Dr. AKIYAMA, First Director of Inspections at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), received the OPCW Hague Award. (Monday, November 24, 2025)
2025/11/25
On November 24, 2025, Dr. AKIYAMA Ichiro, the first Director of Inspections at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), received the OPCW Hague Award.
He attended the OPCW Hague Award ceremony, held during the 30th Conference of the States Parties (CSP30), where he was presented with the award by the OPCW Director General and the Deputy Mayor of The Hague.
The OPCW Hague Award was established in 2014 in collaboration with the City of The Hague. It commemorates the OPCW's long-standing efforts towards chemical weapons disarmament, which were highly commended with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions in various fields including academia, research, the chemical industry, international and regional organizations, and civil society towards achieving a world free of chemical weapons.
Dr. AKIYAMA previously held key positions in chemical defense within the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and contributed to the drafting of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). In 1997, he became the inaugural Director of Inspections at the OPCW, where he significantly contributed to establishing the OPCW's inspection system and verification regime. Currently, he remains active in areas such as the destruction of abandoned chemical weapons, disarmament initiatives, and educational activities. His receipt of this award signifies the high international recognition of his long-standing contributions to the elimination and non-proliferation of chemical weapons.
During the award ceremony, Dr. AKIYAMA reflected on his past activities in the field of chemical weapons. He expressed his joy at having been able to contribute to the OPCW's mission of achieving a world free of chemical weapons, extended his gratitude to all those who supported his work, and voiced his hopes for the OPCW's continued progress in realizing a world free of chemical weapons.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. AKIYAMA on this award, recognizing his outstanding dedication and contributions towards a world free of chemical weapons, and express our deepest respect for his distinguished achievements.
He attended the OPCW Hague Award ceremony, held during the 30th Conference of the States Parties (CSP30), where he was presented with the award by the OPCW Director General and the Deputy Mayor of The Hague.
The OPCW Hague Award was established in 2014 in collaboration with the City of The Hague. It commemorates the OPCW's long-standing efforts towards chemical weapons disarmament, which were highly commended with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions in various fields including academia, research, the chemical industry, international and regional organizations, and civil society towards achieving a world free of chemical weapons.
Dr. AKIYAMA previously held key positions in chemical defense within the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and contributed to the drafting of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). In 1997, he became the inaugural Director of Inspections at the OPCW, where he significantly contributed to establishing the OPCW's inspection system and verification regime. Currently, he remains active in areas such as the destruction of abandoned chemical weapons, disarmament initiatives, and educational activities. His receipt of this award signifies the high international recognition of his long-standing contributions to the elimination and non-proliferation of chemical weapons.
During the award ceremony, Dr. AKIYAMA reflected on his past activities in the field of chemical weapons. He expressed his joy at having been able to contribute to the OPCW's mission of achieving a world free of chemical weapons, extended his gratitude to all those who supported his work, and voiced his hopes for the OPCW's continued progress in realizing a world free of chemical weapons.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. AKIYAMA on this award, recognizing his outstanding dedication and contributions towards a world free of chemical weapons, and express our deepest respect for his distinguished achievements.
