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Disarmament DocumentationBack to Disarmament Documentation Fifth Annual Meeting of Mine Ban Treaty, Bangkok, Thailand, September 15-19Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (known as the Mine Ban Treaty or the Ottawa Convention, Bangkok, Thailand, September 15-19. Note: for comprehensive coverage and documentation from the Fifth Meeting of States Parties (5MPSP), see the website of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, http://www.gichd.ch/5mpsp.
I. Background Information & Preview of Meeting: UN Press Release, September 8'States Parties To Landmine Ban Treaty Take Their Message to Asia', United Nations Press Release DC/2890, September 8. States Parties to the Convention banning anti-personnel mines will meet in Asia for the first time ever when they convene their fifth annual meeting in Bangkok from September 15 to 19, 2003. "Meeting in Thailand, a mine-affected country in one of the most mine-affected regions, will remind the world of our common goal in achieving a mine-free world, our dedication towards the goal and ongoing challenges we must overcome", said Laxanachantorn Laohaphan, Ambassador of Thailand to the United Nations Office at Geneva. "Recognizing both the human suffering caused by anti-personnel mines and the economic potential of mined areas, we will use this meeting to urge countries in Asia and in other regions to increase awareness of the humanitarian impact of anti-personnel mines and the benefits of joining the Convention", said Ambassador Laxanachantorn. Ambassador Laxanachantorn was joined in making her statements by Ambassador Jean Lint of Belgium, President of the Fourth Meeting of the States Parties. Ambassador Lint noted that the Bangkok meeting will also lay the foundation for preparations for the States Parties' five-year review of the Convention, which will take place in late 2004. "With the Bangkok meeting taking place just one year before the Convention's First Review Conference, we will urge States to pursue, with renewed vigour, efforts to clear mined areas, assist victims, destroy stockpiled anti-personnel mines and promote universal adherence to this important instrument", said Ambassador Lint. More than 600 delegates representing approximately 130 States and dozens of international and non-governmental organizations are expected to attend the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties in Bangkok. The meeting will be opened by Her Royal Highness, Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra of Thailand and Her Royal Highness, Princess Astrid of Belgium, and will be presided over by Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai. Background InformationNegotiations on the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction were completed in Oslo on September 18, 1997. On March 1, 1999 the Convention entered into force and as of September 8, 2003, 136 States had ratified or acceded to it. The week of September 15 to 19, 2003, States Parties to the Convention will hold their fifth annual meeting at the United Nations Conference Centre ("ESCAP" Building) in Bangkok. The States Parties will be joined by observer States and dozens of international and non-governmental organizations, including the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Previous Meetings of the States Parties have been held in Maputo (1999), Geneva (2000), Managua (2001), and Geneva (2002). Under the Presidency of Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, the Meeting will extol the importance and benefits of the Convention to those States which have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention. In South East Asia, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Timor-Leste have joined the Convention, while Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Singapore and Viet Nam have not yet done so. The Meeting will be asked to take a series of decisions related to preparations for the Convention's First Review Conference. On the basis of consultations led by Ambassador Jean Lint of Belgium, President of the Fourth Meeting of the States Parties, it will be proposed that the First Review Conference take place in Nairobi in November 2004. II. Statements & Press ReleasesUnited Nations: Message from Secretary-General Kofi Annan'Secretary-General urges acceptance by all states of Convention against landmines, provision of assistance to affected states', message from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, delivered to the Conference by Hak-Su Kim, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, UN Press SG/SM/8872, September 15. It gives me great pleasure to convey my greetings to all participants in the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction. The multilateral commitment embodied in the Convention to renounce an entire category of indiscriminate weapons has been achieved through the combined efforts of many actors - governments, the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, and civil society as a whole. This impressive partnership has achieved a great deal in a short time, and contributed to the rapid emergence of an international norm banning anti-personnel mines. Since the entry into force of the Convention in 1999, more than two-thirds of all States have banned anti-personnel mines and joined efforts to address their impact on people. I call on those States that have not yet accepted the Convention to become part of this process without delay. I also urge all States affected by anti-personnel mines to do their utmost to develop and implement plans to clear mined areas, to destroy stockpiles, and to provide victim assistance and mine risk education. As they do so, I encourage them to bear in mind the needs of local communities, pay due regard to gender concerns, and incorporate mine action into development planning and budgeting. And I strongly encourage those States and other partners in a position to do so to provide adequate and sustained technical and financial assistance to States affected by mines. Finally, allow me to express the hope that you will decide to hold the Convention's First Review Conference in Nairobi, Kenya - a decision that would highlight both the terrible impact of mines in Africa, and the progress that has been made towards eliminating the threat of mines on the continent. ... International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL)ICBL Press Release, September 15'Asia lags behind on landmine ban', International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) Press