193 States Parties and a ban on a whole class of weapons: the Chemical Weapons Convention

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193 States Parties and a ban on a whole class of weapons: the Chemical Weapons Convention

Background

The Chemical Weapons Convention has 193 States committed to it, making it one of the most widely accepted disarmament treaties. It bars States Parties from developing, producing, acquiring, stockpiling, retaining, transferring or using chemical weapons. The treaty is implemented by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which verifies declarations and inspects industrial and military sites. Article XXI of the Convention deals with its entry into force. Unlike some other disarmament instruments, the Convention bans an entire category of weapons rather than limiting numbers, and it requires parties to destroy stockpiles they already hold. India is a State Party.

States Parties: 193 Implementing body: Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Entry into force article: Article XXI

Why it matters for exams: The Chemical Weapons Convention has 193 States Parties and is implemented by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Kerala PSCUPSC

2 November 2026 Source: Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

In plain words

OPCW Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons — The body that verifies compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention.