تجاوز إلى المحتوى الرئيسي

ONE-DAY MEETING ON MINES OTHER THAN ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES TO BE HELD AT THE PALAIS DES NATIONS ON 6 NOVEMBER

Meeting Summaries

An open-ended one-day meeting on mines other than anti-personnel mines (MOTAPM), also known as anti-vehicle mines (AVMs), will take place on Friday, 6 November 2015, in Conference Room XII of the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The meeting is organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD).

MOTAPM or anti-vehicle mines constitute a long-standing humanitarian concern. Their humanitarian and development impact is significant as they represent a grave threat both during and after the conflict to civilians, humanitarian aid workers and peacekeepers around the world. In particular, MOTAPM can significantly hamper the delivery of humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations, impede the return of refugees and internally displaced people, and hinder recovery and development of affected communities. In some countries, anti-vehicle mines have had even greater adverse effects than anti-personnel mines.

Existing restrictions in International Humanitarian Law on the use of MOTAPM are widely considered to be inadequate in responding to the continuing humanitarian and developmental impact of these weapons. Although a range of measures have been considered on their use and design, this issue remains unresolved.

Against this background, in his statement to the 2014 Meeting of States parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), the United Nations Secretary-General, called on States to “further explore ways to ensure that anti-vehicle mines no longer harm civilians, impede the delivery of humanitarian aid or obstruct social and economic development”.

The one-day meeting is aimed at understanding the hazards arising from the use of MOTAPM, discussing possible measures to address these hazards and exploring options for future work on this issue.

AGENDA



1. OPENING SESSION



1.1 Opening addresses by Joint Chairs (UNMAS, UNODA, GICHD)
1.2 Evolution of military doctrine on the use of MOTAPM
1.3 Current status of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) on the use of MOTAPM



2. Challenges faced by affected states


2.1 Scope of the problem
2.2 The humanitarian and developmental impact of MOTAPM use
2.3 Difficulties in detection and clearance of MOTAPM
2.4 Challenges for affected states



3. Measures to address the humanitarian impact of AVM (MOTAPM)


3.1 Design of existing AVM and possible future developments
3.2 Recent incidents and measures to mitigate impact and improve quality of reporting
3.3 A perspective from the field on clearance of AVM
3.4 Cooperation and Assistance for clearance of AVM
3.5 Measures taken on a national basis by states in addition to existing IHL




4. Future activities and possible way forward


4.1 Possible additions to or clarification of existing IHL
4.2 Background to and current status of issue within CCW framework
4.3 Future options within and outside CCW framework




5. Closing of Meeting



5.1 Closing Address


Programme of Work
Friday 6 November 2015



TimeTopicPresenters
10.00 – 11.00Opening Session
Opening addresses by Joint Chairs
Evolution of military doctrine on the use of MOTAPM

Current status of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) on the use of MOTAPM
Chairs: Joint Chairs UNODA, UNMAS, GICHD

Brigadier William Sowry, AM, CSC, Head Australian Defence Staff – London
Mr. Lou Maresca, Legal Adviser, ICRC
11.00 – 13.00Challenges faced by affected states
Scope of the problem
The humanitarian and developmental impact of MOTAPM use
Difficulties in detection and clearance of MOTAPM
Challenges for affected states
Chair: Chief UNMAS Geneva, Mr. Bruno Donat
Mr. Paul Grimsley, Chief, Arms & Ammunition, UNMAS Libya
Ms. Rachel Irwin, Senior Researcher, SIPRI
Mr. Tim Lardner, Chief, UNMAS South Sudan
Mr. Nazir Ahmad Foshanji, Permanent Mission of Afghanistan
Mr. Cyer Mayar Cyerdit, Permanent Mission of South Sudan
13.00 – 14.00Lunch Sandwiches served outside Conference Room XII
14.00 – 15.30Measures to address the humanitarian impact of AVM use
Design of existing AVM and possible future developments
Recent incidents and measures to mitigate impact and improve quality of reporting
A perspective from the field on clearance of AVM
Cooperation and assistance for clearance of AVM
Measures taken on a national basis by states in addition to existing IHL
Chair: Director GICHD, Ambassador Stefano Toscano
Mr. Colin King, Director, Fenix Insight Ltd
Mr. Guy Rhodes, Director of Operations, GICHD

Mr. Calvin Ruysen, Desk Officer, HALO
Mr. Mark Versteden, Permanent Mission of the Netherlands
Mr. Bantan Nugroho, CCW Implementation Support Unit
15.30 – 16.15Future activities and possible way forward
Background to and current status of issue within CCW framework, options for moving forward, and possible additions to or clarification of existing IHL
Future options within and outside the CCW framework
Chair: UNODA, Mr. Peter Kolarov
Mr. Peter Herby

Discussion
16.15 – 16.30Closing AddressDirector General, UNOG, Mr. Michael Møller




For use of the information media; not an official record

DC15/047E