The OPCW is responsible for the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which prohibits the use, development, production, stockpiling and transfer of chemical weapons.
The Syrian Arab Republic became a State Party to the CWC — and a Member State of the OPCW — in October 2013. As a result of a joint OPCW-UN mission (October 2013 – September 2014) in cooperation with the Syrian government, all of the chemical weapons declared by Syria were removed and verifiably destroyed outside of its territory. However, questions about the completeness of Syria’s declaration remain.
As every other State Party to the Convention, Syria is subject to the following obligations:
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Never under any circumstances to develop, produce, acquire, stockpile, retain, transfer or use chemical weapons (Article I of the Convention);
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Submit timely, accurate, complete declarations related to chemical weapons and chemical weapons facilities on its territory (Article III of the Convention);
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Cooperate with the OPCW in the exercise of all its functions and provide assistance to the Technical Secretariat (Article VII of the Convention).
To ensure Syria’s compliance with its obligations under the Convention, there are currently three different OPCW missions with an active mandate to work on chemical weapons verifications issues: the Declaration Assessment Team (DAT), the OPCW Fact-Finding mission (FFM), and the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team (IIT). All three missions have different mandates. Their findings are based on scientific methods and evidence, and are provided to Member States and other entities (for example, the United Nations Security Council) on a regular basis.
Active OPCW mandates
Declaration Assessment Team (DAT)
The DAT was established in 2014 to engage with relevant Syrian authorities on gaps, inconsistencies, and discrepancies identified by the Technical Secretariat in the Syrian initial declaration of its chemical weapons programme.
OPCW Fact-Finding Mission (FFM)
The FFM was set up in 2014 and investigates whether toxic chemicals have been used as weapons in Syria.
Investigation and Identification Team (IIT)
The IIT was established in 2018 and is responsible for identifying the perpetrators of specific instances of chemical weapons use in Syria.
Previous International Missions and Mechanisms
There were previously two other missions with a mandate to work on chemical weapons issues in Syria – the OPCW-UN Joint Mission and the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM). The mandates of both missions have expired.
OPCW-UN Joint Mission
The OPCW-UN Joint Mission (October 2013 – September 2014) was established to oversee and verify the timely elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons programme in the safest and most secure manner possible, following the country’s accession to the CWC.
OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM)
The OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) was established by the UN Security Council to identify the perpetrators of the chemical weapon attacks confirmed by the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission. The JIM presented its reports to the UN Security Council and informed the OPCW of its findings. The JIM’s mandate expired in November 2017.
Background
In April 2021, the Conference of States Parties adopted a Decision to suspend certain rights and privileges of the Syrian Arab Republic under the Convention pursuant to paragraph 2 or Article XII of the Convention. This is the part of the Convention that refers to measures to redress a situation of non-compliance.
The Decision suspends Syria’s rights and privileges under the Convention to:
a) vote in the Conference and the Council;
b) stand for election to the Council;
c) hold any office of the Conference, the Council or any subsidiary organs.
Syria’s rights and privileges will be reinstated by the Conference once the Director-General has reported that Syria has completed all the required measures laid out in the Decision.
