About Us
History
Our Mission and History
The Chemical Weapons Convention Coalition (CWCC) is an independent, international civil society network whose mission is to support the aims of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and to supplement the efforts of the member states of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). This is done through focused civil society action aimed at achieving full membership of the CWC, the safe and timely elimination of all chemical weapons, preventing the misuse of chemicals for hostile purposes, and promoting their peaceful use.
The Coalition was founded in 2009 when several NGOs established an informal global network to help encourage and promote participation of civil society, industry, academia, and NGOs at the annual Conference of States Parties (CSP) to the Chemical Weapons Convention. During the Conference, the 193 member states of the CWC oversee the implementation of the treaty, promote the treaty’s objectives, and review compliance.
Outside of the Conference of States Parties, the Coalition holds webinars on relevant CW topics, facilitates networking opportunities for those in the chemical weapons community, promotes relevant chemical weapons publications by Coalition members, and aims to serve as a resource for NGOs interested in furthering the goal of universalizing the CWC.
- Participants must support the aims and mission of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
- The activities/interests of your organisation or individual research must be relevant to the object and purpose of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
- coordinating the submission of civil society statements that are delivered during a designated section of the General Debate
- hosting side events on relevant CW topics
- hosting the NGO Open Forum (accredited NGOs have the opportunity to present/discuss documents and/or exhibits that are relevant to the purpose of the CWC with Conference delegates, Technical Secretariat staff members, and other key stakeholders)
“It’s not possible to achieve the goal of ridding the world of chemical weapons without the full participation of civil society. […] Your outreach, your engagement, and your support to the people and communities affected by chemical weapons make you an indispensable partner. It’s important that you are part of the conversations taking place at the OCPW, and that’s why Canada has supported civil society in the CSP.”Amb. Lisa Helfand, Canadian Representative to the OPCW, 10 May 2021
Achievements
- Increased NGO participation at the CSP
- Increased geographic diversity with travel grants
- Started the Industry Forum and Academic Forum
- Coordinated over 140 NGO statements at the CSP
The CWC Coalition
Our network includes individuals affiliated with the following organizations. Organizations listed below are not necessarily members of the CWC Coalition. If you don’t see your organization listed, contact us!
- African Centre for Science and International Security
- American University
- Amman Center for Peace and Development
- ArgIQ – Information Quality Program in Argentina
- Arms Control Association
- Biosecure
- Birmingham University Institute of Conflict, Cooperation, and Security
- Brookings Doha Center
- Bulent Ecevit University
- Cairo University
- CAJAD
- Canada-India Project for Research and Innovation (CIPRI) at York University
- CBW Events
- Cefic
- Center for Non-Proliferation and Export Control
- Centre for Assistance to Justice and Animation for Development
- Chatham House
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (CBRN) at Cranfield University
- China Arms Control and Disarmament Association
- Chrome Biorisk Management Consulting
- City of Richmond
- Colorado Citizens Advisory Commission
- Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences
- Disarmament and Security Centre
- Eaves Law Firm
- EcoPeace/Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME)
- Environmental Protection and Public Care Organization
- Farmers Care Foundation
- Foundation pour la Recherche Stratégique (FRS)
- Galilee International Management Institute
- Green Cross International
- Green Environment Organisation
- Health Safety Environmental Research Association Rome (HESAR)
- Human Rights Development Organization
- IB Consultancy, the Netherlands
- ICAN
- Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi
- Institute of Security Studies Africa
- International CBRNE Institute (ICI)
- International Centre for Chemical Safety and Security (ICCSS)
- International Dialogue on Underwater Munitions
- Iranian Law Firm
- Israeli Disarmament Movement
- Istanbul University
- Janbazan Medical and Engineering Research Center (JMERC)
- Kentucky Environmental Foundation
- Kenyatta University
- King’s College London
- Kurdish Organizations Network Coalition for the International Criminal Court (KONCICC)
- Mannig Consulting
- Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
- Mayors for Peace
- MEF University, Istanbul
- Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine
- National Planning Authority
- Netherlands Institute of International Relations, Clingendael
- Netherlands Organization of Applied Scientific Research TNO
- Nonproliferation for Global Security Foundation
- Pakistan House
- Parliamentarians for Global Action
- Peoples Sustainable Development Programmes
- Pollution Control Association
- Pugwash
- Rassemblement des Frères unis pour un développement socio-culturel du Bénin (RAFUDESC)
- Rutgers University – Camden
- Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University
- Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU)
- Scientists Working Group on Chemical and Biological Weapons at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
- Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- SOAD University of London
- Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict, New Delhi
- Soran University
- South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI)
- St. Petersburg State University, Russia
- Stimson Foundation
- Tel Aviv University
- The American University in Cairo
- The Harvard Sussex Program
- The Hollings Center for International Dialogue
- The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation
- The Trench
- The University of Auckland
- The University of Embu, Kenya
- The United Service Institute of India
- TMC Asser Instituut
- TNO
- TU Delft – Technology, Policy, and Management
- University of Hamburg
- University of Leeds
- Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
- University of Bologna
- University of Bradford, Omega Research Foundation
- University of Sussex
- Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO)
- UPL LTD
- Vertic
- Vidas Viequenses Valen
- World Health Organization (WHO)
Our network includes individuals affiliated with these organizations. Organizations listed above are not necessarily members of the CWC Coalition. If you don’t see your organization listed, contact us!