UN Security Council reaffirms its opposition to chemical weapons

The United Nations Security Council reaffirmed its opposition to chemical weapons yesterday, in the face of high-profile instances of their use worldwide.

The 15-member body unanimously passed a declaration proposed by Britain expressing support for the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons.

While expressing its strong conviction



following the declaration, the UNSC said in a statement, those responsible for the use of chemical weapons should be held accountable.

In its resolution, the Security Council also urged countries to ratify the Convention. The 1993 convention came into force in 1997. North Korea, Egypt and South Sudan have not signed it, while Israel has signed but not ratified the pact.