Related News
More News- Syria’s caretaker Foreign Minister addresses OPCW’s Executive Council In a landmark visit to OPCW’s Headquarters in The Hague, caretaker Foreign Minister al-Shaibani reaffirmed the commitment of the new Syrian authorities to cooperate with the OPCW to eliminate the chemical weapons programme of the former Syrian regime
- OPCW Director-General visits Syria; meets with Syrian caretaker authorities to discuss next steps in eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons programme OPCW stands ready to support Syria in meeting its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, Director-General Arias says
- OPCW urges Syria to fulfil Chemical Weapons Convention obligations Extraordinary meeting of OPCW Executive Council discussed the current situation in Syria and highlighted significant points regarding the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme
Progress Reports
Decisions
Reports
Updates
FFM Related
| Document Symbol | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| EC‑90/NAT.41 | Russian Federation: Request for Circulation of a Document | 26 April 2019 |
| EC‑88/DG.22/Corr.1 | Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Executive Council at its Eighty-Eighth Session - Corrigendum | 16 July 2018 |
| EC‑88/DG.22 | Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Executive Council at its Eighty-Eighth Session | 10 July 2018 |
| EC‑85/DG.16 | First Inspections at the Barzah and Jamrayah Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre Facilities in the Syrian Arab Republic in Accordance with Decision EC-83/DEC.5 (dated 11 November 2016) | 2 June 2017 |
| S/1255/2015*/Add.1 | Future Activities of the Fact-Finding Mission - Addendum | 13 March 2015 |
| S/1255/2015* | Future Activities of the Fact-Finding Mission | 10 March 2015 |
Related Official Series Documents
Correspondence
Declarations Assessment Team (DAT)
| Document Symbol | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| EC‑91/DG.23 | Outcome of Consultations with the Syrian Arab Republic Regarding its Chemical Weapons Declaration | 5 July 2019 |
| C‑SS‑4/DEC.3 | Decision: Addressing the Threat from Chemical Weapons Use | 27 June 2018 |
| EC‑83/DEC.5 | Decision: OPCW-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism Reports on Chemical Weapons Use in the Syrian Arab Republic | 11 November 2016 |
| EC‑82/DG.18 | Conclusions on the Outcome of Consultations with the Syrian Arab Republic Regarding its Chemical Weapons Declaration | 6 July 2016 |
| EC‑81/DEC.4 | Decision: Report by the Director-General Regarding the Declaration and Related Submissions by the Syrian Arab Republic | 23 March 2016 |
| EC‑M‑33/DEC.1 | Destruction of Syrian Chemical Weapons | 27 September 2013 |
Related
| Document Symbol | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| S/2213/2023 | Note by the Technical Secretariat: Accession of the Syrian Arab Republic to the Chemical Weapons Convention: Ten Years On | 27 September 2023 |
| EC‑97/NAT.7 | Syrian Arab Republic: Request for Circulation of a Document at the Ninety-Seventh Session of the Executive Council | 23 June 2021 |
| S/1934/2021 | Note by the Technical Secretariat: Information Provided by the Syrian Arab Republic for Consideration by the Technical Secretariat: Overview of Processing | 10 March 2021 |
Timeline
1 June 2025: Office of Special Missions
Establishment of the Office of Special Missions in the Technical Secretariat
14-25 April 2025: OPCW deployment to Syria
Seven locations visited; progress made in securing OPCW permanent presence in Damascus.
12-21 March 2025: OPCW deployment to Syria
OPCW experts deployed to Syria. Team visits five locations in the vicinity of Damascus – three previously declared; two never declared to OPCW)
5 March 2025: Syrian caretaker Foreign Minister speaks at 108th Session of the Executive Council
H.E. Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani confirms Syria’s willingness to cooperate with OPCW and its commitment to dismantle any remains of the previous regime’s chemical weapons programme. (EC-108/4)
8 February 2025: OPCW Director-General visits the Syrian Arab Republic
Director-General Arias and a Technical Secretariat delegation visit Syria for the first time since the collapse of the previous regime, laying groundwork for OPCW cooperation with new caretaker authorities.
14 January 2025: OPCW Secretariat’s 9-point Action Plan for Syria
9-point Action Plan lays out basic next steps on road towards normalising relations between Syria and the OPCW.
26 December 2024: Telephone consultations with Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Telephone consultations take place between the Director-General and H.E. Assad Hassan al-Shaibani, caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic
12 December 2024: Extraordinary meeting of OPCW Executive Council
66th Meeting of the Executive Council discusses developments in relation to the Syrian chemical weapons programme.
9 December 2024: OPCW reminds Syrian Arab Republic of its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention
Note Verbale No. NV/ODG-636/24 recalls Syria’s continued obligations under the CWC and requests again the declaration of all sites and activities as listed in Council decision EC-94/DEC.2
8 December 2024: Prime Minister of Syria transfers power to new authorities
Prior to collapse of regime, former President of the Syrian Arab Republic fled the country, leaving Prime Minister to transfer power to new authorities.
