Director-General’s statement on behalf of the OPCW to commemorate the chemical weapons attack on Halabja in 1988

16 March 2011

On March 16, we remember the heinous chemical weapons attack against the city of Halabja in Iraq, a grave tragedy for the city and its inhabitants. 

Today, on behalf of the OPCW, I wish to convey my sincere sympathies to the authorities and people of Halabja. 

We pay homage to the memory of victims of Halabja and reaffirm our resolve to permanently rid our world from the threat of chemical weapons. To this end, we re-dedicate ourselves to preserving and strengthening the effective implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which reflects the determination of the International Community never to allow such tragedies to happen again.