DYB2011-Part-II-web

United Nations Disarmament Yearbook 2011: Part II
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advancement of this cooperation, which is outlined in the draft ARF Work
Plan on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, will be submitted for the
Ministers’ endorsement in July 2012.
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
In 2011, the Pacific Islands Forum continued to be active in advocating
and providing technical assistance and support to Forum members to combat
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the trafficking and illegal
use of SALW in the region.
With regard to weapons of mass destruction, members continued to
advocate for the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
and, in their 2011 Communiqué, encouraged all States to become party to the
Treaty, given its importance as a practical and effective means to advance
nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. They also extended their support
to a number of United Nations activities, including implementation of
Security Council resolution 1540 (2004), and liaised with representatives of
the 1540 Committee Expert Group at the 2011 meeting of the Working Group
on Counter Terrorism of the Forum Regional Security Committee (FRSC).
In addition, Forum members continued to support the South Pacific Nuclear
Free Zone Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Rarotonga, 40 as a regional
commitment to international peace and security.
Regarding SALW, the FRSC, in order to advance a call by Forum
leaders for the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action
on SALW, endorsed the Regional Implementation Guidelines and directed
the Secretariat to provide technical assistance and implementation support to
its members. As part of this support, the Secretariat reported to the FRSC in
2011 on constraints being faced by Forum Island Countries in implementing
the Programme of Action. In response, members agreed to a number of
activities to be undertaken at the national and regional level to enhance
implementation. At the regional level, in addition to the ongoing availability
of legislative drafting support to members seeking to adapt the regional Model
Weapons Control Bill, the Secretariat was directed to prioritize the provision
of technical assistance to members in undertaking national reporting and
needs analysis assessments. A key proposal considered by the FRSC was the
formation of a regional SALW technical experts group to allow organizations
and Forum members with the necessary technical capacity to provide direct
assistance to Forum Island Countries seeking such assistance and support.
In their 2011 Communiqué, Forum leaders welcomed the progress made
by the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on the Arms
Trade Treaty, believing that such a treaty would help to deter and prevent
40 The treaty text and status of adherence are available from http://disarmament.un.org/
treaties.