05 March 2014

What are ISC meetings about? The meeting of Intersessional Standing Committees (ISC) of the Mine Ban Treaty (MBT) will take place on 9 April 2014 (starts 15:00) and continued on 11 April 2014 (AM) if necessary, at the WMO building in Geneva, Switzerland.

N.B. The Second Preparatory Meeting for the Third Review Conference, will take place on 10 April 2014, at the WMO building in Geneva, Switzerland. The meetings of the Standing Committees serve as the center piece of the Intersessional Work Programme established in 1999 at the First Meeting of the States Parties. The ISC meetings provide an opportunity for states to report on the recent progress they have made to implement the MBT and the Cartagena Action Plan (CAP).

The meetings also provide a platform for informal discussion on challenges, plans and requirements for assistance and cooperation to achieve the objectives of the treaty. This intersessional meeting falls just a few months in advance of the Third Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty that will take place 23-27 June 2014 in Maputo, Mozambique and which represents a major milestone in the life of the Treaty. The ISC meetings are open to States Parties, states not party, relevant international organizations and non-governmental organizations.

What are states expected to do at the ISC?

  • States Parties should prepare progress reports on all relevant areas of the MBT, making sure to clearly provide information on what has been achieved in the past year, what remains to be done, plans for the future, and any needs for cooperation and assistance.
  • States not party to the MBT are expected to report on steps that have taken to join the treaty.
  • States are expected to condemn any new use of antipersonnel mines, and to highlight the fact that the use of landmines is unacceptable under any circumstances.
  • States should also contribute to any other item on the agenda where they have expertise, questions, or observations to share throughout the ISC meetings.
  • All states should set concrete goals to be achieved by the next Review Conference, on the treaty’s implementation or universalization, and work diligently towards them.

How can governments register, prepare for and participate in the ISC? All information related to invitations, registrations as well as schedule and agenda for the ISC meeting is available at the Implementation Support Unit website: http://www.apminebanconvention.org/en/intersessional-work-programme/april-2014/registration/

For any questions related to the meetings please contact Implementation Support Unit at: isu@apminebanconvention.org

Supporting documents for ICBL members: The deadline for registration is 4 April 2013. All participants including sponsored members are invited to register under the CMC delegation on the official registration page: http://www.apminebanconvention.org/intersessional-work-programme/april-2014/

Below please find:

ICBL logistical memo. For more information on the registration process, sponsorship criteria and rules, the provisional schedule, and the visa process, hotels, side events and further practical details.

ICBL Side Events Form. If you wish to organize a side event during the ISC, please return the filled in side event request form to logistics@icblcmc.org by 26 April 2013.

Official Programme. Every year the ICBL actively participates in these meetings, delivering expert statements, making the voice of mine survivors heard, organizing side events and providing information online and to the media on progress being made to eradicate landmines once and for all.