Author(s):
Site Admin <webmaster2@icbl.org> .
Monday 19 December 2011
The ICBL has produced some Frequently Asked Questions to explain the significance of the United Nations General Assembly's non-binding resolution on the Mine Ban Treaty.
United Nations Resolution on the Mine Ban Treaty
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN resolution on landmines?
Each year since 1997, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a “Resolution on the Implementation of the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,” commonly known as the Mine Ban Treaty or Ottawa Convention. This non-binding resolution provides an important opportunity for all states, especially those still outside the Mine Ban Treaty, to reaffirm their support for the ban on antipersonnel mines and the objective of the treaty’s universalization and implementation.
How do states vote on the UNGA resolution?
Over the past 15 years the UN Resolution on the Mine Ban Treaty has enjoyed broad support. In 2010, a total of 165 states voted in support of the resolution, the highest number to vote in support since 1997 (the lowest was 138 in 2001).
About half of the 38 states that remain outside the Mine Ban Treaty now vote in support of the UN Resolution, including nine that have voted in favor of every resolution since 1997: Armenia, Bahrain, Finland, Georgia, Oman, Poland, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Over time, several states have softened their stance on the non-binding resolution.
Ten states not party that used to consistently abstain or be absent now vote in favor: Azerbaijan, China, Kazakhstan, Lao PDR, Marshall Islands, FS Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Somalia, and Tonga. A number of countries have acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty after voting in support of consecutive UNGA resolutions, including Belarus, Bhutan, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, FYR Macedonia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, and Turkey.
The number of states abstaining from supporting the resolution has ranged from a high of 23 in 2002 and 2003 to a low of 17 in 2005, 2006, and 2010. A group of states that could be described as most actively opposed to the Mine Ban Treaty are the 15 states not party that have abstained on consecutive resolutions since 1997 (unless noted in parentheses): Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Libya (since 1998), Myanmar, North Korea (since 2007), Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Syria, Uzbekistan (since 1999), the US, and Vietnam (since 1998).
Despite being the first country to introduce a resolution to ban antipersonnel landmines in 1996, the US has abstained on every UNGA resolution in support of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty.
After voting in support of the Resolution, Lebanon became the first and only country to ever vote against the annual resolution in 1999. It has since abstained from voting each year.
Who supported the resolution in 2011?
In 2011, a total of 162 states voted in support of UNGA Resolution 66/29 on 2 December, while 18 abstained. A total of 19 states not party to the treaty (out of 38) voted in support of the resolution; 18 states not party abstained; and one – Somalia was absent from the vote in 2011 but has voted in favor in previous years.
States not party (19) that voted in favor of the resolution in 2011:
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
China
Finland
Georgia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Lao PDR
Marshall Islands
Micronesia (FS)
Mongolia
Morocco
Oman
Poland
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Tonga
UA Emirates
States not party (18) that abstained from voting on the resolution in 2011:
Cuba
Egypt
India
Iran
Israel
Korea (DPR of)
Korea (Rep. of)
Lebanon
Libya
Myanmar
Nepal
Pakistan
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Syria
USA
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
The text of the UNGA Resolution A/C.1/66/L.4 (and previous resolutions) can be viewed here.
The voting record on 2011 Resolution can be viewed at: http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/political/1com/1com11/votes-ga/29.pdf
To view how particular state has been voting on the UNGA resolution view the Landmine Monitor country reports.
What is the process for adoption of the UN Resolution?
In recent years, the resolution has been co-sponsored by three states: the current, outgoing, and incoming presidents of the Mine Ban Treaty. In late October, the draft resolution is introduced for debate and an initial vote by UNGA First Committee on disarmament and international security. It is then voted on and adopted for a final time by the entire UNGA in early December. Both the initial and final votes are open to all UN member states present.
Why should states vote in favor of the UN Resolution?
All states parties to the Mine Ban Treaty should always vote in favor of the annual resolution as their vote constitutes a public sign of support and understanding of the need for full universalization and effective implementation of the treaty.
All states that have not joined the Mine Ban Treaty should vote in favor of the annual resolution to clearly express their support for the treaty’s humanitarian objective of a world free of antipersonnel landmines. Such a vote provides an important signal of support for the Mine Ban Treaty and is considered an interim, confidence-building step towards their eventual accession or ratification of the treaty.
