The Chemical Weapons Convention (1997)

Chemical Weapons Convention

193 States committed to the Chemical Weapons Convention

29 April 1997

Status :  Signatories: 165. Parties: 193

Preamble

Article I – General Obligations
Article II – Definitions and Criteria
Article III – Declarations
Article IV – Chemical Weapons
Article V – Chemical Weapons Production Facilities
Article VI – Activities Not Prohibited Under this Convention
Article VII – National Implementation Measures
Article VIII – The Organization
Article IX – Consultations, Cooperation and Fact‑Finding
Article X – Assistance and Protection Against Chemical Weapons
Article XI – Economic and Technological Development
Article XII – Measures to Redress a Situation and to Ensure Compliance, including Sanctions
Article XIII – Relation to Other International Agreements
Article XIV – Settlement of Disputes
Article XV – Amendments
Article XVI – Duration and Withdrawal
Article XVII – Status of the Annexes
Article XVIII – Signature
Article XIX – Ratification
Article XX – Accession
Article XXI – Entry Into Force
Article XXII – Reservations
Article XXIII – Depositary
Article XXIV – Authentic Texts

The Chemical Weapons Convention

The States Parties to this Convention,

Determined to act with a view to achieving effective progress towards general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, including the prohibition and elimination of all types of weapons of mass destruction,

Desiring to contribute to the realization of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Recalling that the General Assembly of the United Nations has repeatedly condemned all actions contrary to the principles and objectives of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925 (the Geneva Protocol of 1925),

Recognizing that this Convention reaffirms principles and objectives of and obligations assumed under the Geneva Protocol of 1925, and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction signed at London, Moscow and Washington on 10 April 1972,

Bearing in mind the objective contained in Article IX of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction,

Determined for the sake of all mankind, to exclude completely the possibility of the use of chemical weapons, through the implementation of the provisions of this Convention, thereby complementing the obligations assumed under the Geneva Protocol of 1925,

Recognizing the prohibition, embodied in the pertinent agreements and relevant principles of international law, of the use of herbicides as a method of warfare,

Considering that achievements in the field of chemistry should be used exclusively for the benefit of mankind,

Desiring to promote free trade in chemicals as well as international cooperation and exchange of scientific and technical information in the field of chemical activities for purposes not prohibited under this Convention in order to enhance the economic and technological development of all States Parties,

Convinced that the complete and effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer and use of chemical weapons, and their destruction, represent a necessary step towards the achievement of these common objectives,

Have agreed as follows:

Article I – General Obligations

1. Each State Party to this Convention undertakes never under any circumstances:

a. To develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile or retain chemical weapons, or transfer, directly or indirectly, chemical weapons to anyone;

b. To use chemical weapons;

c. To engage in any military preparations to use chemical weapons;

d. To assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention.

2. Each State Party undertakes to destroy chemical weapons it owns or possesses, or that are located in any place under its jurisdiction or control, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.

3. Each State Party undertakes to destroy all chemical weapons it abandoned on the territory of another State Party, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.

4. Each State Party undertakes to destroy any chemical weapons production facilities it owns or possesses, or that are located in any place under its jurisdiction or control, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.

5. Each State Party undertakes not to use riot control agents as a method of warfare.

The Convention was opened for signature in Paris, from 13 January to 15 January 1993. Thereafter, it remained open for signature at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York, until its entry into force, in accordance with article XVIII.