Remembrance Day for all Victims of Chemical Warfare
A day designated by the OPCW to honor victims of chemical weapons throughout history and renew the global commitment to a world free of them.
Date30 November
TopicPeace & Safety
Ways to observe this day
- Learn about the history of the Chemical Weapons Convention
- Read about the OPCW's work around the world
- Share content on the impact of chemical weapons on victims and communities
- Support disarmament and international peace initiatives
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) — the international body overseeing the Chemical Weapons Convention — designated November 30 for this remembrance, decided by the Conference of the States Parties to the organization. It reflects the OPCW's ongoing mission, since the Convention entered into force in 1997, to eliminate chemical weapons stockpiles worldwide.
The day honors all those who lost their lives or were harmed by chemical weapons throughout history, from the First World War to modern conflicts, and recognizes the personnel who carry out inspection and safe destruction operations worldwide. It renews international commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention, one of the most successful disarmament treaties in history in terms of the proportion of states that have joined it.
The OPCW holds an official wreath-laying ceremony at its headquarters in The Hague, with representatives of member states, alongside awareness activities on the dangers of chemical weapons and the importance of sustained international efforts to prevent their proliferation and renewed use.
