Three years have passed since the Intersessional Work Programme was established and a great deal has been accomplished. With only two years before the Conference to review the operation and status of the Convention, much remains to be done. At this time, therefore, States parties and key partners may wish to reflect upon how the Intersessional Work Programme has contributed to the effective implementation of the Convention and how the Programme could contribute from this point forward. Through a review of our efforts to date and some lessons learned, this paper suggests certain key principles for future work, consistent with the original and still valid objectives agreed to by State parties in 1999.
In 1999, the First Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention in Maputo established the Intersessional Work Programme to ensure the systematic, effective implementation of the Convention through a more regularized programme of work based on a President’s Paper, which noted that the programme’s objectives were:
The Intersessional Work Programme has been successful in raising awareness, reaching common understanding on diverse issues, identifying best practices, sharing experiences and information on broad means available to address the landmine problem, as well as providing the opportunity for different actors involved in mine action issues to meet and discuss ideas.
Closely related to the accomplishments of the Intersessional Programme has been the establishment by the States parties of both the Coordinating Committee of Co-Chairs and Co-Rapporteurs of the Standing Committees and the Implementation Support Unit within the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD).
The Intersessional Work Programme has demonstrated the importance of a number of principles that have contributed to an effective work programme. These principles provide a sound basis for ensuring the Programme’s ongoing effectiveness:
The purpose of the Intersessional Work Programme is as relevant today as it was in 1999. At this stage in the life of the Convention and given the achievements to date, with the aim of effective implementation of all provisions of the Convention, it is important to focus with greater clarity on those areas most directly related to the core humanitarian objectives of the Convention:
More effective focus on the Convention’s humanitarian aims by the Intersessional Work Programme requires the full and active participation of States parties. Notwithstanding the Convention’s unique spirit of partnership involving non-governmental and international organizations, the responsibility of implementing the Convention rests with States parties.
Therefore, a greater emphasis should be placed on hearing from States parties with respect to their plans and needs for assistance and from States parties in a position to provide assistance with respect to their intentions and requirements for information.
A renewed emphasis on achieving the Convention’s humanitarian core objectives should include an ongoing overall assessment of the Convention’s implementation and operation. By 2004, progress in some areas will be essential (e.g., the completion of stockpile destruction by many State parties and significant advances made in clearing mined land). In other areas progress will be expected (e.g., improvement in the well-being of landmine survivors and advances towards the universalization of the Convention). The Intersessional Programme can contribute significantly in this regard by providing a forum where existing needs, means available to meet those needs, progress being made, and remaining work are identified.
The Intersessional Work Programme has been a valuable tool in the success of the Convention and the lessons learned should continue to guide our efforts. Likewise, the existing four Standing Committees remain valid, as does informal manner of operating.
Moreover, we may derive ongoing benefit from the Intersessional Programme by more effectively focusing our attention on the humanitarian aims of the Convention and progress in our collective effort to implement provisions of the Convention most directly related to these aims. This can be done by increasing the participation of States parties, strengthening dialogue among relevant actors, comprehensively assessing progress, diligently identifying needs and the means to answer those needs, and promoting the universalization of the Convention.
With the agreement of States parties, this Paper could provide the basis for the work of the Intersessional Work Programme between 2002 and the Review Conference.
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