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.

What does it mean to be part of the Coalition?

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.

If you or your organization support the goals of the coalition and want to learn more about participating, contact us. The Coalition is working to continually increase gender and geographic diversity in our network.

The CWC Coalition at the Conference of States Parties The Coalition is committed to facilitating and promoting active civil society participation at the annual OPCW Conference of States Parties by:

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)

Through travel grants, the Coalition has worked to increase NGO and civil society participation from underrepresented nations. One of our goals is to continuously increase gender and geographic diversity among NGO representatives. The CWC Coalition was founded to promote transparency, openness, inclusiveness, and accountability. We believe that the more outreach and public information shared about the CWC, the stronger the regime will be. Ultimately, the success of the CWC hinges on the ability of nation states to implement their obligations under the treaty. Learn more about how to participate at the OPCW Conference of States Parties on our NGOs at the CSP page.

“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

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!