ICWU

The amplification of sustainable change-makers is a core part of our global mission: promoting sustainable mechanisms to enact a more peaceful and equitable world. The impact of proactive collaboration is crucial to ending the resurgence of chemical weapons. Take a stand against them today and sign the accord.

Brief History

Since ancient Greece and Rome, chemical weapons have been used. However, the widespread and systematic employment of chemical weapons began during World War I.

Germany was the first nation to utilise gas in combat in 1914, when it released chlorine gas from cylinders during the Battle of Ypres. Both sides rapidly adopted the use of a variety of gases, including mustard gas, phosgene, and tear gas.

The 1925 Geneva Protocol prohibited the use of chemical weapons, but not their development or storage, after World War I. Chemical weapons were employed in battles throughout the 20th century, notably the Vietnam War and the Iran-Iraq War.

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was enacted in 1993, prohibiting the manufacture, storage, and use of chemical weapons. The CWC has been signed and approved by the vast majority of nations in the world, with only North Korea and Syria remaining outside the convention.

In spite of the prohibition on chemical weapons, they have been used on many occasions in recent years, notably the 2013 and 2017 chemical strikes in Syria. The use of chemical weapons continues to be a serious threat to global security, and efforts continue to be made to assure their abolition.