Topic: Re-Evaluating the Chemical Weapons Convention
Country: Syria
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Syria position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
Chemical Weapons are extremely destructive, inhumane, and cause extensive collateral damage. To stop and prevent these weapons from being produced and used, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was signed by many of the world’s nations. The treaty prohibits the creation, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons. Any chemical that is used to kill or harm humans is considered a chemical weapon by the CWC. The CWC allows for the stockpiling of incapacitating chemical agents (ICAs) such as chlorine. This is an issue, however, as chlorine is deadly in its gaseous form. The CWC fails to address the use of chemical weapons by countries such as Syria, and what actions should be taken to ensure the rest of any stockpiles in those countries are destroyed. Consequently, the CWC should be revised. Switzerland believes that the CWC is necessary and important. As a neutral state, they follow the treaty’s policies, but take to part in enforcing them on other states.
With advancements in chemistry, toxic materials can now be created biologically. The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) does not prohibit the production and stockpiling of these materials. These advancements have complicated how biological and chemical weapons are differentiated. A solution to this issue would be to merge the CWC and BWC. The definition of chemical weapons given by the CWC is too broad. It allows for chemicals such as chlorine to be stockpiled, because of their non malicious uses. A revision to this policy is necessary, as these stockpiles could be turned into weapons.
Switzerland proposes that the CWC should be revised to include a more specific definition of what a chemical weapon is, so as to control the use of substances that could be used for malicious and non malicious purposes. The revision should also merge the CWC with the BWC, so that toxins created biologically are regulated. The revised CWC should also account for recent deployments of chemical weapons by Syria by including retributions to be applied in response to any future use.
