DYB2011-Part-II-web

Conventional weapons issues
international organizations and non-governmental organizations delivering
their statements. 44
The Fourth CCW Review Conference distributed its work between two
main committees. Main Committee I45 was responsible for reviewing the scope
and operation of the Convention and its annexed protocols, consideration of
any proposals, and preparation and consideration of the final documents. It
made the following key decisions:
• To convene a Meeting of Experts on the issues under its review in 2012; 46
• To adopt an accelerated Plan of Action to promote universalization; 47
• To continue the CCW Sponsorship Programme; 48
• To enhance the implementation of the CCW Compliance Mechanism; 49
• To set the dates and duration of the CCW activities in 2012; 50
• To appoint Jesus S. Domingo as the Chairperson-designate of the
Meeting of the High Contracting Parties in 2012. 51
During the examination and review of the Convention and its annexed
protocols, concern was expressed about the use of white phosphorous and the
implications for Protocol III on Incendiary Weapons. After discussions, States
44 Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile,
China, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Estonia, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Holy See, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua,
Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania,
Russian Federation, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine,
United Arab Emirates and United States. The representatives of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (on behalf of a number of United Nations agencies and
organizations involved in humanitarian action), the United Nations Mine Action Service,
the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Geneva International Centre for
Humanitarian Demining, Ban Advocates and Cluster Munition Coalition also participated
in the general exchange of views.
45 Main Committee I held meetings from 16 to 23 November 2011 and was led by Jesus S.
Domingo (Philippines), Chairperson, and Robert Jackson (Ireland), Vice-Chairperson.
46 CCW/CONF.IV/4/Add.1, Decision 1.
47 Ibid., Decision 2. Since the Third Review Conference, 14 States had joined the CCW
bringing the total to 114 States parties.
48 Ibid., Decision 3.
49 Ibid., Decision 4.
50 Ibid., Decision 5, para. 1: Group of Experts of the High Contracting Parties to Amended
Protocol II (23-24 April 2012); Meeting of Experts of the High Contracting Parties to
Protocol V (25-27 April 2012); Sixth Conference of the High Contracting Parties
to Protocol V (12-13 November 2012); Fourteenth Annual Conference of the High
Contracting Parties to Amended Protocol II (14 November 2012); an open-ended meeting
of experts of three days in 2012 to discuss further the implementation of international
humanitarian law with regard to mines other than anti-personnel mines (2-4 April 2012);
and the Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention (15-16 November
2012).
51 CCW/CONF.IV/4, para. 32.
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