Operating Procedures of the Confidentiality Commission

C-III/DEC.lO/Rev.2 adopted by the Conference of the States Parties at its Ninth Session on 4 December 2013 entitled Operating Procedures of the Confidentiality Commission . The rules governing the Confidentiality Commission are contained in Part K.2 of the OPCW Policy on Confidentiality. 

Recalling that Rule 3 of the Rules Governing the Commission for the Settlement of Disputes 

Approves the Operating Procedures of the Confidentiality Commission as annexed hereto.  

After expiration of the terms of appointment of the members of the first Confidentiality Commission in accordance with the Confidentiality Policy Rules, the members of the Confidentiality Commission shall be appointed by the Conference every two years at its regular annual session. Members shall take up their appointment for a period of two years starting from 1 May in the year immediately following the session of the Conference at which they were appointed. A person who has completed three consecutive terms as a member of the Confidentiality Commission shall not be eligible for immediate re-appointment. 

In the event of a vacancy on the Confidentiality Commission prior to the expiration of the term of office of a member, the Chair of the Conference, after consultation with the regional group concerned, shall appoint a person from that regional group who meets the qualifications set forth in Confidentiality Policy Rule 1.3, to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of office concerned. 

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These rules were approved by the Third Session of the Conference and govern the detailed operating Procedures for the Confidentiality Commission. 

Recalling that the Preparatory Commission developed a Draft OPCW Policy on Confidentiality (OPOC) that includes the above mentioned issues as well as rules governing the composition and operating procedures of the Commission for the Settlement of Disputes Related to Confidentiality (hereinafter the Confidentiality Commission ) as required by paragraph 23 the Confidentiality Annex to the Chemical Weapons Convention (hereinafter the the Confidentiality Annex ), in a combined manner ... 

For breaches involving both a State Party and the Organization, a Commission for the settlement of disputes related to confidentiality , set up as a subsidiary organ of the Conference, shall consider the case. This Commission shall be appointed by the Conference. Rules governing its composition and operating procedures shall be adopted by the Conference at its first session. 

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