With the presence of chairperson of MOCT association of Hiroshima, and a delegation of MOCT’s members, a ceremony to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the collaboration between MOCT and the Iranian SCWVS (Society for Chemical Weapons Victims Support) -which has founded Tehran Peace Museum, held on Monday 14 October 2013 in Tehran Peace Museum.

In this ceremony despite from MOCT delegation, SCWVS president and a group of chemical weapons victims and survivors, physicians, members and volunteers of TPM, artists and media representatives were present. During this ceremony, representatives and members of both NGOs shared cultural and scientific achievements and memories of these 10 years of collaboration in a friendly atmosphere.

To see the photos of this event, please click here.

The chairperson and a group of members of MOCT association of Hiroshima visited Iran on 12-16 October 2013.

Mrs. Shizuko Tsuya, Chairperson of MOCT, and a delegation of MOCT’s members traveled to Iran to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the exchange program between MOCT and the Iranian SCWVS (Society for Chemical Weapons Victims Support) -which has founded Tehran Peace Museum. During these five days of stay, the delegation hosted by the museum, and have attended in several meetings to discuss on ways of continue this collaboration and exchange programs; and have visited several CW victims and survivors in Tehran and Hamadan.

It has been 10 years that a delegation from MOCT attend in the memorial ceremony for Victims of Chemical Warfar on 29 June each year; and invite a delegation from Tehran Peace Museum and SCWVS to attend the in Hiroshima peace memorial ceremony on the anniversary of the atomic bomb attack on 6th of August.

On 14 October 2013, the Chemical Weapons Convention -CWC- entered into force for the Syrian Arab Republic, making it the 190th State Party to the treaty. Syria deposited its instrument of accession with the United Nations Secretary-General on 14 September.

At its 74th session in October 2013, the OPCW Executive Council noted the accession of the Syrian Arab Republic and urgently called upon all States not Party to the Convention to join without delay or precondition.

North Korea, Egypt, South Sudan, Angola, Israel and myanmar have not joined the CWC yet, known as 6 states non party to the convention.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), won the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday 11 October. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said the OPCW won the award "for its extensive efforts" to rid the world of such weapons. "The conventions and the work of the OPCW have defined the use of chemical weapons as a taboo under international law," the committee said. "Recent events in Syria, where chemical weapons have again been put to use, have underlined the need to enhance the efforts to do away with such weapons." The $1.25 million Nobel Peace Prize will be presented in Oslo, Norway, on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, who founded the awards in his 1895 will.

The OPCW was entablished in the Hague in 1997 following entering into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention which has 189 member states at the moment. the OPCW is currently overseeing the destruction of Syria's chemical arsenal.