By Joelle Khadra
As part of the 2024-2025 International Training Cycle on Assistance and Protection for Women First Responders, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) organized a unique and highly specialized Integrated Advanced Course and Exercise on Assistance and Protection against Chemical Weapons, held from March 10-14, 2025 in Spiez, Switzerland.
This intensive training gathered 25 women first responders from across the world, representing diverse national backgrounds, professional expertise, and operational experiences. Designed exclusively for women, this initiative underscores OPCW’s commitment to empowering female first responders and enhancing their capacities to respond effectively to chemical emergencies and threats.
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The course was delivered by a team of experts, including two women instructors — Narelle Moss from Australia and Joelle Khadra from Lebanon (CBRN Women Project Leader). They brought a wealth of operational and training experience as well as specialists from the Swiss Army, who provided technical and practical training and support, particularly on equipment and in field-based simulations and exercises.
This integrated and advanced training combined theoretical sessions with hands-on exercises simulating real-life scenarios involving chemical agents. Participants were trained on protective equipment, decontamination procedures, sampling, and incident command.
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What makes this training unique is its focus on building a global network of women first responders, providing not only technical knowledge but also fostering peer support, leadership development, and international collaboration.
By equipping women with advanced skills and confidence, OPCW aims to strengthen national and international response systems, ensuring that gender-inclusive teams are ready to face chemical threats anywhere in the world.
