10 Years of the CWC

April 29, 2007 marked the 10 year anniversary of the Chemical Weapons Convention entry into force and the creation of the OPCW. Throughout the anniversary year commemoration events were held in many member nations to celebrate. A full schedule of events can be found on the special 10th anniversary section of the OPCW website.

On May 9, 2007 Her Majesty Beatrix, The Queen of the Netherlands, unveiled a permanent memorial at OPCW headquarters in The Hague, dedicated to all victims of chemical weapons. The event was attended by OPCW Director-General Rogelio Pfirter, Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Verhagen, Mayor Wim Deetman of The Hague and numerous other dignitaries and officials. A Rolling Exhibition which presented the implementation of the CWC and featured the work of the OPCW was also displayed during the ceremony. The exhibition will travel over the course of the 10th anniversary year and be displayed at commemoration events held in member states.

Another highlight of the year was a High-Level Meeting September 27 during the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting featured remarks by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and an address by Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, Director-General of the OPCW.