Chemical Weapons

Chemical Weapons

A chemical weapon is a substance that is intentionally employed to cause death or harm due to its poisonous qualities. This definition also includes equipment created expressly for weaponizing dangerous chemicals.

Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)

• The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is a multinational convention that prohibits the use of chemical weapons and demands their disposal within a set time period.

• The convention has an unlimited term and is significantly more comprehensive than the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which prohibits the use but not possession of chemical weapons.

Members

The CWC is open to all nations, and there are now 193 state parties.

Although Israel has signed the convention, it has not yet ratified it.

The agreement has not been approved or signed by three states: South Sudan, North Korea, and Egypt.

The chemical weapons convention prohibits

Creating, manufacturing, acquiring, stockpiling, or

maintaining chemical weapons.

The direct or indirect transmission of chemical weapons.

Chemical weapons are used or prepared for use by the military.

• Assisting, encouraging, or influencing other states to engage in CWC-prohibited behaviour.

• The application of riot control chemicals “as a method of warfare.”

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

• With the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), with its headquarters located in The Hague, Netherlands, was founded.

• The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, South Sudan, and Israel (signatory) are among the non- members.

Chemical weapons and India

• India ratified the CWC in 1996.

• In 2000, India, a state party to the CWC, passed the Chemical Weapons Convention Act. The National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) was established under the Chemical Weapons Convention Act of 2000 to implement the provisions of the Convention.

• In 2000, India, a state party to the CWC, passed the

Chemical Weapons Convention Act.

• The Chemical Weapons Convention Act of 2000 established the National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) to implement its provisions.

Chemical agents in news

• Chlorine gas is a choking agent.

• Sarin gas, a nerve agent.

• Novichok nerve agent is 5-8 times more dangerous than VX nerve toxin.

• Cyanide, a blood agent.

Phosgene, Sulphur Mustard are blister agents