Sabrina Dallafior begins term as new Director-General of the OPCW

Sabrina Dallafior today assumed office as Director-General of the OPCW, becoming its fifth Director-General and the first woman to lead the Organisation since its establishment. (Photo: OPCW)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands-27 July 2026- Sabrina Dallafior today assumed office as Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), becoming the Organisation's fifth Director-General and the first woman to lead the OPCW since its establishment.

Director-General Dallafior begins her four-year term at a time when the international community continues to face evolving chemical security challenges. She said: "The Chemical Weapons Convention remains one of the world's greatest achievements in disarmament. As Director-General, I am committed to working with all States Parties to ensure that the norm against chemical weapons remains strong, credible and universally respected."

"Together, we will continue strengthening the Organisation's ability to respond to today's challenges while remaining firmly anchored in the Convention's principles and our shared goal of a world free of chemical weapons," she added.

As Director-General, Ms Dallafior will start by focusing on four areas:

• Upholding the global norm against chemical weapons and establishing the facts around any credible allegations of chemical weapons use;

• Strengthening compliance with the Convention and ensuring the Organisation has the tools it needs to meet the challenges of the future;

• Working closely with States Parties to implement the Convention, including those like the Syrian Arab Republic dealing with a legacy of appalling chemical weapons use;

• Actively promoting the work of OPCW and strengthening links with partners such as the chemical industry.

Director-General Dallafior was unanimously elected by States Parties in November 2025. Before assuming office, Director-General Dallafior served as Switzerland's Ambassador to Finland. During her 25-year diplomatic career, she has held numerous senior positions in the fields of disarmament, arms control, non-proliferation and international security, including serving as President of the Conference on Disarmament and chairing several international disarmament bodies.

Follow Director-General Dallafior on X: @OPCW_DG.

Background

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.