Australian scientist, Finnish Institute given inaugural OPCW-The Hague award

The inaugural OPCW-The Hague Award was given to Australian scientist Robert Matthews and the Finnish Institute for the Verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (Verifin), the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announced Tuesday.

The award is intended to honor and recognize individuals and non-profit, non-governmental organizations that have made a contribution to a world without chemical weapons.

The OPCW decided the award should be shared between the two recipients. They will get a medal, a certificate of recognition and a cash prize of 45,000 euros (56,281 U.S dollars) each.

Matthews dedicated his career to the disarmament and non-proliferation of chemical weapons. "He made significant contributions to the final drafting of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), as well as to its establishment, implementation and promotion as a unique instrument eliminating an entire category of weapons of mass destruction," the OPCW stated.

Finnish institute Verifin focuses on the development and dissemination of analytical chemistry techniques and tools for the verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

"Verifin has been instrumental in the OPCW's efforts since the entry into force of the Convention to build the capacity of laboratories around the world to provide effective and accurate analysis of CWC-related chemicals, thus strengthening the capacity of the verification regime which lies at the heart of the Convention," the OPCW said.

Last year, the OPCW received the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to eliminate chemical weapons. Following that honor, the organization decided to start an award as well, supported by a financial contribution from The Hague. The 2014 winners will be honored at a presentation ceremony at the OPCW headquarters in The Hague on Dec. 1.