Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Morocco

10/24/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/24/2024 08:27

Rabat: 1st Global Conference on AI in CWC Implementation Achieves 'Remarkable…

Thursday 24 October 2024
The first Global Conference on AI in Advancing the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), held in Rabat on October 22-24, achieved a "remarkable success," stressed on Thursday, in a joint communiqué, Morocco's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, which chairs the Kingdom of Morocco's National Authority for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and the Technical Secretariat of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Inaugurated by Mr. Nasser Bourita, Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, and Fernando Arias, OPCW's Director-General, the Conference brought together more than 200 participants, including delegates from 46 States-Parties from all regional groups, as well as representatives of international and regional organizations, political decision-makers, scientific experts and industry leaders, stress the two parties in a joint press release.

During this three-day international Conference, discussions highlighted the transformative potential of AI to promote the peaceful uses of chemistry, strengthen verification capabilities and improve chemical safety and security, according to the Kingdom of Morocco's National Authority for the CWC and the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW.

They also highlighted the potential threats and challenges posed by the misuse of AI, particularly by non-state actors and terrorist groups, which could jeopardize the CWC's objectives.

The Conference emphasized the importance of international collaboration to ensure that AI is developed and applied in a safe and transparent way to reinforce the CWC objectives.

Participants have called to intensify scientific research, strengthen capacities and adopt a responsible governance to maximize AI's contributions to world peace and security, while minimizing its risks.

Held in Morocco, African State-Party to the CWC, this conference also highlighted the need to make AI's benefits accessible to all regions, including Africa. Participants highlighted AI's potential in supporting initiatives that strengthen capacities, including those of the OPCW's Africa Program, in order to bolster the capabilities of developing States Parties in implementing the CWC.