The hague: Swiss diplomat Sabrina Dalla Fior has officially assumed the role of Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), marking a historic moment as the first woman and the first Swiss national to hold the position. Her four-year term began on Saturday, making her the fifth Director-General of the OPCW since its establishment in 1997.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Dalla Fior was unanimously elected by the States Parties in November 2025, following a recommendation from the Executive Council. She was chosen from among 11 candidates to succeed former Director-General Fernando Arias of Spain, who had been at the helm of the organization since 2017.

Dalla Fior brings a wealth of experience from her 25-year career in the Swiss diplomatic corps. She has served as Switzerland’s ambassador to Finland and has chaired the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, along with several other international arms control bodies. Her leadership at OPCW is expected to reinforce the organization’s commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention and address emerging security challenges, including those posed by artificial intelligence technologies.