Application of the Chemical Weapons Convention to ICA Weapons, Riot Control Agents and Related Means of Delivery

Abstract

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is a multilateral treaty that prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, transfer and use of chemical weapons and requires their destruction within a specified time period.1 The CWC is of unlimited duration and is designed to be far more comprehensive in scope and application than any prior international agreement on chemical weapons. The CWC entered into force on 29th April 1997 and, as of August 2015, comprised 191 States Parties that had ratified, acceded or succeeded to it2 --- the highest number of any comparable arms control or disarmament treaty. The CWC States Parties represent about 98{\%} of the global population and landmass, as well as 98{\%} of the worldwide chemical industry.3