Swiss Diplomat Sabrina Dallafior Becomes First Woman to Lead Chemical Weapons Watchdog OPCW
Swiss diplomat Sabrina Dallafior has been appointed the first woman Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Assuming office in July, she faces challenges including proliferation risks, weakening international support for global agencies, and emerging technologies like AI and drones. Her priorities involve upholding the norm against chemical weapons and investigating all credible allegations, amidst concerns of the taboo eroding due to ongoing use in conflicts and political poisonings. The OPCW, a 2013 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, oversees the Chemical Weapons Convention, working to ban and eliminate these deadly toxins.
Sabrina Dallafior, a seasoned Swiss diplomat with 25 years of experience, is set to become the first woman Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in July. Her appointment is a significant diplomatic achievement for Switzerland and highlights her expertise in arms control. Dallafior will navigate a complex landscape marked by the increasing use of deadly toxins, proliferation risks from rogue states and terror groups leveraging advanced technologies like drones and artificial intelligence, and declining support for international agencies.The OPCW, established in 1997 to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention, bans the development, production, stockpiling, transfer, and use of chemical weapons, ratified by 193 nations. It conducts inspections, investigates attacks, and, since 2018, can document responsibility for chemical weapon use. The organization received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its work, notably in Syria.Despite past successes, including the verified destruction of declared stockpiles in 2023, the norm against chemical weapons is eroding. Recent accusations of use in Syria, Ukraine, Georgia, and Iran, alongside high-profile political poisonings like Alexei Navalny and Sergei Skripal, underscore this threat. Experts warn that escalating geopolitical tensions and the spread of dual-use chemicals further complicate enforcement. Dallafior has vowed to prioritize upholding the ban on chemical weapons and rigorously investigate all allegations to ensure the convention's long-term sustainability.