Release, September 15; ICBL website, http://www.icbl.org. Campaigners have urged States Parties to the treaty that prohibits antipersonnel mines to do their utmost to stop use, production and stockpiling of the weapon in the Asia-Pacific region. "We've made headway in other parts of the world, but Asia is lagging behind in tackling the landmine problem," said Jody Williams, who received the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize together with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL). The campaign is in Bangkok for the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (or Mine Ban Treaty). An ICBL delegation of 250 plus campaigners, deminers, researchers and landmine survivors from 70 countries will be lobbying States Parties this week to renew their financial and political commitment to build a mine-free world. The event, hosted by the Thai government and convened under the auspices of the United Nations, is the fifth annual meeting on the implementation of the 1997 treaty and the last formal gathering before a major treaty milestone, the Review Conference, scheduled for December 2004 in Nairobi, Kenya. "We call on States Parties to go all-out to promote the Mine Ban Treaty in this mine-ravaged region, " said Tun Channareth, Cambodian landmine survivor and ICBL Ambassador. "More can, and should, be done," he added. There has been an overall reduction worldwide of government use of landmines, according to the ICBL's fifth annual report, Landmine Monitor Report 2003, which was released on 9 September. Since May 2002, at least 6 governments have used antipersonnel mines, down from 9 and 13 in 2001 and 2000 respectively. Similarly, fewer armed opposition groups are now laying mines: 11 groups compared with at least 14 in the last reporting period. A disproportionate number of users are in Asia. The campaign has fingered the governments of India, Pakistan, Nepal and Myanmar (Burma) for using antipersonnel mines and rebel groups in Burma, India, Nepal and the Philippines. More than a third of Asian countries are mine-polluted, including some of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world, such as Afghanistan and Cambodia. Last year, 14 of the 15 mine-affected countries in the region suffered casualties due to mines and unexploded ordnance. Reports indicate that since May 2002 at least 3,000 people in Asia fell victim to the weapon, although the actual number is likely to be at least double this. 25 percent of the reported casualties were children. Despite the enormous mine problem in the region, less than half its member countries have banned landmines. In Asia there are 17 States Parties to the treaty and a further five signatories. The following Asian countries have joined the treaty: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei (a signatory) Cambodia, Cook Islands (a signatory) Fiji, Indonesia (a signatory), Japan, Kiribati, Marshall Islands (a signatory), Malaysia, Maldives, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu (a signatory). The 18 non-States Parties in Asia are: Bhutan, Burma/Myanmar, China, India, Korea (North), Korea (South), Laos, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vietnam. The ICBL remains concerned about ongoing mine production, particularly in Asia. Nepal recently admitted that it has produced antipersonnel mines, an addition to the list of mainly Asian producers, which includes China, India, Myanmar, North Korea, South Korea, Pakistan, Singapore and Vietnam. (Other, non-Asian producers are: Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Russia and the United States.) Asia is home to great numbers of antipersonnel mines: China keeps the world's largest stock of some 110 million antipersonnel mines and India and Pakistan, with the fifth and sixth largest stockpiles, hold an estimated 6 million and 4-5 million respectively. Despite this gloomy picture, the campaign pointed to some positive developments in Asia, including:
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)ICRC Press Release, September 15'Crucial international meeting on anti-personnel landmines', ICRC Press Release 03/64, September 15; ICRC website, http://www.icrc.org. Six years ago, the adoption of the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines brought tremendous hope to mine-affected communities around the world. The Convention held out the promise of a safer life, free of the fear of death or mutilation by hidden mines infesting fields, pastures, footpaths and playgrounds. From 15 to 19 September 2003, the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on their Destruction (the Ottawa Convention) will convene in Bangkok, Thailand. The ICRC will join States Parties, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, international organizations and UN agencies in taking stock of the progress made towards the goal of eliminating anti-personnel landmines, and of the challenges ahead. This meeting takes place at a critical moment. With the Convention's First Review Conference scheduled to take place at the end of 2004, it should inspire governments to arrive at next year's Conference prepared to renew their commitment to the goals of the Ottawa Convention and to its full implementation in the years to come. Much has been achieved since the Convention was adopted in December 1997. A total of 136 States have ratified or acceded to the Convention - the most recent being Belarus on 3 September. States have destroyed over 30 million stockpiled anti-personnel mines. Mine clearance activities are ongoing in the majority of mine-affected countries in the world. Most importantly, wherever the Convention's rules are being upheld, lives and livelihoods are being saved - the annual number of mine victims has fallen by as much as two thirds in countries like Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, and Croatia. While the considerable gains made are worth celebrating, they provide little comfort to the tens of thousands of civilians still living with the threat of landmines. In the coming years, States have the opportunity to prove that they are willing and able to rid the world of mines. Increased efforts and resources will be required to achieve the core humanitarian goals of the Convention, and to meet the upcoming deadlines of destroying most stockpiled anti-personnel mines by 2004 and clearing the majority of mine-affected areas by 2009. The ICRC therefore expects the Bangkok meeting to encourage all States Parties to state clearly their plans and commitments by the time of the 2004 