Statement by Mr Paul Wilson, Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the Conference on Disarmament, to the United Nations First Committee regarding the thematic discussion on conventional weapons. As deliverd 18 October 2010.
(as delivered)
Mr Chairman
The past year has seen important developments in conventional arms control which Australia strongly welcomes.
The Convention on Cluster Munitions, which will play an important role in reducing the threat posed by cluster munition remnants, entered into force on 1 August.
The first meetings of the Preparatory Committee for the Diplomatic Conference on an Arms Trade Treaty in July made genuine progress toward bringing that treaty into being.
And the consensus adoption of a substantive report from the fourth Biennial Meeting of States on the Programme of Action on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons was a significant achievement.
These developments show that we can make progress on difficult security issues so long as States are committed to a common goal and determined to see it achieved.
Cooperation on Cluster Munitions
Mr Chairman
Australia welcomes the entry into force of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which is a significant humanitarian achievement.
The Convention’s provisions on victim assistance now set the standard for other conventional arms control regimes. They will help ensure a better life for cluster munition survivors and their affected families and communities. The Convention’s clearance and assistance provisions will help communities free their lands of contamination and the debilitating effects of these weapons.
The first Meeting of States Parties, to be held in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic next month, will lay the foundation for implementing the Convention. We warmly welcome the Lao Government’s commitment to and early leadership of the Convention.
Australia has been honoured to work with the Lao PDR as a Friend of the President on clearance and risk reduction education. The Convention’s strong provisions on clearance, coupled with international cooperation and assistance, will facilitate intensified efforts to remove cluster munition remnants.
While Australia and many others are prepared to accept the prohibitions of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, some major producers and users seem likely to remain outside its framework. We appreciate and continue to support the efforts of all States Parties in negotiating what could become Protocol VI to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons to achieve meaningful prohibitions on the use of cluster munitions.
…and Anti-Personnel Landmines
Mr Chairman
The Cartagena Summit on a Mine-free World, held in late 2009, was an opportunity for States Parties to take stock of the substantial achievements made and to consider the best means to tackle the future challenges posed by anti-personnel mines.
Since the Cartagena Summit, Australia has assisted in exploring links between victim assistance and disability rights. There is much to be learnt in the disarmament field from the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. There is a great deal of symmetry between the practical efforts to assist survivors and the implementation of obligations on non-discrimination, accessibility, mobility, consultation and inclusiveness.
Australia will continue to collaborate with other States and civil society to promote the full realisation of the Convention’s important goals.
More Work Needed on Mine Action
Mr Chairman
Cluster munitions, landmines and other explosive remnants of war are a tragic legacy of conflict. They continue to constrain development in many of the poorest countries and have devastating socio-economic consequences. Affected communities face a long-term burden of caring for survivors and must endure the loss of productive workers and the contamination of otherwise productive land.
Australia continues to be strongly committed to international instruments that promote effective action on explosive remnants of war.
Protocol V of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons is one such instrument. Australia is pleased to serve as its President at the Meeting of High Contracting Parties in November this year. We encourage all States Parties to the CCW to consent to be bound by Protocol V as soon as possible.
Australia is a leading contributor to mine action around the world.
The Australian Government has committed to provide A$100 million to mine action from 2010 to 2014. The goal of our Mine Action Strategy – to reduce the threat and socio-economic impact of landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war – will deliver improved quality of life for victims, reduce the number of deaths and injuries, and enhance the capacity of countries to manage their mine action programmes.
Australia has provided substantial resources to clearance projects. We are also significantly involved in providing risk education and reduction projects and survivor assistance in developing countries. In the past year, Australia has supported projects in Afghanistan, Burundi, Cambodia, Iraq, Jordan, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Uganda and Vietnam.
Small Arms and Light Weapons Still a Major Challenge
Mr Chairman
The illicit trade and use of small arms and light weapons have a direct and devastating impact on communities, undermining security and exacerbating conflict. The widespread availability and misuse of these weapons not only represents a security threat, but is also a crucial retarding factor on socio-economic development.
Australia remains strongly committed to international cooperation to ensure the objectives of the UN Programme of Action on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons are fully implemented.
The fourth Biennial Meeting of States on the UN’s Programme of Action in June this year helped bolster our collective will to fulfil the Programme’s broad aims.
We were honoured to have assisted the Chair of the BMS, Ambassador Pablo Macedo of Mexico, through serving as the facilitator on the important topic of international cooperation and assistance.
BMS4 built upon the success of previous meetings and provided the framework for future meetings. We look forward to productive exchanges at the Meeting of Governmental Experts in May 2011 and the Review Conference in 2012.
Strong Start to Negotiations on an Arms Trade Treaty
Mr Chairman
Australia also welcomes the commencement of UN-mandated negotiations on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which is a key concern for states throughout the world.
Australia has been playing a leading role in this process. Ambassador Quinlan was honoured to serve as a “Friend of the Chair” at the first meeting of the ATT Preparatory Committee in New York from 12 to 23 July.
It is early days but our assessment is that the meeting made genuine progress in examining the structure and prospective content of a comprehensive and effective treaty to establish an interim framework for the legitimate arms trade, and eradicate illicit trafficking.
Australia also contributed to building on the work of the Preparatory Committee by co-sponsoring with the Governments of Austria and Luxembourg the Boston Symposium on the ATT last month. This was just one more step towards our goal – the conclusion of an Arms Trade Treaty in 2012.
The papers prepared by the technical experts for each of the Symposium sessions, as well as the summary report, are available at the back of the room and on the Symposium’s website (www.attconference.umb.edu). We commend these resources to delegations.
Engagement with Civil Society
Mr Chairman
In all our work on conventional arms control, the international community is aided by civil society involvement.
Civil society organisations have provided significant assistance to States through highlighting weapons of concern and advocating for negotiations. Australia appreciates the balanced and detailed contributions of civil society to discussions, and to promoting treaty implementation.
Mr Chairman
Australia has seen in its own region the humanitarian costs of conventional arms proliferation. I assure you of Australia’s continued commitment to addressing the challenges posed by the proliferation, misuse and unacceptable harm of conventional weapons.
Thank you.