GROUP OF EXPERTS ON CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS CONVENTION CONCLUDES TWELFTH SESSION

The Twelfth Session of the Group of Governmental Experts of the States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (CCW) concluded on 22 November 2005 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

The Group, established by the Second Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention in December 2001, was chaired by Ambassador Gordan Markotić of Croatia, Chairman-designate of the 2005 Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention. Two Coordinators also chaired meetings of the respective working groups: Ambassador Jayant Prasad of India on Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), and Ambassador Markku Reimaa of Finland on Mines Other Than Anti-Personnel Mines (MOTAPM).

In November 2004, the States Parties to the Convention reached agreement on mandates for the continuation of the work of the Group in 2005 on the issues of ERW, MOTAPM, possible options to promote compliance with the Convention and its annexed Protocols, as well as on the preparation for the Third Review Conference.

On the issue of ERW, the Group held two meetings, as well as one meeting of military experts under the chairmanship of Ms. Vera Bohle of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD). It considered the implementation of existing principles of International Humanitarian Law and further studied, on an open ended basis, and with particular emphasis on meetings of military and technical experts, possible preventive measures aimed at improving the design of certain types of munitions, including sub-munitions, with a view to minimize the humanitarian risk of these munitions becoming explosive remnants of war. An exchange of information, assistance and cooperation was also part of these meetings.

On the issue of MOTAPM, the Group held five meetings, as well as two meetings of military experts, chaired by Major General Ahti Vartiainen of Finland. The Coordinator was assisted by the Friends of the Coordinator on MOTAPM, who were responsible for specific substantive issues, namely from Australia (on the issue of Definitions), Brazil (Transfers), Canada (Active Life), France (Transparency), Germany (Detectability), and Mexico (Cooperation and Assistance). The Group considered all proposals on MOTAPM put forward since its establishment, with the aim of elaborating appropriate recommendations for submission to the next Meeting of the States Party.

The Group also held a meeting, chaired by Ambassador Markotić to consider possible options for promoting compliance with the Convention and its annexed Protocols. Discussions focused on finding ways to strengthen the existing compliance mechanism. Furthermore, the Group held one meeting to consider the preparation for the 2006 CCW Third Review Conference.

The Group agreed to recommend to the Meeting of the States Parties (Geneva, 24 and 25 November 2005), that the Third Review Conference be held in Geneva from 7 to 17 November 2006, and that all necessary preparations for the Review Conference be undertaken within the framework of the existing Group of Governmental Experts. In this regard, the Meeting of the States Parties shall nominate a President-designate of the Review Conference, who will oversee any follow-up work arising from the Meeting of the States Parties. The Group further recommended that the intersessional work be undertaken in three sessions during 2006. Furthermore, the Group also agreed to recommend that the President-designate of the Review Conference undertake consultations on possible options to promote compliance with the Convention and its annexed Protocol, as well as on the possibility to establish a sponsorship programme under the Convention including its modalities.

The Convention was concluded on 10 October 1980, and entered into force on 2 December 1983. It currently has 100 States Parties, with a further 6 having signed but not yet ratified.

The Convention, generally known as the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) bans or restricts the use of various types of weapons that are considered to cause unnecessary or unjustifiable suffering or to have other humanitarian consequences. These include weapons leaving undetectable fragments in the body (Protocol I), landmines and booby-traps (Protocol II), incendiary weapons (Protocol III), and blinding laser weapons (Protocol IV). A fifth Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War was adopted by the Meeting of the States Parties in November 2003.

For use of the information media; not an official record

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