Throughout the years, the world constantly evolved from horses to cars and caves to skyscrapers proving the capacity of humans for innovation. However, just as it improved the quality of human life, on the dark side the war mechanisms and strategies also developed increasing the intensity of destruction. Chemical warfare historically started during World War I when the Imperial German Army released 188 tons of chlorine gas against French and Canadian forces in Belgium in 1915 causing around 7000 casualties. However, by  World War II, many countries gradually realized the destructive and inhumane nature of employing chemical warfare. After World War II, a number of terrorist organizations used chemical weapons due to their accessibility, easy delivery, and transport, often rendering targets unprotected, and the lack of preparedness of civilian medical communities to handle such attacks.

The Chemical Weapons Convention was ratified in 1993 and went into effect on April 29, 1997. It decided to “exclude completely the possibility of the use of chemical weapons, for the sake of all mankind.” The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was established by the States Parties to ensure the implementation of the Convention’s provisions and facilitate consultation and cooperation. The Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention( during its 20th session)  decided to annually honor all victims of Chemical Warfare on 30 November or the first day of the regular session.

The Chemical Weapons Convention was ratified in 1993 and went into effect on April 29, 1997. It decided to “exclude completely the possibility of the use of chemical weapons, for the sake of all mankind.” The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was established by the States Parties to ensure the implementation of the Convention’s provisions and facilitate consultation and cooperation. The Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention( during its 20th session)  decided to annually honor all victims of Chemical Warfare on 30 November or the first day of the regular session.

Chemical warfare (CW) is arguably one of the most lethal weapons that humanity has ever invented. Extremely toxic synthetic chemicals known as CW agents can be distributed as a liquid, aerosol, gas, or as agents adsorbed to particles to form a powder. The negative effects of chemical warfare can be outlined as mass destruction, human casualties such as paralysis, deformities, irritations, birth defects in babies, and death, and difficulty in managing the spread of the chemicals and their effects. Moreover, the psychological harm to victims is also highlighted as the loss of family members, having to deal with deformities while facing daily physical and mental challenges, and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD reported by the victims. The disastrous nature of chemical warfare was brought out during the 1990s however, usage of chemical warfare in the 21st century has been noted in incidents such as in the Syrian War( 2011-present). 

While the UN is responsible for passing laws and regulations regarding chemical warfare, world organizations such as the International Criminal Court attempt to hold the parties who enforce chemical warfare accountable and exercise law. Organizations such as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Warfare (OPCW), the International Committee of Red Cross(ICRC), and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) protects and seeks justice for chemical warfare victims especially OPCW, make attempt to eliminate the use of chemical as a form of harm to humans. Hence, the world is not blind to the usage of disastrous weaponry such as chemical weapons.

The parties that attempt to use violence and destruction against people often take innocent civilians as scapegoats to spread their agendas against the governing or more powerful bodies in power. However, human life is valuable and in reality, using mass destructive chemical weapons only harms the innocent or the non-responsible parties of the society and the change they wish to occur will only be wishful thinking.

Written by: Rtr. Venuri Wedage

Graphic design by: Rtr. Sathmi Dinanja