Parliamentarians call for broader implementation of Chemical Weapons Convention

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) officials recently joined global parliamentarians in discussing means of implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

During the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Belgrade, Serbia, parties met to exchange ideas on how national parliaments can enhance CWC implementation.

Abdus Salam Murshedy, a delegate of one of the OPCW’s member states, emphasized parliamentarians can contribute to enhancing national implementation of the CWC in a myriad of ways.

“Parliaments can strengthen the CWC regime by enacting comprehensive implementing legislation, appropriating budgets to government agencies involved in its implementation and sharing best practices in national implementation,” Murshedy said.

Vladimir Marinkovic, deputy speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia, highlighted the need for comprehensive implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

“Full and effective implementation of the Convention is a pre-condition for preventing terrorist access to toxic chemicals that can be developed into chemical weapons,” he said. “Parliaments and parliamentarians not only play a critical role in the adoption of legislation implementing national obligations under the CWC, but also in the promotion of compliance with its provisions.”

Andrew Wallace, Parliament of Australia member, expressed his country’s concern over the recent cases of chemical weapons use and shared how it played an active role in strengthening the CWC to serve as a useful tool against the re-emergence of chemical weapons.