Author(s):
Site Admin <webmaster2@icbl.org> .
Wednesday 17 April 2013
What are ISC meetings about?
The meeting of Intersessional Standing Committees (ISC) of the Mine Ban Treaty (MBT) will take place from 27 to 30 May 2013 at the WMO building in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting will be followed on Friday, 31 May by a workshop on victim assistance.
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 over a year in advance of the Third Review Conference of the Treaty that will take place mid 2014 in 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/intersessional-work-programme/may-2013/
Additionally see the MBT ISC Memo for Governments.
For any questions related to the meetings please contact Implementation Support Unit at isu@apminebanconvention.org
Supporting documents for ICBL members
Below please find:
ICBL logistical memo (also available in French and Spanish) 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.