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Unit 2Chemical Weapons
All chapters
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. The History of Chemical Warfare
  3. 3. Evolution of the Norm against Chemical Weapons
  4. 4. Current Challenges Posed by Chemical Weapons
  5. 5. The EU and Chemical Weapons
  6. 6. Summary and Further Reading
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Chemical Weapons

After completing this learning unit, the student will understand the nature of chemical weapons (CW) and their effects on humans, animals and the environment understand the technical foundations of CW. Be familiar with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and other relevant international treaties understand the current nature of the CW challenge, including dual-use issues relating to civilian research, development and production activities, legitimate and illegitimate uses of irritants (e.g., riot control agents, terrorism, chemical security and safety, have an overview of EU policies in support of the CWC and the norm against CW, have detailed background on CW use in Syria and the international response to a major violation of the norm against CW

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Chapters

  1. 1. Introduction

  2. 2. The History of Chemical Warfare

  3. 3. Evolution of the Norm against Chemical Weapons

    From the Hague Peace Conference to the Rome Statute

  4. 4. Current Challenges Posed by Chemical Weapons

  5. 5. The EU and Chemical Weapons

  6. 6. Summary and Further Reading

Credits

  • Jean Pascal Zanders profile image

    Jean Pascal Zanders

    The Trench

    Jean Pascal Zanders heads The Trench, a research initiative dedicated to the future of disarmament. He was Leader of the Chemical and Biological Warfare Project at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (1996–2003), Director of the Geneva-based BioWeapons Prevention Project (2003–08), and Senior Research Fellow at the European Union Institute for Security Studies (2008–13). His research focusses on the long-term future of the BTWC and CWC and CBW disarmament in the Middle East. He currently chairs the OPCW Advisory Board on Education and Outreach (ABEO).

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Funding

This Learning Unit was produced with financial assistance from the European Union. The contents of this Learning Unit are however the sole responsibility of the author(s) and should under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

Content Warning

This learning unit may contain audio-visual material or texts, which may not be suitable for all audiences.

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Citation

Jean Pascal Zanders, "Chemical Weapons" in EUNPDC eLearning, ed. Niklas Schörnig, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt. Available at https://eunpdc-elearning.netlify.app/lu-02/, last modified 11 March 2024

The EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament eLearning Course aims to cover all aspects of the EU non-proliferation and disarmament agenda. It's produced by PRIF with financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of individual learning units are the sole responsibility of the respective authors and don't necessariy reflect the position of the European Union.