chemical weapons

Destroyed buildings in eastern Aleppo city, Syria, where chemical weapons were allegedly used. (file photo)
OCHA/Halldorsson

Work still remains on destruction of Syria chemical weapons

4 August 2021
Peace and Security

Identifying perpetrators of chemical weapon attacks, and holding them accountable, must remain a priority, a senior UN official said on Wednesday during the latest Security Council meeting on Syria. 

Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs (file).
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Accountability crucial to ‘truly relegate’ Syria chemical weapons to history

3 June 2021
Peace and Security

Until those responsible for any and all chemical weapons use in Syria are held responsible, the global community will continue sending a message of impunity, the senior UN disarmament official warned the Security Council on Thursday.

Boys wander amid rubble of destroyed buildings in Idlib, Syria. (file)
© UNICEF/Giovanni Diffidenti

Nearly 8 years on, ‘gaps, inconsistencies, discrepancies’ remain over Syria chemical weapons declaration

6 May 2021
Peace and Security

The Security Council heard new evidence in longstanding international efforts to eradicate Syria’s chemical weapons programme on Thursday, including the results of an investigation into the possible of use of chlorine gas in the city of Saraqib in 2018, as the UN’s top disarmament official provided her regular briefing to ambassadors.

OPCW inspectors, in full protective gear, collecting samples during a mock exercise.
Photo: OPCW

‘Reasonable grounds’ to believe Syrian military helicopter deployed chemical weapon: OPCW

12 April 2021
Peace and Security

A report released on Monday by the body dedicated to freeing the world of chemical weapons, concludes that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that a Syrian military helicopter carried out a chemical attack on the town of Saraqib, in 2018.

A child living in an IDP camp in northwestern Syria.
© UNICEF/Khaled Akacha

‘Limited’ progress in closing Syria chemical weapons file, UN Disarmament Chief tells Security Council

4 March 2021
Peace and Security

Seven years after the Security Council mandated the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons programme, there have been only “limited developments” in the implementation of resolution 2118, passed unanimously in 2013 to bring the country into compliance with its global obligations, the UN disarmament chief said on Thursday. 

Destroyed buildings in Aleppo, Syria, where chemical weapons were allegedly used. (file photo)
OCHA/Halldorsson

End impunity for use of chemical weapons in Syria, UN disarmament chief urges Security Council

4 February 2021
Peace and Security

The United Nations top disarmament official, on Wednesday, stressed the urgent need to not only identify those who have used chemical weapons in Syria, but also hold them accountable for their deeds.

Chemical weapons were allegedly used in Aleppo, Syria, in November 2018. (file)
© UNHCR/Mohamed Jertila

Syria: ‘Identified gaps, inconsistencies’ raise questions over elimination of chemical weapons

5 January 2021
Peace and Security

“Identified gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies” that remain unresolved, have brought into question the true extent of the elimination of chemical weapons during Syria’s bloody conflict, the UN disarmament chief told the Security Council in her briefing on Tuesday. 

A street in Douma, Eastern Ghouta, Syria. The OPCW Fact-Finding Mission said there were "reasonable grounds" to believe chlorine gas had been used in a chemical weapons attack in April 2018.
UNICEF/Amer Al Shami

Given gaps, inconsistencies, Syria’s declarations on chemical weapons programme not considered ‘accurate and complete’

11 December 2020
Peace and Security

Outstanding issues related to Syria’s initial declaration of its chemical weapons stockpile and programme cannot be considered “accurate and complete”, the head of the world body monitoring States’ implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention told the Security Council on Friday.

OPCW inspectors, in full protective gear, collecting samples during a mock exercise.
Photo: OPCW

Consign chemical weapons to history, UN chief urges, honouring victims

30 November 2020
Peace and Security

The United Nations Secretary-General has called for “renewed determination” to eliminate chemical weapons from the world. 

In a camp in northern Syria, a young girl wears a mask to protect her from COVID-19.
© UNICEF/Omar Albam

Syria: No justification for chemical weapon use ‘under any circumstances’ – UN disarmament chief

5 November 2020
Peace and Security

The top UN disarmament official on Thursday briefed the Security Council on progress made by Syria towards eliminating its chemicals weapons programme, complicated by the coronavirus pandemic.