Both nations were signatories to the geneva convention. A comprehensive guide to the control of weapons of mass destruction. As researchers discover more agents that alter mental states, the chemical weapons convention needs modification to help ensure that the life sciences are not used for hostile purposes, says. Last week, the agency charged with enforcing the treaty achieved a historic first. Reportedly, however, the usa used cs gas in its caveclearing operations in afghanistan. In all, 188 nations, including china, india and the united states, but not syria, have agreed to abide by it. Todays advances in life sciences and biotechnology, as well as changes in the security environment, have increased concern that longstanding restraints on. Fallout as a factor influencing the incidence of attack. To save the mankind and the world from these deadly chemicals, an international treaty, known as chemical weapons convention cwc came into the existence in april 1997 234. Chemical weapons convention cwc, formally convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and on their destruction, international treaty that bans the use of chemical weapons in war and prohibits all development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, or transfer of such weapons. Last week, the agency charged with enforcing the treaty achieved a. Sep 16, 20 the use of chemical weapons is an emotional topic in israel, where memories remain fresh of the holocaust, when countless numbers of jews were killed in nazi gas chambers. The full name of the treaty is the convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and on their destruction and it is administered by the organisation. The international community banned the use of chemical and biological weapons after world war i and reinforced the ban in 1972 and 1993 by prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and transfer of these weapons.
The chemical weapons convention and riot control agents. This type of warfare is distinct from nuclear warfare, biological warfare and radiological warfare, which together make up cbrn, the military acronym for nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare or weapons, all of which are considered weapons of mass destruction wmds. States parties, in turn, must take the steps necessary to enforce that prohibition in respect of persons natural or legal. Pdf tear gas has gained widespread acceptance as a means of controlling civilian crowds and subduing barricaded criminals. One of the worlds most popular treaties is the chemical weapons convention, supported by 193 states. The use as a riot control agent is not covered by the treaty. Since oc is an oil, even small concentrations of it can penetrate skin and enter mucous membranes, causing severe and prolonged 2090 minutes discomfort. The united states is violating a multilateral arms control treaty. Tear gas, also called lacrimator, any of a group of substances that irritate the mucous membranes of the eyes, causing a stinging sensation and tears. Chemical weapons convention ias abhiyan ii ias upsc exam. Although nations signing the 1899 hague declaration promised not to use cw, during world war i these weapons, including, in order of use, tear gas, chlorine gas. August 15, 1968 chemical weapons are placed on the agenda of the conference of the committee on. The text of the convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and on their destruction cwc was. Non lethal warfare and the chemical weapons convention.
The first chemicalwarfare agentchlorine gaswas introduced on the battlefield by germany in 1915 during world war 1. Existing agents include cs gas and a form of pepper spray. The full name of the treaty is the convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and on their destruction and it is administered by the organisation for the prohibition. The 1993 chemical weapons convention doesnt apply to domestic law enforcement. Tear gas was first used in world war i in chemical warfare. The 1925 geneva protocol is not specific enough about the use of irritating agents, such as tear gas in war. Convention on the prohibition of the development, production. This might sidestep the chemical weapons convention with the argument that malodorants are. The convention aims to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of chemical weapons by states parties. But the language used to exempt other lawenforcement purposes has created an ambiguity in the heart of the convention. The birth of chemical warfare agents in wodd war 1.
Chemical weapons are cheap, can cause mass casualties, and are relatively easy to produce, even by developing nations. The 1992 chemical weapons convention prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, transfer and use of chemical weapons and requires states parties to destroy chemical weapon stockpiles. The chemical weapons convention entered into force in 1997. Btwc was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning the production of an entire category of weapons. The objective of the chemical weapons convention cwc is to rid the world of. According to the organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons opcw, the term chemical weapon may also be applied to any toxic chemical or its precursor that can cause death, injury, temporary incapacitation or sensory irritation through its chemical action. The cwc was adopted by the united nations conference on disarmament on september 3, 1992, and the. While technically correct, a definition based on this conception would only cover a small portion of the range of things the chemical weapons convention cwc prohibits as chemical weapons. Tear gas, formally known as a lachrymator agent or lachrymator from the latin lacrima, meaning tear, sometimes colloquially known as mace, is a chemical weapon that causes severe eye and respiratory pain, skin irritation, bleeding, and blindness. Agents that can be used as weapons of mass destruction figure 12. The chemical weapons convention a commentary edited by walter krutzsch, eric myjer, and ralf trapp oxford commentaries on international law. The chemical weapons convention, of 1992 prohibits the use of tear gas for warfare. The efforts to negotiate a comprehensive global ban on chemical weapons were based on the 1925. Us weapons research is raising a stink technology the.
If states parties come to act on differing interpretations of the. Chemical weapons convention cwc, international treaty that bans the use of chemical weapons in war and prohibits all development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, or transfer of such weapons. The convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and on their destruction the chemical weapons convention or cwc, is comprised of a preamble, 24 articles, and 3 annexes the annex on chemicals, the verification annex, and the confidentiality annex. Tear gas, any of a group of substances that irritate the mucous membranes of the eyes, causing a stinging sensation and tears. The photograph depicts the initial chlorine gas attack by germany at ypres, belgium, on april 22, 1915. A common conception of a chemical weapon cw is of a toxic chemical contained in a delivery system such as a bomb or artillery shell. Influence of local meteorological an attack with chemical weapons factors on the effectiveness of an on urban areas attack with chemical weapons 88 10. Cwa chemical warfare agent cwc convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and on their destruction cs ochlorobenzylidene malononitrile cn chloracetophenone cat convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment cr dibenz b, f1, 4oxazepine. Chemical warfare cw involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons.
