About OPCW

• The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an intergovernmental organisation and the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
• The OPCW, with its 193 Member States (including India), oversees the global endeavour to permanently and verifiably eliminate chemical weapons.
• Its headquarters are located in The Hague, Netherlands.

About CWC

• The Chemical Weapons Convention is a universal, non-discriminatory, multi-lateral, disarmament treaty which prohibits the development, production, stock-piling and use of chemical weapons and monitors its elimination in order to secure a chemical weapons free world.
• The Convention entered into force in 1997. As on date, 193 countries are parties to the Convention.
• India is a signatory and party to the convention. India, pursuant to provisions of the Convention enacted the Chemical Weapons Convention Act, 2000.

Why in News?

• The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has said that the U.S. is in the process of completing destruction of its remaining chemical weapons stockpiles.
• So far, the U.S. has destroyed 97.65% of its most dangerous Category 1 chemical weapons. All Category 2 and 3 weapons have been destroyed.

Reference:

1. https://www.opcw.org/