The Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993 enters into force, outlawing the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons by its signatories.

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is an international treaty signed in 1993 that prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons. The CWC was established to promote global peace and security by eliminating the use of chemical weapons, which have been responsible for causing significant harm and suffering throughout history.

The treaty has been ratified by 193 countries, making it one of the most widely accepted arms control treaties in history. The signatories to the treaty have committed to the destruction of all chemical weapons they possess and to never develop, produce or acquire any in the future.

Under the CWC, each signatory is required to declare all chemical weapons and production facilities it possesses, and to destroy them within a specified period. The treaty also established the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which oversees the implementation of the treaty and monitors compliance by signatories.

The OPCW is responsible for verifying the destruction of chemical weapons and ensuring that signatories are complying with the terms of the treaty. The OPCW conducts regular inspections of chemical production facilities and investigates any allegations of chemical weapons use.

The CWC has been successful in reducing the threat of chemical weapons, and the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles has been ongoing since the treaty’s implementation. However, there have been some concerns about compliance and the potential use of chemical weapons by non-state actors, such as terrorist groups.