Statement of Canada to the Fifth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention

Check against delivery.

May 11, 2023

Delivered by H.E. Ms. Lisa Helfand, Ambassador of Canada to the Netherlands and Permanent Representative of Canada to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

 Ambassador van der Kwast,

Canada welcomes your election as Chair of the 5th Review Conference. You have our full confidence.

I thank Ambassador Kuusing for his excellent stewardship of our deliberations over the course of the preparatory process.

Chair,

Over the past five years, the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention have collectively addressed the significant challenges, reaffirming the enduring relevance of the Convention and our commitment to uphold the norm against the use of chemical weapons.

I note in particular the following examples:

• We have destroyed seventy-two thousand metric tons of weapons of mass destruction.
• We have built a facility to help us tackle emerging threats, keep pace with scientific and technological developments, and preserve knowledge.
• We have exposed the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks, and imposed consequences on them for gross violations.
• We have subjected families of Novichoks to declaration and verification, increasing our oversight over them.
• We have made progress towards achieving gender equality and inclusion.

Because we have taken action, we are better equipped to face the future.

Chair,

The re-emergence of chemical weapons use is a real threat to global peace and security.

Consequently, we must now work together to:

• Keep the industry verification regime fit for purpose;
• Grow investigative and analytical skills across the Technical Secretariat;
• Introduce more flexibility in the organization’s tenure policy;
• Build an inclusive organizational culture that values gender equality, diversity and inclusion;
• Introduce more transparency in the NGO participation guidelines; and,
• Keep assistance and cooperation programs relevant to the needs of States Parties.

In addition, Canada encourages the Technical Secretariat to take a proactive communications approach for both experts and the general public.

We commend the many important voluntary contributions made to the OPCW and to broader chemical threat reduction efforts by the G7-led Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.

However, this organization must not rely overly on voluntary contributions.

In order to carry out future work we will need take a serious look at available resources.

Finally, Canada encourages us all to resist any cynical views about this organization. We should focus on fostering trust and celebrating our accomplishments.

Canada is confident that the Convention and the OPCW will continue to deliver and serve us well into the future.

Thank you, Chair.