2013 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons , for their " extensive work to eliminate chemical weapons " . The award citation indicated the organization was awarded the prize , because they “ have defined the use of chemical weapons as taboo under international law . Recent events in Syria , where chemical weapons have again been put to use , have underlined the need to enhance the efforts to do away with such weapons . ” The committee criticized Russia and the United States for not meeting the extended deadline for destruction of its chemical weapons , and noted that certain countries " are still not members " . The OPCW was the 22nd organization to be awarded the prize
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Ghouta chemical attack
2013 Nobel Peace Prize