1. Sabrina Dallafior Begins Term as New Director-General of the OPCW
Sabrina Dallafior has taken office as the fifth Director-General of the OPCW and the first woman to lead the Organisation, starting a four-year term amid evolving chemical security challenges. A Swiss diplomat unanimously elected in November 2025 with a 25-year career in disarmament and arms control, she outlined four early priorities: upholding the global norm against chemical weapons, strengthening compliance with the Convention, working with States Parties such as Syria on chemical weapons legacies, and promoting the OPCW’s work with partners including the chemical industry.
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2. OPCW Supports Syrian Authorities in Strengthening Capacity to Implement the Chemical Weapons Convention
The OPCW trained 26 Syrian officials at its headquarters and ChemTech Centre in The Hague (29 June–2 July 2026) to help Syria rebuild the institutional capacity needed to meet its Convention obligations. Bringing together representatives from seven ministries and other government bodies, the course covered the treaty’s legal framework, declaration and destruction obligations, and verification procedures, and is intended as the first step in a longer-term capacity-building partnership supporting the elimination of any remnants of the Assad-era chemical weapons programme.
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3. Slovakia Provides Voluntary Funding to Support OPCW Activities
The Slovak Republic contributed EUR 20,000, split between the Trust Fund for Syria Missions and the Trust Fund for the Implementation of Article X. Half supports Technical Secretariat work in Syria, including establishing the full scope of its chemical weapons programme, while the other half supports Assistance and Protection programmes related to Ukraine. Formalised on 1 July, the contribution marks the start of Slovakia’s Executive Council membership and brings its total trust fund contributions to over EUR 190,000.
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4. Executive Council Reinstates the Rights and Privileges of Syria Under the Chemical Weapons Convention
At its 112th session on 9 July 2026, the Executive Council adopted by consensus a decision (co-sponsored by 67 States Parties) to reinstate Syria’s rights and privileges, which had been suspended since 2021. The move reflects the new Syrian authorities’ cooperation following the fall of the Assad regime, including amending Syria’s declaration and facilitating verification. The Council also approved a verification plan for Category 3 chemical weapons at Al Qutayfah and facility agreements for the Al Qutayfah and Homs storage sites.
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5. OPCW Report Explores How Chemical Forensics Can Strengthen Chemical Weapons Investigations
The OPCW released a report from the Scientific Advisory Board’s Temporary Working Group on Chemical Forensics, presented on the sidelines of the 112th Executive Council session, examining how advances in the field can strengthen the scientific basis for investigations. A central recommendation is developing a dedicated chemical forensics database combining spectral reference data and a knowledge hub, helping investigators link samples and identify production routes. The report also highlights the potential of AI and machine learning, while stressing the need for high-quality data and expert validation.
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