Review Conference. The work in Bangkok and at the forthcoming Review Conference may well determine whether the Convention will fulfil its promise to mine-affected communities. Statement by UN Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, September 15, 2003'Statement by Angelina Jolie: for the Fifth Meeting Of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty', ICBL Press Release, September 15. Angelina Jolie, American actress and Academy Award winner, sent this statement of support to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines for distribution at the Fifth Meeting of States Parties in Bangkok, Thailand (15 - 19 September 2003): "This year I cleared a bunch of antipersonnel landmines from my backyard. I hired a small team of deminers to detect and remove them. They found and destroyed 48 landmines. It is my home in Cambodia - one of the most mine-devastated spots on earth. Before I went to Cambodia to film 'Tomb Raider', I hadn't seen with my own eyes what antipersonnel mines could do. I hadn't yet seen the old man of the village being led around by his grandson: a mine that he set off while working his field blinded him. I hadn't heard the grief of a mother whose child was blown apart by the weapon: her daughter was on her way to the river, to swim with friends. I hadn't gotten used to the 'Beware of Mines' signs dotted around the place or the mine risk education posters nailed to trees, nor learnt about keeping to the footpath and watching your step. No, before that I couldn't have imagined how, if you live somewhere like Cambodia, mines affect everything. Nor could I have guessed at how difficult, how dangerous and time-consuming, it is to clear these weapons once they are laid. Most Cambodians have mines in their backyard. But they do not have the same options I had of hiring a demining unit or waiting for the land to be cleared before using it. That's because mines tend to affect the poorest and the most isolated communities, making life much harder. And Cambodia is far from unique - the story elsewhere in Asia, and beyond, is very similar. I am pleased that so much has already been done to tackle landmines in Cambodia and other countries. But I am also worried about the other backyards that are waiting to be cleared - and there are many of them. Also, there are governments and armed groups that still use landmines, who need convincing to stop, and others that need to be dissuaded from producing or stockpiling them in such large numbers. I am a staunch supporter of your important work in banning these terrible weapons. I wish you well in your deliberations for the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty. You are doing an important job, and a job that must be finished. Thank you." III. Summary & Outcome of MeetingNote: at the time this compilation was finalised for posting on our website (September 26), the final declaration adopted by states parties had not yet been made publicly available. Conference Press Release'States Parties to the Mine Ban Convention commit to ongoing vigorous action', Press Release issued by Thailand, holders of the Presidency of the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties; website of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, http://www.gichd.ch/mbc/msp/5msp.htm. States parties to the Convention banning anti-personnel mines concluded their first0ever meeting in Asia today, committing themselves to pursue with renewed vigour efforts to clear mines, assist victims, destroy existing stockpiles of mines and universalise the ban on this weapon. Over a period of five days, delegates from over 100 countries, both states parties and states not party to the Convention exchanged views and experiences and shared aspirations and inspirations. The delegates counted among their number policy makers, representatives of the United nations agencies, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, and particularly mine victims and mine survivors themselves. "We have greatly benefited from the information shared by mine-affected states about their problems, their national plans, the progress they have made and their priorities for assistance," said Dr. Sorajak Kasemsuvan, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand. States parties reaffirmed their commitment to assist mine-affected states in their effort to eradicate landmines within the 10-year timeframe. With eight states having joined the Convention since its fourth annual meeting in September 2002, the number of states having accepted the Convention now stands at 136. Together, these states have destroyed over 30 million stockpiled mines and made major advances in clearing mine-affected areas. However, the meeting also noted that efforts must continue. The meeting highlighted the plight of mine victims and survivors, stressing the urgent need to increase resource mobilisation for mine action, particularly victim assistance. Mine action needs to take a comprehensive and cross-sectoral approach, addressed within the context of national social and economic development. Worldwide, over US$1.6 billion has been generated in funding for mine action since the Convention was established in 1997, and mine-affected states themselves have made sizeable contributions to mine action within their borders. "In the year ahead, Thailand will work actively and closely with states parties, the ICBL and the ICRC. We will also encourage greater involvement of states not party to the Convention," said Dr. Sorajak. As President of the Fifth Meeting of States Parties, Thailand intends to ensure that progress in implementing the core humanitarian objectives of the Convention be achieved. Dr. Sorajak added that Thailand counted on the cooperation and support of other states parties. The meeting was also significant in that the states parties decided on a number of measures to prepare for the first five-year review of the Convention, which will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, between 29 November and 3 December 2004. Thailand will serve as President of the Convention until the First Review Conference in Nairobi, when Austria will take over. ICBL Summary'Overview of 5MSP Week', ICBL Summary, September 22. Overall the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty was a success. Some of the key achievements and disappointments were outlined in the ICBL morning briefing and in the statement by Stephen Goose (head of the ICBL delegation) at the closing press conference. Highlights:
Concerns:
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