Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare

On November 30th each year, All Victims of Chemical War Remembrance Day honors the victims of chemical warfare and reaffirms our commitment to eliminating the threat of chemical warfare.

Origin

All efforts aim to achieve chemical disarmament culminating in the signing of the Chemical Weapons Convention goes back more than a century. Chemical weapons were used on a large scale during World War I; however, it caused more than 100,000 deaths and one million casualties.

However, chemical weapons were not used on the battlefield in Europe during the Second World War. After the Second World War, and with the advent of the nuclear debate, some countries gradually realized that the marginal value of having chemical weapons in their arsenals was limited when the threat posed by the availability and ubiquity of such weapons becomes comprehensive desired prohibition.

In spite of being adopted since 1993, the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force on April 29th, 1997. It defines for the benefit of all mankind, to exclude altogether the possibility of the use of chemical weapons.

The member states of this Convention have established the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to achieve the object and purposes of this Convention, and to make sure the implementation of its provisions including those provisions for international verification of compliance and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among Member States.

Celebrating Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare

• Each year OPCW holds a special ceremony to remember the victims of chemical warfare. The ceremony consisted of laying a wreath and observing a moment of silence.
• Below are some references for you:

Memorize of all the victims of chemical warfare by lighting a candle

Learn to get knowledge about the affects of harmful chemical weapons to our world and society.

Watch movies about World War I, including The Great Parade, The End of St.Petersburg, and All Quiet on the Western Front. Spread awareness of this day on social media with #DayOfRemembranceForAllVictimsOfChemicalWarfare.