13-19 November 2024: 11th round of inspections
Technical Secretariat conducts inspections of Barzah and Jamrayah facilities of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC) as mandated by Council decision EC-83/DEC.5. Final inspection reports for the Barzah and Jamrayah SSRC facilities issued in November 2024.
10-18 September 2024: 28th round of consultations
DAT conducts technical meetings with Syrian experts and discusses the status of outstanding issues. DAT shares results of analysis of samples collected in May 2024 by the DAT at two declared sites.
May 2024: 27th round of consultations
DAT convenes technical meetings, visits three declared former chemical weapons-related sites, collects samples, and conducts interviews.
23 January – 1 February 2024: 26th round of consultations
DAT conducts technical meetings with experts from the Syrian National Authority to revisit the status of outstanding issues.
30 November 2023: Decision: Addressing the Threat from Chemical Weapons Use and the Threat of Future Use (C‑28/DEC.12)
CWC States Parties restrict the supply of certain chemicals and technologies to Syria and recommended affording the greatest measure of assistance possible in connection with criminal investigations or criminal proceedings relating to chemical weapons use in Syria.
30 October – 5 November 2023: 25th round of consultations
25th round of consultations between the DAT and the Syrian National Authority takes place in Damascus.
27 September 2023: Note by the Technical Secretariat: Accession of the Syrian Arab Republic to the Chemical Weapons Convention: Ten Years On (S/2213/2023)
Recounts the accession of the Syrian Arab Republic to the CWC and recalls what has been achieved since, towards its compliance with the Convention. Note also outlines what is yet to be completed for Syria to fully meet its obligations, and outlines priorities to be considered by States Parties.
21 April 2021: Decision Addressing the Possession and Use of Chemical Weapons by the Syrian Arab Republic
The 25th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention adopts a Decision to suspend certain rights and privileges of the Syrian Arab Republic under the Convention pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article XII of the Convention.
9 July 2020: Executive Council Decision Addressing the Possession and Use of Chemical Weapons by the Syrian Arab Republic
EC-94/DEC.2*
November 2018 – June 2019: Investigation and Identification Team
Creation of the Investigation and Identification Team by C-SS-4/DEC. 3
12 July 2018: Destruction of Chemical Weapons Production Facilities (CWPFs)
Verified destruction of all 27 CWPFs declared by Syria completed
27 June 2018: CSP Decision: Addressing the Threat from Chemical Weapon Use
C-SS-4/DEC.3
17 November 2017: JIM Mandate Not Renewed
UN Security Council does not renew JIM mandate
17 November 2016: JIM Mandate Renewed
JIM mandate renewed by UNSC Resolution 2319 (2016)
11 November 2016: Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM)
EC decision on JIM reports EC-83/DEC.5
23 March 2016: EC Decision on Declaration
EC-81/DEC.4
7 August 2015: Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM)
JIM mandate established by UNSC resolution 2235 (2015)
30 September 2014: OPCW-UN Joint Mission
Mandate completed
April 2014: Fact Finding Mission (FFM)
Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) established
April 2014: Declaration Assessment Team
Establishment of a Declaration Assessment Team (DAT) based on CWC Art II, Art IV para 8, Art V, para 10; EC-M-33/DEC.1; UNSCR 2118 (2013)
23 June 2014: Declared Chemicals Removed
Final shipment of declared chemicals removed from Syria
15 November 2013: Detailed requirements for destruction
EC-M-34/DEC.1 |
October 2013: Establishment of OPCW-UN Joint Mission
EC-M-33/DEC.1 & UNSC Resolution 2118 (2013)
23 October 2013: Initial Declaration
Syria makes initial declaration of its chemical weapons programme EC-M-34/DEC.1
14 October 2013: Accession
Syria formally accedes to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
14 September 2013: Accession and Initial Declaration
Provisional application of the CWC by the Syrian Arab Republic