External Auditor for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) have been elected Auditor of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for a three-year term.
This appointment was made through an election process at the recently held OPCW conference. Their tenure will start from the year 2021.
During the OPCW conference, India has also been elected as a representative of the Asia Group and as a member of the Executive Council of the OPCW for two years.
OPCW Executive Council
- It is the governing body of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
- This ‘Executive Council’ consists of 41 OPCW member countries, which are elected in consultation with the member countries and are changed every two years.
- The Council oversees the programs of the Technical Secretariat and is responsible for promoting the effective implementation and compliance of the Convention.
- Each member country has the right to be elected on a sequential basis to the Executive Council.
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
- The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ is an independent international organization supported by the United Nations which came into existence on 29th April
- The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), executes the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
- The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) prohibits the use, storage, or transfer of chemical weapons for countries signing the treaty.
- The OPCW headquarters is located in The Hague, Netherlands. The OPCW consists of 193 signatories, representing 98% of the global population.
- Israel is a country that has signed the treaty but has not ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
- India signed the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) on 14 January
- The organization was awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.
Prohibition made in CWC
- Manufacture, production, acquisition and storage of chemical weapons.
- Transfer of chemical weapons directly or indirectly.
- Military use of chemical weapon.
- To engage other countries in activities prohibited by the treaty or to provide or encourage assistance.
Source – The Hindu
