Eastern European States pledge support to OPCW for education and outreach efforts

Representatives from 21 Eastern European States voiced their support of awareness-raising efforts by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) during the first regional meeting on education and outreach early this month in Vilnius, Lithuania.

In total, 45 participants from civil society, academia, non-governmental organizations and the National Authorities of Eastern European States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) focused their efforts on how to advance an education and outreach agenda related to the implementation of the convention. Many participants presented their national experiences and emphasized the need to expand the reach of the CWC at universities, scientific communities and in industry for successful implementation.

Included in the meetings was a viewing of the documentary series “A Teacher’s Mission.” Attendees praised it as an engaging tool to stimulate students’ reflection on the role of ethics in scientific discovery.

The meetings came shortly after the launch of OPCW’s Advisory Board on Education and Outreach (ABEO), which will advise the OPCW on possible strategies in line with global trends in education and outreach. Many ideas discussed at the meetings will be used to bring awareness about the work of the OPCW to various communities in Eastern Europe.