Chemical Weapons Convention
51836
219485606
2008-06-15T13:27:37Z
SieBot
4005189
robot Modifying: [[he:אמנת הנשק הכימי]]
{{Infobox Treaty
| name = Chemical Weapons Convention
| long_name = Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction
| image =
| image_width =
| caption =
| type =
| date_drafted = [[September 3]] [[1992]]
| date_signed = [[January 13]] [[1993]]
| location_signed = [[Paris]]
| date_sealed =
| date_effective = [[April 29]] [[1997]]
| condition_effective = Ratification by 50 states and the convening of a Preparatory Commission
| date_expiration =
| signatories = 165
| parties = 184 (as of June 2008)
| depositor = [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|UN Secretary-General]]
| language =
| languages = [[Arabic language|Arabic]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]], [[Russian language|Russian]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| wikisource =
}}
[[Image:Chemical Weapons Convention 2007.png|thumb|World map showing states parties of the Chemical Weapons Convention in blue. Light blue territories are those states parties which have declared stockpiles of chemical weapons and/or are known to have chemical weapons production facilities.]]
The '''Chemical Weapons Convention''' ('''CWC''') is an [[arms control]] agreement which outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of [[chemical warfare|chemical weapon]]s. Its full name is the '''Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction'''.
The current agreement is administered by the [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]] (OPCW), which is an independent organization and often mistaken as being a department within the [[United Nations]].
==Administration==
Signed in [[1993]] and entered into force on [[April 29]], [[1997]] the convention augments the [[Geneva Protocol]] of [[1925]] for chemical weapons and includes extensive verification measures such as on-site inspections. It does not, however, cover [[biological weapon]]s. The convention is administered by the [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]] (OPCW), which conducts inspection of military and industrial plants in all of the member nations as well as working with stockpile countries.
==Controlled substances==
The convention distinguishes three classes of controlled substance<ref>[http://www.opcw.org/html/db/cwc/eng/cwc_annex_on_chemicals.html Chemical Weapons Convention Treaty: Annex on chemicals]</ref>, chemicals which can either be used as weapons themselves or used in the manufacture of weapons. The classification is based on the quantities of the substance produced commercially for legitimate purposes. Each class is split into Part A, which are chemicals that can be used directly as weapons, and Part B which are chemicals useful in the manufacture of chemical weapons.
*[[List of Schedule 1 substances (CWC)|Schedule 1]] chemicals have few, or no uses outside of chemical weapons. These may be produced or used for research, medical, pharmaceutical or chemical weapon defence testing purposes but production above 100 grams per year must be declared to the [[OPCW]]. A country is limited to possessing a maximum of 1 tonne of these materials. Examples are [[sulfur mustard|mustard]] and [[nerve agent|nerve]] agents, and substances which are solely used as precursor chemicals in their manufacture. A few of these chemicals have very small scale non-military applications, for example minute quantities of [[nitrogen mustard]] are used to treat certain [[cancer]]s.
*[[List of Schedule 2 substances (CWC)|Schedule 2]] chemicals have legitimate small-scale applications. Manufacture must be declared and there are restrictions on export to countries which are not CWC signatories. An example is [[thiodiglycol]] which can be used in the manufacture of mustard agents, but is also used as a solvent in [[ink]]s.
*[[List of Schedule 3 substances (CWC)|Schedule 3]] chemicals have large-scale uses apart from chemical weapons. Plants which manufacture of more than 30 tonnes per year must be declared and can be inspected, and there are restrictions on export to countries which are not CWC signatories. Examples of these substances are [[phosgene]], which has been used as a chemical weapon but which is also a precursor in the manufacture of many legitimate organic compounds and [[triethanolamine]], used in the manufacture of nitrogen mustard but also commonly used in toiletries and detergents.
The treaty also deals with carbon compounds called in the treaty ''Discrete organic chemicals''.<ref>[http://www.chemlink.com.au/chemweap.htm Chemical weapons at Chemlink.com]</ref> These are any carbon compounds apart from long chain polymers, oxides, sulfides and metal carbonates, such as [[organophosphate]]s. The OPCW must be informed of, and can inspect, any plant producing (or expecting to produce) more than 200 tonnes per year, or 30 tonnes if the chemical contains phosphorus, sulfur or fluorine, unless the plant solely produces explosives or hydrocarbons.
==Member states==
Almost all countries in the world have joined the Chemical Weapons Convention. As of [[19 June]] [[2008]], 184 of the 195 states recognized by the United Nations are party to the CWC. Of the 11 states that have not, four have signed but not yet ratified the treaty: ([[Bahamas]], [[Dominican Republic]], [[Israel]], and [[Myanmar]]) while seven states have not signed the treaty: [[Angola]], [[North Korea]], [[Egypt]], [[Iraq]], [[Lebanon]], [[Somalia]], and [[Syria]].
