utkin, Senior Chemical Demilitarisation Officer, will brief you on efforts by the Verification Division to preserve its expertise in the destruction of chemical weapons.
Distinguished members and observers,
In the Syrian Arab Republic, after more than a decade of work, we are presented with an opportunity to close the chemical weapons file.
In the last six months we have seen extraordinary developments.
The Director-General visited Damascus on 8 February this year, where he met with the interim President.
On 5 March, during its regular session, the Foreign Minister of Syria addressed the OPCW Executive Council.
The Foreign Minister stated Syria’s intention to work alongside the OPCW to identify and destroy any remaining chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria, to resolve all outstanding issues, and to bring justice for the victims and survivors of chemical weapons attacks.
The OPCW continues to engage with the transitional government of Syria.
Our work is well under way, and we have established a good level of cooperation and dialogue with the Syrian authorities.
The progress we have made so far in addressing the Syrian Chemical Weapons file together with the new Syrian authorities is an excellent example of what may be achieved through international cooperation and multilateralism.
It also showcases the expertise and experience we have gained through our mandated activities carried out by the Declaration Assessment Team, the Fact-Finding Mission and the Investigation and Identification Team. To respond to the new situation in Syria, the activities of these teams have been integrated under a new Office for Special Missions since the first of June.
We continue to embed the learning from Syria and other non-routine missions to enhance the Secretariat’s readiness to respond in the event of a request by a State Party in relation to the use, or threat of use, of toxic chemicals as weapons.
Distinguished members and observers,
Science and technology are advancing at an unprecedented pace, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.
This presents both challenges and opportunities for the work of the OPCW and the implementation of the Convention.
We are closely monitoring these developments with support from the Scientific Advisory Board and its Temporary Working Group on AI.
Last week, as a follow-up to last year’s Global Conference on Artificial Intelligence held in Morocco, the Director-General and I attended a workshop on AI and chemical safety and security management, co-hosted by the OPCW and China.
Emerging technologies such as cloud laboratories, synthetic biology, drones, and 3D printing, lower the technological barriers preventing terrorists and others from obtaining and using chemical weapons.
Artificial intelligence and quantum computing accelerate these developments and increase their impact.
All these technologies could make chemical weapons faster to produce, simpler to deploy, and easier to conceal.
At the same time, these new technologies also hold great potential for assisting us in our mission.
AI could, for instance, be used by authorities to predict new toxic chemicals and their synthetic pathways, allowing for proactive consideration of response and countermeasures.
In a wider sense, the continued application of AI in chemistry will greatly accelerate scientific and technological advancements for our common benefit.
The challenge is, therefore, to optimise the opportunities, while recognising and mitigating the potential risks.
In this context, it is crucial to promote education in chemistry for peace, given the dual-use nature of the chemical sciences.
Equipping scientists both with technical expertise and an understanding of the ethical dimension of their work, will be key to ensuring that scientific progress serves the objectives of the Convention.
During this Session, the Board will have an in-depth discussion based on the working paper prepared by Professor Magda Bauta Solés and Professor Vicente Garrido Rebolledo on the ethical aspects of AI and the work done so far in the legal sphere by other international organisations.
The Temporary Working Group on AI is meeting this week in Shanghai to advance its work and assess the implications of this technology and its impact for the implementation of the Convention.
Through the expertise of the Scientific Advisory Board, and collaboration with the wider scientific and educational communities, we remain committed to understanding how emerging technologies are shaping the chemical sciences, and how education and outreach can support their responsible and beneficial use.
This commitment is embodied in the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology.
Making full use of the diverse strengths of the ChemTech Centre—in research, analysis, operations, and capacity building—is a continuing priority.
In this regard, the Board’s work on the ChemTech Centre Bluebook is much appreciated.
Distinguished members and observers,
This year we will mark the Tenth Anniversary of the Hague Ethical Guidelines – principles that promote the peaceful use of chemistry for the benefit of humanity.
To mark this occasion, we will host a meeting of experts to develop a Global Academic Network aimed at supporting the implementation of the Convention and fostering a community of “CWC knowledge champions.”
Establishing a sustainable network of experts across all regions is crucial to amplifying the OPCW’s efforts, enhancing awareness of its mission, and engaging diverse audiences—especially young and mid-career professionals.
Later in this Session, you will have the opportunity to receive an update on the current status of preparations.
The contribution of the Board through the provision of academic advice to develop this network is highly valued.
Distinguished members and observers,
Expanding efforts to strengthen understanding of the Convention across all regions is essential for engaging the next generation, and reinforcing the global norm against chemical weapons.
The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has benefited from academic advice from the Board on the syllabus and educational content for a diploma course on chemical disarmament and peaceful uses of chemistry.
The inaugural edition of this diploma course, set to begin this year, is anticipated to encourage universities in other regions to establish similar initiatives to promote greater understanding of the OPCW and its mission.
I thank the Board for its valuable academic advice on the UNAM diploma course and the availability of the Board for conversations with the UNAM academic coordinator, Professor Benjamin Ruiz Loyola.
Distinguished members and observers,
The commitment of the OPCW to a world free of chemical weapons is steadfast.
We recognise that this task requires the concerted efforts of a wide range of actors, including the scientific and educational communities.
In this regard, the work of the Board remains vital in upholding the norm against chemical weapons by advancing education and outreach, and by raising awareness of our mission among key stakeholders across regions.
I wish you every success in appointing the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson for 2026, and I look forward to the outcomes of your deliberations.
Thank you for your kind attention.