Author(s):
Site Admin <webmaster2@icbl.org> .
Wednesday 08 June 2011
To ensure ongoing and effective implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, five Standing Committees meet once a year in Geneva, Switzerland. The meetings are open to governments (States Parties and states not party to the Treaty), international organizations and non-governmental organizations. The ICBL actively participates in these meetings, delivering expert statements, organizing side events and making the voices of mine survivors and their communities heard.
The Broken Chair standing outside the United Nations in Geneva is a reminder of the casualties caused by antipersonnel mines and of the need for diplomatic action. Photo: Mary Wareham
The Intersessional Standing Committees Meetings took place from 20 to 24 June 2011 at the World Meteorological Organization building, Avenue de la Paix 7bis, Geneva, Switzerland.
Several key announcements were made during the conference:
- Germany announced that it had discovered an area suspected to contain landmines and cluster munition remnants at a former Soviet firing range at Wittstock in the east;
- The Pacific nation of Tuvalu participated for the first time in a meeting of the Mine Ban Treaty, and said it intends to join;
- ICBL member Human Rights Watch confirmed antipersonnel landmine use by Libyan government forces in the Nafusa mountains;
- The southern Sudan Demining Authority said that landmines have been used recently in the region by "renegade" rebel groups, but also said that southern Sudan intends join the Mine Ban Treaty after it formally becomes an independent state on 9 July;
- Turkey, which missed its stockpile destruction deadline in 2008, declared that it will complete the destruction of its remaining antipersonnel mines by the end of August 2011;
- Belarus, Ukraine and Greece, the other States Parties that also missed their stockpile destruction deadlines, described the measures they are taking to destroy their mines;
- Algeria, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Eritrea requested extensions to their treaty-mandated deadlines to clear all their mined areas.
To read the ICBL's full comments made at the end of the conference please click here.
To read the press release the ICBL issued at the end of the conference please click here.
Summary
Summary of the ISC meetings, 20-24 June
ICBL Statements delievered during the conference
Universalization, 20 June
Stockpile Destruction, 20 June
Transparency, 22 June
Comments and Questions on Victim Assitance, 22/23 June
Victim Assistance, 23 June
Efficiency in co-operation and assistance, 24 June
On the 11MSP conference in Cambodia, 24 June
Intersessional work programme, 24 June
Compliance, 24 June
Mines retained for training, 24 June
ICBL responses and critiques to the four countries who requested extensions on their deadlines to reach their obligations under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty.
Algeria
Democratic Republic of Congo
Chile
Eritrea
Article 5 states that: "Each State Party undertakes to destroy or ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control, as soon as possible but not later than 10 years after the entry into force of this Convention for that State Party."
Official Programme
The official programme of the week is available on the Implementation Support Unit's website
Logistics
ICBL campaigners and Monitor researchers will find in the logistical memo some important information about registration, accomodation, venue, etc.
The logistical memo is also available in French and Spanish.
The participants handbook for the week is also available here.
Registration
Registration for all non-sponsored participants:
Non-sponsored participants need to register online for the meeting(s) they are attending no later than 13 June 2011 at:
http://www.apminebanconvention.org/intersessional-work-programme/june-2011/registration/
IMPORTANT:
All ICBL members must register under the ICBL delegation. When registering online, please insert the following:
- Under "Name of organization" please enter "ICBL"
- Under "Department" please enter the name of your organization. E.g.: Mines Action Canada
Registration for sponsored participants:
The ICBL will register all sponsor participants for the meeting. You do not need to register online.
