The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has long recognised the crucial role of women in chemical non-proliferation and has been promoting gender equity in this field through various initiatives. As part of these efforts, the OPCW, in cooperation with Switzerland's Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), launched its first ever international training cycle for women first responders earlier this year to address gender-based challenges and needs in chemical emergency preparedness.
In the framework of the cycle, a basic training course coordinated by Switzerland's NBC EOD Centre of Competence of the Armed Forces (NBC EOD CC) took place from 1 to 5 July in Spiez, Switzerland. This training was funded by a voluntary contribution from the Government of Germany.
"This course is a landmark event exclusively training women first responders," said OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ambassador Odette Melono . "It highlights OPCW's efforts to provide capacity development opportunities to qualified women in a field that is traditionally dominated by men. Investing in this group, while being a positive gender equality measure, is also necessary to ensure that up-to-date skill sets and capacity are well embedded amongst women first responders, allowing them to contribute optimally to national protective programmes in their countries."
Instructor Ms Joelle Khadra from the Lebanese Red Cross explains the correct use of emergency gear to participants.
The hands-on basic course featured demonstrations of equipment and practical training sessions. Twenty-five participants from 19 Member States, including firefighters, paramedics, military or police forces, were trained in protection and assistance against chemical warfare agents and their actions, protective equipment and its limitations, detection and decontamination equipment, and procedures. This practical approach ensures that female first responders are well-equipped to handle possible chemical emergencies with confidence and competence.
"I really enjoyed the opportunity to participate in this course," said Maria Carolina Vieira, Deputy of the Chemical Defence Section at the Institute of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence of the Brazilian Army. "It was very useful for us to talk about some issues that we face not only as first responders but also as women. Chemical defence field professionals are mostly men, especially when it comes to first responders, and the first step to achieving gender equality is to raise awareness on this topic."
"International organisations such as the OPCW have a crucial role to play in promoting gender equity in this field," she added.
Instructor Ms Narelle Moss of the Southern Police of Australia explains sample handling to training participants.
Prior to the hands-on training, participants completed an online foundation course designed to provide basic theoretical knowledge. The course included a live session held from the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech Centre), featuring presentations by female experts, who discussed gender-based challenges faced by women first responders and ways to overcome them. The session also served as a forum for participants to share career concerns and day-to-day challenges they face in male-dominated environments.
The next components of the training cycle include:
an online course covering the Emergency Response Guidebook, the CAMEO Chemicals database, and the Incident Command System;
a hands-on integrated advanced course and exercise to deepen the knowledge obtained in the three previous components of the training cycle. The training will explore different complex chemical emergency scenarios in combination with a final exercise;
a one-day follow up webinar to discuss with participants how they are going to implement the knowledge and skills acquired during the training cycle to advance chemical emergency preparedness in their countries.
Participants in this training cycle are expected to apply the knowledge gained from each course in their respective countries and communities. This will support and empower other women first responders, encourage their professional growth and confidence, and enable them to take on leadership roles in local or national emergency response teams.
By providing specialised training initiatives for women, the OPCW helps ensure all perspectives are included and all skills are utilised in the fight against chemical threats, building diverse and resilient expert communities to achieve a world free of chemical weapons.
Women first responders participate in chemical emergency training cycle organised by OPCW and Switzerland's Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS)
Background
The DDPS has been a long-standing partner of the OPCW in delivering trainings related to Article X of the Convention around the world. To date, more than 1,300experts have benefited from these trainings, building crucial expertise needed to enhance chemical security in Member States.
Article X relates to the provision of assistance and protection, on request, to any Member State in the event of the use or threat of use of chemical weapons. Under Article X, Member States "have the right to participate in, the fullest possible exchange of equipment, material and scientific and technological information concerning means of protection against chemical weapons."
As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States, oversees the global endeavour to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Convention's entry into force in 1997, it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.
In 2023, the OPCW verified that all chemical weapons stockpiles declared by the 193 States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention since 1997 - totalling 72,304 metric tonnes of chemical agents - have been irreversibly destroyed under the OPCW's strict verification regime.
For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.