==Known stockpiles (of chemical weapons)==
{{WMD}}
[[As of 2007]], there were six member countries which had declared stockpiles:
*[[United States and weapons of mass destruction|United States]]
*[[Russia and weapons of mass destruction|Russia]]
*[[India and weapons of mass destruction|India]]
*[[Albania and weapons of mass destruction|Albania]]
*[[Libya and weapons of mass destruction|Libya]]<ref>{{cite web |
title = Libya Submits Initial Chemical Weapons Declaration | work = OPCW |
url = http://www.opcw.org/html/global/press_releases/2k4/PR8_2004prt.html | accessdate= 2007-06-11 }}</ref>
*An undeclared "state party", possibly [[South Korea]]
[[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|Iraq]] has not signed the treaty. Iraq's chemical weapons were destroyed under a [[United Nations]] reduction program after the 1991 [[Gulf War]]. Approximately five hundred degraded chemical munitions have been found in Iraq since the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], according to a report of the US National Ground Intelligence Center.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/06/21/060622014432.acs11f38.html ''Hundreds of chemical weapons found in Iraq : US intelligence''], breitbart.com, 21 June, 2006</ref> These weapons contained [[sarin]] and [[sulfur mustard|mustard agents]] but were so badly corroded that they could not have been used as originally intended.<ref>[http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,103631,00.html?ESRC=coastgnews.RSS ''Munitions Found in Iraq Meet WMD Criteria''], Military.com, report filed by American Forces Press Service, 29 June 2006</ref>
==Known production facilities (of chemical weapons)==
Twelve countries declared chemical weapons production facilities:
*[[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
*[[People's Republic of China|China]]
*[[France]]
*[[India]]
*[[Iran]]
*[[Japan]]
*[[Libya]]
*[[Russian Federation]]
*[[Serbia and Montenegro]]
*[[United Kingdom]]
*[[United States]]
*A "state party"
By [[2007]], all 65 declared facilities had been deactivated and 94% (61) have been certified as destroyed or converted to civilian use.<ref>[http://www.opcw.org/10years/CWC-milestones.html#Verifyingtheban Tenth Anniversary of the Entry into Force of the Chemical Weapons Convention<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> As of the end of February [[2008]], 42 facilities were destroyed while 19 were converted for civilian purposes.<ref>[http://www.opcw.org/factsandfigures/index.html#CWDestructionUnderWay The Chemical Weapons Ban: Facts and Figures<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==World stockpile==
The total world declared stockpile of chemical weapons was about 43,760 tons in early 2008. A total of 71,315 tonnes have been declared to OPCW of which about 27,555 tonnes (over 38%) had been destroyed by [[March 31]], [[2008]]. More than 34% of the 8.67 million declared chemical munitions and containers have been destroyed.<ref>[http://www.opcw.org/factsandfigures/index.html#successStory The Chemical Weapons Ban: Facts and Figures<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> (Treaty confirmed destruction totals often lag behind state-declared totals.) Several countries that are not members are suspected of having chemical weapons, especially [[Syria]] and [[North Korea]], while some member states (including [[Sudan]] and the [[People's Republic of China]]) have been accused by others of failing to disclose their stockpiles.
==Timeline==
The treaty set up several steps with deadlines toward complete destruction of chemical weapons.
