The Organisational for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has won the 2013 Nobel Prize for Peace.
The watchdog, based in the Hague, is responsible for the oversight and implementation of global treaties to counter the use of such weapons.
Although nominations for the award were submitted before February 1, the recent conflict in Syria is likely to have played a major part in the decision to choose the OPCW as this year's winner.
The Nobel committee said the group had not been given the Prize because of Syria, but because of its long standing work.
"The Norwegian Nobel Committee has through numerous prizes underlined the need to do away with nuclear weapons," it said.
"By means of the present award to the OPCW, the Committee is seeking to contribute to the elimination of chemical weapons."
Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai - who was yesterday named the winner of the EU's Sakharov prize for Freedom of Thought - had been the favourite to win the prize.
Bono and Mary Robinson had also been mentioned as possible winners.
