Printed from: www.icbl.org/news/unga_2004

WANTED: Co-Sponsors for UN First Committee Antipersonnel Mine Ban Treaty Resolution

Author(s): Kjell Knudsen <webmasterSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org> . Geneva, Friday 22 October 2004

Dear Supporters,

Following please find the draft UN Resolution on implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) vote for last year (2003) is included at the end of this message.

This is an annual Resolution which is discussed and voted on in the UN First Committee in New York, usually at the end of October and then in the UN General Assembly at the end of November or beginning of December. It is expected that the Resolution will be voted on in the First Committee sometime between 25 October and 5 November 2004.

What you can do:

get your government to be a Co-Sponsor of the Resolution;
get your goverment to vote YES when it comes to a vote in the UN First Committee;
get your government to vote YES in the UN General Assembly; and
get your government to urge other countries in your region to do the same.

ALL STATES PARTIES should both co-sponsor and vote YES. Many States not Parties have also voted yes and even co-sponsored in the past.

Past UN MBT Resolutions and votes can be found on the UN website at: http://disarmament2.un.org/vote.nsf resolution 58/53 or on the ICBL Treaty page

Draft

[The draft below may change somewhat, but not significantly and there are also some "typos" which will be corrected.]

Revised Text as a result of

the informal consultation on 15/10/04

Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction

The General Assembly,

pp. 1Recalling its resolutions 54/54 B of 1 December 1999, 55/33 V of 20 November 2000, 56/24 M of 29 November 2001, 57/74 of 22 November 2002 and 58/53 of 8 December 2003,

pp.2 Reaffirming its determination to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, which kill or maim hundreds of people every week, mostly innocent and defenceless civilians and especially children, obstruct economic development and reconstruction, inhibit the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons, and have other severe consequences for years after emplacement,

pp.3 Believing it necessary to do the utmost to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner to facing the challenge of removing anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world, and to assure their destruction,

pp.4 Wishing to do the utmost in ensuring assistance for the care and rehabilitation, including the social and economic reintegration, of mine victims,

pp.5 Welcoming the entry into force, on 1 March 1999, of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, and noting with satisfaction the work undertaken to implement the Convention and the substantial progress made towards addressing the global landmine problem,

pp.6 Recalling the First to the Fifth Meetings of the States Parties to the Convention held at Maputo (1999), Geneva (2000), Managua (2001), Geneva (2002) and Bangkok (2003), and the reaffirmation of a commitment to the total elimination of anti-personnel mines and to pursue, with renewed vigour, efforts to clear mined areas, assist victims, destroy stockpiled anti-personnel mines and promote universal adherence to the Convention,

pp.7 Recalling also preparatory process for the Convention’s First Review Conference to be held at Nairobi, Kenya from 29 November to 3 December 2004, and the two preparatory meetings held in 2004 pursuant to the decisions of the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties,

pp.8 Welcoming the regional seminars which have taken place in different parts of the world over the years 2003-2004, which contributed to exchange of information, experiences, and best practices in mine action as well as preparation for the First Review Conference, and recalling the efforts to enhance cooperation in regional context and promote synergies between different regions,

pp.9 Noting with interest the increased recognition of the need to integrate mine action into international and national development programmes and strategies, and in this respect, welcoming the developments since the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties, including the meeting between the President of the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties and the President of the World Bank on 20 September 2004, which contributed to possible partnership between the mine action community and the World Bank,

pp.10 Noting with satisfaction that additional States have ratified or acceded to the Convention, bringing the total number of States that have formally accepted the obligations of the Convention to one hundred and forty-three,

pp.11 Emphasizing the desirability of attracting the adherence of all States to the Convention, and determined to work strenuously towards the promotion of its universalization,

pp.12 Noting with regret that anti-personnel mines continue to be used in conflicts around the world, causing human suffering and impeding post-conflict development,

op.1.Invites all States that did not sign the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction to accede to it without delay;

op.2.Urges all States that signed but have not ratified the Convention to ratify it without delay;

op.3.Stresses the importance of the full and effective implementation of, and compliance with, the Convention;

op.4.Urges all States parties to provide the Secretary-General with complete and timely information as required under article 7 of the Convention, in order to promote transparency and compliance with the Convention;

op.5.Invites all States that have not ratified the Convention or acceded to it to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to make global mine action efforts more effective;

op.6.Renews its call upon all States and other relevant parties to work together to promote, support and advance the care, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of mine victims, mine risk education programmes, and the removal of anti-personnel mines and stockpiles throughout the world and the assurance of their destruction;

op.7.Invites and encourages all interested States, the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the First Review Conference at the highest possible level and, pending upon the decision to be taken at the First Review Conference, to maintain the high level of participation in the subsequent Meetings of the States Parties, including their programme of intersessional work ;

op.8.Requests the Secretary-General to undertake the preparations necessary to convene the next Meeting of the States Parties, pending upon the decision to be taken at the First Review Conference, and to invite States not parties to the Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the Meeting as observers;

op.9.Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled “Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction”.

As of 21/10/04 13.00 hrs

Total 125

2003 UNGA VOTES

View the full resolution.

1st Cte MBT Resolution vote results: 143-0-19 on 30 Oct 03.

2003 UNGA 58 vote results: 153-0-23 on 8 Dec 03.

UNGA Vote on Ottawa Convention:
The draft resolution on the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention) (document A/58/462-XVIII) was adopted by a recorded vote of 153 in favour to none against, with 23 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: None.
Abstain: Azerbaijan, China, Cuba, Egypt, Federated States of Micronesia, India, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Marshall Islands, Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Syria, Tajikistan, United States, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam.

Absent: Chad, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Iraq, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Liberia, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Tuvalu.

Comments [1]

Have opinions on what you have read on this page? Add your comments or read others below.

NB! New comments require approval by administrator before they will show. ICBL campaigners can add comments directly if they have signed in.

WANTED: Co-Sponsors for UN First Committee Antipersonnel Mine Ban Treaty Resolution

What you can do:

Draft

List of co-sponsors of L.40 Rev. 1

2003 UNGA VOTES

Comments [1]