Thirty Years of Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC): Histories, Achievements, Challenges

5 Oct 2023, 16:00 → 6 Oct 2023, 20:00 Europe/Berlin

Otto Hahn Lecture Hall (Harnack-Haus)

Bretislav Friedrich (Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft)

A follow-up to the 2015 conference, One Hundred Years of Chemical Warfare: Research, Deployment, Consequences, this meeting has the aim of obtaining fresh perspectives from different stakeholders on where we are regarding the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). 

 

One of the key objectives of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), CWC's implementing body, and of organizations affiliated with it, is to engage with civil society in the widest possible way in relation to chemical safety and security. 

 

October 2023 is a particularly opportune moment to hold such a meeting: 2023 marks not only the 30th anniversary of the signing of the CWC in Paris, but September 30, 2023 is the projected deadline for the elimination of all declared chemical weapons stockpiles. The meeting will reflect about the history and achievements of the CWC over the last thirty years, and explore existing and future challenges as the world realigns itself with, and prepares for, a new geopolitical and security environment.

 

Area Map.pdf

Brief Biographies of Speakers.pdf

Chemical Weapons Convention Reaches Milestone by Jonathan Moreno

Lunch Map.pdf

Opening Address by Under Secretary Jenkins.mp4

Thursday, 5 October

16:00 → 17:00 Arrival and Registration

17:00 → 17:40 Opening

17:00 Welcome Remarks

Speakers: Bretislav Friedrich (FHI-MPG), Paul Walker (Arms Control Association), Ulf Schmidt (Universität Hamburg)

17:10 Opening Remarks

Speaker: Under Secretary Bonnie Jenkins (U.S. Department of State)

17:20 Opening Remarks

Speaker: Deputy Commissioner Susanne Riegraf (German Foreign Office)

17:30 Q & A for Amb. Joseph Manso and Deputy Commissioner Susanne Riegraf

17:40 → 19:00 Keynote

17:40 Introduction of Keynote Speaker

Speaker: Paul Walker (Arms Control Association)

18:00 Keynote Address

Speaker: Amb. Ahmet Üzümcü

18:50 Q & A for Ahmet Üzümcü

19:00 → 21:00 Reception

19:00 Reception

Friday, 6 October

08:30 → 09:30 Arrival and Registration

09:30 → 11:00 Panel 1: Challenges to the CWC, Presentation 1, Chair: Paul Walker

09:30 Panel 1: Challenges to the CWC, Presentation 1, Chair: Paul Walker

Speaker: Irene Kornelly

09:45 Panel 1: Challenges to the CWC, Presentation 2, Chair: Paul Walker

Speaker: Amb. Joseph Manso (U.S. Permanent Representative to OPCW)

10:00 Panel 1: Challenges to the CWC, Presentation 3, Chair: Paul Walker

Speaker: Amb. Thomas Schieb (German Permanent Representative to OPCW)

10:15 Panel 1: Challenges to the CWC, Presentation 4, Chair: Paul Walker

Speaker: Caitriona McLeish (UKFCO/Sussex University)

10:30 Panel Discussion 1: Challenges to the CWC

11:00 → 11:30 Coffee Break

11:30 → 13:00 Panel 2: Abolition of Chemical Weapons – How Far We’ve Come, Pres. 1, Chair: Ulf Schmidt

11:30 Panel 2: Abolition of Chemical Weapons - How Far We've Come, Pres. 1, Chair: Ulf Schmidt

Speaker: Jonathan Moreno (University of Pennsylvania)

11:45 Panel 2: Abolition of Chemical Weapons – How Far We’ve Come, Pres. 2, Chair: Ulf Schmidt

Speaker: Deborah Klein Walker (American Public Health Association)

12:00 Panel 2: Abolition of Chemical Weapons – How Far We’ve Come, Pres. 3, Chair: Ulf Schmidt

Speaker: Ralf Trapp (Consultant)

12:15 Panel 2: Abolition of Chemical Weapons – How Far We’ve Come, Pres. 4, Chair: Ulf Schmidt

Speaker: Jean Pascal Zanders (The Trench)

12:30 Panel Discussion 2: Abolition of Chemical Weapons – How Far We’ve Come, Chair: Ulf Schmidt

13:00 → 14:00 Lunch Break (Lunch for Speakers and Invited Guests in Laue Room)

14:00 → 15:30 Panel 3: Three Decades Later – Next Steps, Chair: Ulf Schmidt

14:00 Panel 3: Three Decades Later – Next Steps, Presentation 1, Chair: Ulf Schmidt

Speaker: Michael Crowley (University of Bradford)

14:15 Panel 3: Three Decades Later – Next Steps, Presentation 2, Chair: Ulf Schmidt

Speaker: Homeyra Karimvahed (University of Bradford)

14:30 Panel 3: Three Decades Later – Next Steps, Presentation 3, Chair: Ulf Schmidt

Speaker: Lincoln Sheff (Bath University)

14:45 Panel 3: Three Decades Later – Next Steps, Presentation 4, Chair: Ulf Schmidt

Speaker: Tom Hobson (University of Cambridge)

15:00 Panel Discussion 3: Three Decades Later – Next Steps, Chair: Ulf Schmidt

15:30 → 16:00 Coffee Break

16:00 → 17:30 Panel 4: The CWC – Model for WMD Abolition? Chair: Bretislav Friedrich

16:00 Panel 4: The CWC – Model for WMD Abolition? Presentation 1, Chair: Bretislav Friedrich

Speaker: David Peace (Universität Hamburg)

16:12 Panel 4: The CWC – Model for WMD Abolition? Presentation 2, Chair: Bretislav Friedrich

Speaker: Alexander Ghionis (Harvard Sussex Program)

16:24 Panel 4: The CWC – Model for WMD Abolition? Presentation 3, Chair: Bretislav Friedrich

Speaker: Malcolm Dando (University of Bradford)

16:36 Panel 4: The CWC – Model for WMD Abolition? Presentation 4, Chair: Bretislav Friedrich

Speaker: Alexander Kelle (IFSH and CBWNet)

16:48 Panel 4: The CWC – Model for WMD Abolition? Presentation 5, Chair: Bretislav Friedrich

Speaker: Katja Schmidt-Mai

17:00 Panel Discussion 4: The CWC – Model for WMD Abolition? Chair: Bretislav Friedrich

17:30 → 18:00 Wrap-up Panel: Bretislav Friedrich, Ulf Schmidt, Paul Walker

18:30 → 20:00 Dinner for Speakers and Invited Guests