[The following report is the seventh in a series of reports issued by Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism. It particularly addresses the allegations, investigation into, and findings concerning the use of chemical weapons in Umm Hawsh and Khan Shaykhun, Syria.]
Seventh Report of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism
I. Introduction
1. The seventh report of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolutions 2235 (2015) and 2319 (2016). It covers the period from 23 June 2017, when the sixth report of the Mechanism (see S/2017/552) was submitted to the Council, to 25 October 2017.
II. Background
2. As set forth in resolutions 2235 (2015) and 2319 (2016), the mandate of the Mechanism is to identify, to the greatest extent feasible, individuals, entities, groups or Governments who were perpetrators, organizers, sponsors or otherwise involved in the use of chemicals as weapons, including chlorine or any other toxic chemical, in the Syrian Arab Republic where the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in the Syrian Arab Republic determines or has determined that a specific incident in that country involved or likely involved the use of chemicals as weapons, including chlorine or any other toxic chemical. In accordance with resolution 2319 (2016), the mandate of the Mechanism will come to an end on 16 November 2017.
3. The Mechanism consists of an independent three-member panel together with a core staff of professionals selected on the basis of their expertise, taking into account geographical diversity and the equal participation of women and men. The Mechanism is headed by an Assistant Secretary-General, Edmond Mulet, with overall responsibility, and two deputies with responsibilities for investigative and political matters, respectively. Those three positions constitute the Leadership Panel of the Mechanism.
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