OPCW's ChemTech Centre Concludes Women in Chemistry Symposium

The OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech Centre), which hosted the symposium from June 19–20, has ended its annual symposium on women in chemistry on 29^th June 2023.

The event, which was planned in close collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), intended to promote gender equality and diversity in the field of chemistry.  "Empowering Women and Promoting Gender Diversity in the Peaceful Uses of Chemistry and Chemical Security" was the symposium's focus this year. The French Republic made a voluntary donation to support the symposia.

The two-day gathering gathered together specialists, researchers, and scientists from all over the world to talk about and tackle the difficulties faced by women in science, particularly in the discipline of chemistry. Participants looked at various tactics for promoting gender equality, improving chances, and removing obstacles to women's advancement in the sciences.

They emphasised the crucial contributions made by women to the beneficial applications of chemistry and emphasised the crucial part that women play in furthering scientific understanding and technological development. The participating experts discussed how they went about seeing chances for professional development and training while highlighting the benefits of gender diversity in chemistry.

The Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ambassador Odette Melono, emphasised the importance of establishing an environment that promotes equitable participation and representation in her introductory remarks. "A more inclusive scientific community," she urged, "where every aspiring scientist, regardless of gender, is provided with the opportunity to contribute, lead, and make a difference."

She also praised the choice of the newly opened ChemTech Centre as the venue for this year's Symposium. The Centre is the OPCW's flagship initiative to improve its operational, training, research, and capacity-building capacities as well as to broaden its operations pertaining to women studying and working in STEM.

In order to fulfil shared goal of eradicating chemical weapons from the world and advancing chemistry's peaceful applications, Ambassador François Alabrune, Permanent Representative of France to the OPCW, emphasised the importance of women in chemistry.

He stated: "We will only be able to address the complex nature of chemical threats and thus achieve a safer world if we take into account their perspective, experience, and skills." He continued by saying that France is pleased to support the Symposium since it is important for promoting the cause of gender equality and increasing the participation and representation of women in the field of chemical safety and security.

The Symposium included interactive panel discussions and presentations that covered a wide range of issues, including measures to increase women's participation in chemistry-related professions, the value of mentorship, and the empowerment of women in scientific research. The occasion also highlighted the need to confront gender stereotypes and unintentional prejudices that still exist in the scientific community.

The Compendium of Best Practises on the Engagement and Advancement of Women in Chemical Safety and Security, which was the outcome of an EU-funded study last year co-conducted by OPCW and UNICRI with the intention of identifying best practises in attracting, educating, and advancing women in chemistry, was also covered during the Symposium.

Nine OPCW African Member States, including Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, sent 17 delegates in person to the event. From the following 9 OPCW Member States: Bulgaria, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Germany, Iraq, Kenya, Peru, Nicaragua, and Uganda, 16 participants joined online.