PART II DECLARATION OF THE THIRD MEETING OF THE STATES PARTIES

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PART II

DECLARATION OF THE THIRD MEETING OF THE STATES PARTIES

1. We, the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, along with other States, international organizations and institutions and non-governmental organizations, gathered in Managua, Nicaragua, reaffirm our unwavering commitment both to the total eradication of anti-personnel mines and to addressing the insidious and inhumane effects of these weapons.

Meeting in Nicaragua, one of the most mine-affected countries in the Americas, we are witness to the devastating effects of this weapon on individuals and their communities. We are also witness to the importance of our work in addressing the problems faced by the Nicaraguan people, and countless others in countries around the world. We are reminded of the long journey ahead towards a mine-free world, as well as the significant steps already secured to reach our goal.
We celebrate the growing support for the Convention, ratified or acceded to by 120 States. With an additional 21 countries having signed, but not yet ratified the Convention, the number of States Parties and signatories now totals 141, including more than 40 mine-affected States. We call upon those that have not done so, to ratify or accede to the Convention. We also call upon all States in the process of formally accepting the obligations of the Convention, to provisionally apply the terms of the Convention.

4. We recognize that the new international norm established by the Convention is being demonstrated by the successful record of implementation of the Convention, including the conduct of many States not party to the Convention respecting the provisions therein. This includes the complete destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel mines in 30 countries, with 17 States Parties in the process of destroying stockpiles. Furthermore, approximately 220 million US$ has been allocated by donors over the past year to address the global landmine problem, in addition to the resources being allocated by mine-affected countries themselves.

5. We are pleased that over the past year, a considerable amount of land was cleared of anti-personnel mines, that casualty rates in several of the world’s most mine-affected States have decreased, that landmine victim assistance has improved, and that our cooperative efforts continue to contribute to this progress.

While celebrating the success of the Convention, we remain deeply concerned that anti-personnel mines continue to kill, maim and threaten the lives of countless innocent people each day, that the terror of mines prevents individuals from reclaiming their lives and that the lasting impact of these weapons denies communities the opportunity to rebuild long after conflicts have ended.
We deplore any use of anti-personnel mines. Such acts are contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention and exacerbate the humanitarian problems already caused by the use of these weapons. We urge all those who continue to use, develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile, retain and/or transfer anti-personnel landmines, to cease immediately and to join us in the task of eradicating these weapons.
We expect those States, which have declared their commitment to the object and purpose of the Convention and which continue to use anti-personnel mines, to recognize that this is a clear violation of their solemn commitment. We call upon all States concerned to respect their commitments.
Recognizing the need to secure full compliance with all obligations of the Convention, we reaffirm our commitment to effectively implement the Convention and to comply fully with its provisions. We do so in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration that has characterized this process. In this context, we recall that the four-year maximum time period for the destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel mines is rapidly approaching for many States Parties. We also recall that as soon as possible, but not later than ten years after the entry into force of this Convention, each State party undertakes to destroy or ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control. We encourage national, regional and international initiatives aimed at fulfilling these obligations.

10. We call upon all governments and people everywhere to join in the common task to meet the enormous challenges of mine action, including victim assistance, to provide the technical and financial assistance required, and, where appropriate, to integrate these efforts into development planning and programming. As States Parties bound to the eradication of anti-personnel mines, we reiterate that assistance and cooperation for practical mine action will flow primarily to those that have forsworn the use of these weapons forever through adherence to, implementation of, and compliance with the Convention.

11. We recognize that to achieve the promise of this unique and important humanitarian instrument, we must continue working tirelessly in all parts of the world to end the use of anti-personnel mines, to destroy stockpiles, to cease development, production and transfers of these weapons, to clear mined areas to free land from its deadly bondage, to assist victims to reclaim their lives with dignity and to prevent new victims.

12. We also recognize that progress to free the world from anti-personnel mines would be promoted by the commitment by non-State actors to cease and renounce their use in line with the international norm established by this Convention.

13. We warmly welcome the substantial progress made during the intersessional work programme. This programme continues to focus and advance the international community’s mine action efforts, it greatly assists in our collective aim to implement the Convention and it provides a forum for mine-affected and other States to share experiences, acquire knowledge and enhance efforts to implement the Convention at the national level. We express our satisfaction that the intersessional work programme has been carried out in the Convention’s tradition of partnership, dialogue, openness and practical cooperation. We welcome the increased participation of mine-affected States in the intersessional work and the valuable contribution of the Sponsorship Programme.

14. Recognizing the importance of the challenge to reach the goal set by the Americas to convert the "Western Hemisphere into an anti-personnel landmine free zone" as soon as possible, which is a determining factor in the efforts to make the Convention both universal and fully operative, achieving this goal will be an example to the world of the Convention’s effectiveness and an inspiration for other affected regions.

15. To further enhance the intersessional process, we must build upon its accomplishments, strengthen its outcomes and focus on providing States and other relevant international actors with the tools required to carry out the promise of the Convention. We continue to encourage the active participation of mine-affected and other interested States, as well as other relevant actors in the Intersessional Work Programme.

16. We acknowledge the positive work of the Coordinating Committee tasked with the coordination of the intersessional work programme, and its role in the strengthening of the intersessional process.

17. We call upon the States Parties to continue participating in the work of the Standing Committees established by the meetings of the States Parties to the Convention.

We express our gratitude to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and other relevant non-governmental organizations, to regional and international organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, for their important and substantive contribution to the intersessional process and to the overall implementation and consolidation of the Convention. We also thank all those agencies involved in mine clearance, mine awareness, victim assistance, stockpile destruction and other efforts to this end.
We thank the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining for its essential support and its commitment to enhance its support to the intersessional process through the establishment of an implementation unit.

20. In reflecting upon our progress and accomplishments, and in considering the work that lies ahead, we reconfirm our conviction to make anti-personnel mines objects of the past, our obligation to assist those who have fallen victim to this terror, and our shared responsibility to the memories of those whose lives have been lost as a result of the use of these weapons, including those killed as a result of their dedication to helping others by clearing mined areas or providing humanitarian assistance.