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+ Reduction Phases
! '''Phase''' || '''% Reduction''' || '''Deadline''' || '''Notes'''
|-
| I ||1% ||April 2000 ||
|-
| II || 20% || April 2002 ||Complete destruction of empty munitions, precursor chemicals,<br> filling equipment and weapons systems
|-
|III ||45% ||April 2004 ||
|-
|IV || 100% || April 2007 ||No extensions permitted past April 2012
|-
|}
==Current progress==
By July 2007, 33% of known chemical weapons stockpiles had been destroyed worldwide, falling far short of the 100% goal set for in 2007.<ref name = "Chall">"Russia, U.S. face challenge on chemical weapons", http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070807/ts_nm/arms_chemical_dc;_ylt=AmPckGc9K28MkOs14MDMXKqs0NUE, Stephanie Nebehay, Reuters, August 7, 2007, accessed August 7, 2007</ref> Furthermore, by April 2008, only 50% of countries had passed the required legislation to outlaw participation in chemical weapons production<ref name = Conf>"The Chemical Weapons Convention at 10:An Interview With OPCW Director-General Rogelio Pfirter", http://www.armscontrol.org/pdf/CWC2008_READERWEB.pdf, Interviewed by Oliver Meier. Accessed 29 Apr. 2008</ref>. By [[December 31]], [[2007]], 36.5% of Class 1, 52% of Class 2 and all Class 3 declared chemicals had been destroyed.<ref name="OPCW2" />
*'''Albania''': On [[11 July]] [[2007]], the OPCW confirmed the destruction of the entire chemical weapons stockpile in Albania. Albania is the first nation to completely destroy all of its chemical weapons under the terms of the CWC.<ref name="OPCW2">"Review of the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention since the First Review Conference", Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Conference of the States Parties, Second Review Conference, 31 March 2008</ref> The Albanian stockpile included 16,678 kilograms of [[mustard agent]], [[lewisite]], [[adamsite]], and [[chloroacetophenone]]. The United States assisted with and funded the destruction operations.<ref>Albania – First Country to Destroy All Of Its Chemical Weapons, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/88378.htm, U.S. Department of State, July 13, 2007</ref>
*'''A State Party''': The unspecified "state party" had destroyed 96.3% of its stockpile by the end of 2007 and is expected to finish the process by the end of 2008.<ref name="OPCW2" />
*'''India''': 93.1% of India's chemical weapons stockpile was destroyed by the end of 2007 and India is expected to finish destruction by April 2009.<ref name= "OPCW2" />
*'''Libya''': Libya's entire chemical weapons stockpile is expected to be destroyed by 2011<ref name= "OPCW2" />
*'''U.S.A.''': The United States of America completed Phase III in June 2007, having destroyed over 50.7% of its declared stockpile by [[December 31]], [[2007]].<ref name="OPCW2" /> Over 66% of the chemical weapons destroyed in the world since the treaty came into force were destroyed in the U.S. Russia completed Phase II in 2007 and had received extensions on the remaining phases. The United States [[General Accounting Office]] has announced it does not expect the United States to complete its campaign until 2014, after the treaty's final deadline. The Pentagon, in late 2006, announced that it expected disposal of the U.S. stockpile to not be completed until 2023.<ref>Chemical Weapons Disposal Is Critical To National Security, http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/85/i04/8504disposal.html, Chemical and Engineering News, January 18, 2007 </ref>
*'''Russia''': Russia had destroyed 24% of its stockpile by the end of 2007.<ref name = "Chall"/><ref name= "OPCW2" /> The United States [[General Accounting Office]] has announced it does not expect Russia to reach 100% destruction until 2027; however, Russia has declared its intention to complete operations by the treaty deadline of 2012.<ref name= "OPCW2" />
==Financing==
Financial support for the Albanian and Libyan stockpile destruction programmes was provided by the United States. Russia received support from a number of nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Canada; some $2 billion given by 2004. Costs for Albania's program were approximately 48 million U.S. dollars. The U.S. had spent $20 billion and expected to spend a further $40 billion.<ref name = "Chall"/>
==See also==
===Related international law===
*[[Biological Weapons Convention]]
*[[Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons]] (CCW)
*[[Australia Group]]
*[[Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]](NNPT)
===Chemical weapons===
*[[Chemical warfare|Chemical Warfare]]
*[[Weapons of mass destruction|Weapons of Mass Destruction]]
===Restricted substances===
*[[List of Schedule 1 substances (CWC)]]
*[[List of Schedule 2 substances (CWC)]]
*[[List of Schedule 3 substances (CWC)]]
==References==
<references/>
==External links==
*[http://www.opcw.org/html/db/cwc/eng/cwc_frameset.html Chemical Weapons Convention: Full Text]
*[http://www.opcw.org/html/db/members_ratifyer.html Chemical Weapons Convention: Ratifying Countries]
*[http://www.opcw.org/html/db/cwc/eng/cwc_annex_on_chemicals.html Annex on Chemicals, describing the schedules and the substances on them], OPCW website
*[http://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/cwcglance.asp The Chemical Weapons Convention at a Glance], Arms Control Association
*[http://www.chemlink.com.au/chemweap.htm Chemical Warfare Chemicals and Precursors], Chemlink Pty Ltd, Australia
[[Category:Arms control]]
[[Category:Chemical warfare]]
[[Category:Treaties]]
[[Category:1997 in law]]
[[Category:Human rights instruments]]
[[Category:Chemical weapons demilitarization]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Soviet Union]]
[[de:Chemiewaffenkonvention]]
[[fr:Convention sur l'interdiction des armes chimiques]]
[[ko:화학무기금지조약]]
[[he:אמנת הנשק הכימי]]
[[nl:Verdrag chemische wapens]]
[[ja:化学兵器禁止条約]]
[[simple:Chemical Weapons Convention]]
[[fi:Kemiallisten aseiden kieltosopimus]]
[[sv:Chemical Weapons Convention]]