Special Informal Plenary of the Conference on Disarmament to Commemorate the 110th Anniversary of the Second Hague Conference of Peace

Excellencies;
Ladies and Gentlemen;

It is a pleasure to be with you today for this Special Informal Plenary of the Conference on Disarmament, which marks the Anniversary of the Second Hague Conference of 1907. As they met on the banks of the Hofvijver that year, delegates from around the world laboured in the belief that war had to be regulated by universal principles of justice, equity and compassion. That conviction is now enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Geneva Conventions.

Like that momentous gathering, today’s event would not be possible without the initiative and leadership of the Russian government. I would like to thank the Russian Federation for organizing today’s event as part of its Presidency of the Conference on Disarmament. Please allow me to also thank the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and the United Institute for Disarmament Research for their contributions to this event today.

One hundred and ten years after the Second Hague Conference, the vision of a world where “swords are beaten into ploughshares” remains unfulfilled. Instead, we are witnessing an alarming rise in new conflicts, which have already killed hundreds of thousands and spurred millions to flee. Emerging weapon technologies threaten to spark new directions in the arms race, while parties are testing the limits of existing agreements. Our multilateral disarmament machinery, meanwhile, has ground to a halt. In this environment, the achievements of past generations should serve as a wakeup call for multilateral disarmament. If previous generations could make meaningful progress in taming the worst excesses of war, then surely so can we.

In spite of a century of transformational change, the main issues that were on the minds of delegates in 1907, still resonate with us today. In the early 20th century, a changing balance of power brought on by economic and demographic shifts raised international tensions as established powers faced off against those keen to challenge the status quo. New technologies fuelled a costly arms race, which diverted precious resources to unproductive ends, while improved communications and global interests rapidly turned local disputes into international crises.

In this contentious environment, the delegates of 1907 made some progress because of their shared conviction that progress through collaboration was not only necessary, but also possible. In their deliberations, they focused on avenues for collaboration – not irreconcilable differences – and proposed innovative procedures to facilitate dialogue. Perhaps most importantly, civil society played an active role before, during and after the conference. It encouraged delegates, contributed vital information and followed up on commitments.

While the events of yesteryear cannot offer a roadmap to success today, they may prompt us to rethink our approach to disarmament, a critical issue of our time. In 2015, global defence expenditures totalled nearly 1.7 trillion US dollars, more than two percent of global GDP. Investing just a fraction of world military spending in climate change action and sustainable development would dramatically improve our chances of making our shared home safe for future generations. As I say this, I am reminded that this week has seen the announcement of famine in South Sudan and the warning of imminent famine in three more African countries. We have also received this year’s SIPRI report, which tells us that the volume in arms trade globally is the highest since the Cold War.

We must come together in fora like the Conference on Disarmament to break the existing deadlock on disarmament negotiations in order to reverse these negative trends. Our efforts should involve the participation of civil society, recognizing that multi-stakeholder engagement is the only way to deal with the global challenges of today.

Thank you. I look forward to a spirited discussion.