Chemical weapons were used in Syria

• OPCW has told the United Nations Security Council that it investigated 77 allegations against Syria, and concluded in 17 cases chemical weapons were likely or definitely used.
• Syria was pressed to join the chemical weapons convention in 2013 by its close ally Russia after a deadly chemical weapons attack on Damascus, as blamed by the Western allies.

Organisation For The Prohibition Of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

• It is an intergovernmental organisation and the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, which entered into force on 29 April 1997.

• It oversees the global endeavour to permanently and verifiably eliminate chemical weapons.

• Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands.

• Member states: 193

• All states party to the CWC are automatically members.

• 4 UN Member States are non-members: Egypt, Israel, North Korea, and South Sudan. Of these Israel signed CWC but didn’t ratify it, the rest 3 are non-signatories.
• The organization was awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize ""for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons with most recent being in Syria civil war.
• The OPCW–The Hague Award: It is an annual award founded by the OPCW as a result of their being presented with the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.
• The Award honours individuals and institutions that have significantly contributed towards the goal of a world free of chemical weapons.