The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

Archive

OPCW victorious in battle for Nobel Peace Prize

OPCW victorious in battle for Nobel Peace Prize
12 October 2013
Camilla Capasso
Avatar
Camilla Capasso
12 October 2013

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for its work aimed at eliminating chemical arms around Syria’s battlefields.

The OPCW, the world’s watchdog on chemical weapons, has won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for its worldwide commitment to the destruction of chemical arms.
Photo: Wally Gobetz

The OPCW, a small organisation based in The Hague, was founded in 1997 to enforce the Chemical Weapons Convention. After the gas attack that killed 1,400 people in August, the OPCW sent experts to Damascus to oversee the destruction caused by chemical weapons on the territory.

The organisation has worked silently for 16 years trying to identify whether all the 190 countries that signed the Chemical Weapons Convention actually fully adhered to it.

The consequences of the chemical attack in Damascus brought to light the work of the organisation which is now in Syria to document and plan the destruction of the chemical arms.

The head of the OPCW, Ahmet Uzumcu, said the award was a great honour: “I truly hope that this award, and the OPCW’s ongoing mission together with the United Nations in Syria, will help broader efforts to achieve peace in that country and end the suffering of its people.”

Nobel Peace Prize committee head Thorbjoern Jagland said the award was a reminder to nations such as the United States and Russia to eliminate their own large stockpiles. He said: “We now have the opportunity to get rid of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. That would be a great event in history if we could achieve that.”

There were almost 260 candidates for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize but the list remains unknown.

The ongoing work of both the OPCW and the Chemical Weapons Convention has contributed to the destruction of almost the 80% of word’s chemical weapons. Syria is expected to sign the treaty for the dismantling of its chemical weapons in a couple of days, but the dismantling itself would probably take years due to the large stocks of sarin, mustard gas and VX nerve agents that Syria is believed to have.

“Events in Syria,” said Mr Uzumcu, “have been a tragic reminder that there remains much work yet to be done.”

Camilla Capasso

Related Items

More in Archive

Achieve timeless elegance this S/S 2014 with S.I.L.K.

Ellie Owen
Read More

Bespoke jewellery by Charlotte Tamar

Niten Thakor
Read More

Enjoy designer luxury with Alexis Smith Lingerie’s A/W 2013 collection

Ellie Owen
Read More

Embrace vibrancy and colour with PPQ this winter

Ellie Owen
Read More

Kenzo Metallics adds the sparkle to you Christmas wardrobe

Niten Thakor
Read More

A Christmas alternative: Cranberry and Orange Jeweled Nut Bake

Bethany Stone
Read More

An Austique shopping guide: your one-stop shop for last minute gifts

Christianna Pugliese
Read More

A comforting twist to designer heels

Michelle McGill
Read More

Iain Duncan Smith condemned for refusing to meet with Trussell Trust

Abbie Cavendish
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • The Fratellis – Half Drunk Under a Full Moon
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • The Power
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Madame Claude
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Playfight at Finborough Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Hysterical! The Hilarious History of Hystery at Theatre Royal Stratford East Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Celebrate the EE BAFTAs this Sunday with Claude Bosi’s free virtual dining experience
    Food & Drinks
  • Shake Shack launches limited edition Vegan Crispy Shallot Burger in partnership with chef Neil Rankin
    Food & Drinks
  • Nutrition Kitchen: Fresh, diverse meal plans to satisfy both fitness fanatics and hardcore foodies
    Food & Drinks
  • Red Rage
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Final Days
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Playfight at Finborough Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Power
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Godzilla vs Kong: A colossal brawl that magnificently delivers what we tuned in to see
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Wellington Paranormal
    ★★★★★
    vod
  • Worn Stories
    ★★★★★
    netflix
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Ingenue is on trend this fall
Charlotte Cave: I Belong to Bedroom VIP party