Tear gas was first used in world war i in chemical warfare, but since its effects are shortlasting and rarely disabling, it came into use by. Btwc was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning the production of an. Chemical weapons history american chemical society. Crowley, regulation of riot control agents and incapacitants under the chemical weapons convention, research paper, 2011. Article xiii 1 this convention shall be of unlimited duration. The convention on the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of bacteriological biological and toxin weapons and on their destruction usually referred to as the biological weapons convention, abbreviation. The german army released chlorine gas from cylinders to form a poisonous. Article ii7 of the 1993 chemical weapons convention defines riot control. All states parties to the chemical weapons convention cwc commit to a world free of chemical weapons. The use of tear gas agents in warfare between military forces is banned under the 1993 international chemical weapons convention, geneva organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons, likely due to fear of escalation of chemical warfare. Cw agents are extremely toxic synthetic chemicals that can be dispersed as a gas, liquid or aerosol or as agents adsorbed to particles to become a powder. After 1945, these systematic surveys continued, together with a search for novel agents based on advances in biochemistry, toxicology and pharmacology. Apr 14, 2020 one of the worlds most popular treaties is the chemical weapons convention, supported by 193 states. Tear gas is a chemical weapon, and was used as a weapon in the first world war.
Working together for a world free of chemical weapons. Bwc, or biological and toxin weapons convention, abbreviation. Chemical and biological weapons international committee. Specifically, the cwc has placed a ban on the development, production, and possession of any chemical weapon intended to cause death or temporary. The 1993 chemical weapons convention cwc text of the convention article by article in separate files quick to load. Chemical weapons convention chemicals report any amount to ehs 1,4bis2chloroethylthionbutane bis2chloroethylthiomethane bis2chloroethylthiomethylether 1,5bis2chloroethylthionpentane 1,3bis2chloroethylthionpropane 2chloroethylchloromethylsulfide chlorosarin chlorosoman df ethyl phosphonyl difluoride. It produces a white cloud of cs gas on impact emphasis added. Jun 16, 2018 the chemical weapons convention prohibits the largescale use, development, production, stockpiling and transfer of chemical weapons. Some properties of selected lethal and disabling chemicals common name casa registry number, class and properties lysergide bz adamsite cn cs cr cas registry number 50373 6581062 578949 532274 2698411 257078.
Systematic articlebyarticle commentary on this key international convention and its annexes, drawing on its negotiating history and implementation. A chemical weapon cw is a specialized munition that uses chemicals formulated to inflict death or harm on humans. Chemical weapons convention chronology march 15, 1962 the united states and the soviet union submit plans for general and complete disarmament to the eighteen nation disarmament committee which include provisions for eliminating chemical and biological weapons. Among the weapons of mass destruction wmd, chemical warfare cw is probably one of the most brutal created by mankind. Tear gas simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Common lachrymators include pepper spray oc gas, pava. The use of riot control agents, including tear gas and other. Text of the convention one much larger file nearly 100k. Chemical weapons convention fails to address key issues. Looking at the mode of response and how it differed from the international reaction to other norm violations within the same conflict suggest that the the convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and on their destruction, often abbreviated as the chemical weapons convention cwc. Chemical weapons were employed in the intervening period by italy in ethiopia and japan in manchuria and china.
Blister agents, chemical warfare, decontamination, detection, mustards, nerve agents, protection among the weapons of mass destruction wmd, chemical warfare cw is probably one of the most brutal created by mankind. Very limited production for research, medical, pharmaceutical or protective purposes is still permitted. Systematic articlebyarticle commentary on this key international convention and its annexes, drawing on. The chemical industry, not surprisingly, was a major source of possible agents, since most of the new chemical warfare agents had initially been. Chemical weapons were never deliberately employed by the allies or the axis during world war ii, despite the accumulation of enormous stockpiles by both sides. Feb 11, 2010 arent chemical weapons like tear gas illegal. They have been used in many conflicts during the 20th century box, most recently by iraq during the iraniraq war,1 as well as in terrorist attacks. The chemical weapons convention cwc is an arms control treaty that outlaws the production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons and their precursors. All states parties to the chemical weapons convention cwc. Chemical weapons convention negotiations overshadowed by concerns about nuclear war for much of the postworld war ii period, chemical weapons did. Only four nations have not signed the chemical weapons convention and are therefore unhindered by restrictions on the use of cs gas.
Despite the subsequent 1972 biologic weapons convention that prohibited production and stockpiling of both chemical and biologic weapons, military use of nitrogen mustards was documented as recently as the 1980 iraniraq war and the 1988 iraqikurd civil war. Deployment mechanism agent oc and pava these agents work on pain and temperature receptors trpv1 to cause sensations of burning and severe pain. Cw are designed to produce direct chemical injury to their targets, in contrast to explosive or incendiary weapons, which produce their effect through blast or heat. According to the organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons opcw, the term chemical weapon may also be applied to any toxic chemical or its precursor that can cause death, injury, temporary incapacitation or sensory irritation through its chemical. The use of chemical weapons is an emotional topic in israel, where memories remain fresh of the holocaust, when countless numbers of. Pdf tear gasharassing agent or toxic chemical weapon.
The full name of the treaty is the convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and on their destruction and it is administered by the organisation for the prohibition of chemical. Chemical industry box 2abanning chemical warfare chemical warfare has been a scourge of the 20th century. They may also irritate the upper respiratory tract, causing coughing, choking, and general debility. The news comes as indications are rising that syrian government forces have used chemical weapons within their own borders in the current civil war. A brief note on chemical weapons convention is also provided. Manual for military police dated 2002, stated that the m33a1 is primarily used by formations.