The Day of Remembrance of Chemical Warfare Victims is marked on the 29th of April every year. On this day people pay tribute to the victims of chemical warfare and their governments reaffirm their support for the worldwide eradication of chemical weapons.

It came into force in 2005 after The Conference of The State Parties, on their tenth session, agreed to have the day observed. The date was derived from 1997 when Chemical Weapons Convention was formed, under the Organization for the Prohibiting of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), affirming to end threats of chemical warfare, and in essence creating global peace. The Day of Remembrance is observed by the UN, and is not a public holiday.

In his speech on the day, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon stressed on the importance of all countries joining the Organization for the Prohibiting of Chemical Weapons. This would re-affirm the world’s adherence to the organization and encourage the destruction of all chemical weapons. So far, about six countries have not yet joined the OPCW, as the OPCW (www.opcw.org) website clearly states. Two of the countries, Israel and Myanmar, have not yet ratified the Chemical Convention, while North Korea, Angola and Egypt and South Sudan have not acceded to the convention. (http://www.opcw.org/about-opcw/non-member-states).

Chemical warfare is indiscriminate and quite dangerous, bearing in mind that they can be in forms of gas, liquids and solids. Chemical weapons were used in the First World War (1939-1945), in form of mustard gas. When used in gaseous or liquid it is quite dangerous since it disperses quickly and could be volatile. Chemical weapons are considered as weapons that could lead to mass destruction. When used they might have massive effect on the victims’ senses, while in most occasions it causes deaths of hundreds, if not thousands.

However much governments and countries have condemned the used of such weapons, the recent war in Syria saw Chemical weapons in use resulting in horrific results. Secretary General termed the atrocity as, “shame against humanity“.

However, in September 2013, Syria announced it plans to destroy all chemical weapons, by mid-2104. This motion was applauded and endorsed by the United Nations Security Council resolution 2118 (2013). A task force the named OPCW-UN Joint Mission, under Special Coordinator Ms. Sigrid Kaag, set out to ensure the timely destruction of these chemical weapons. This was done by October 1st 2014. Following this major achievement, The Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed his gratitude to Ms. Sigrid, her team and the member states for the support, until completion of the project. He called upon countries that are not yet members to sign to the convention.

Chemical weapons are a threat to human existence. Their use only minimizes of survival. We have every resource required to make our homes safe.