Mr Chairman,
I have the honour to introduce the draft resolution L.32 on the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (CCW). I do so on behalf of 50 countries. My delegation is deeply grateful to all the co-sponsoring States for their support and hope that many more will join us in the coming days.
The purpose of the CCW is to ban the use of specific types of weapons that cause excessive injury or unnecessary suffering to combatants, or affect civilians indiscriminately. This is as pertinent and pressing as ever.
Today the CCW has over 100 States Parties. With the adoption and entry into force of the new Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War, it has shown that it is a living and important instrument of international humanitarian law. The number of States Parties is increasing, but it still falls short of achieving universal membership. Let me take this opportunity to express my hope that the countries that have not yet joined the Convention will find it in their interest to do so, and become parties to the Convention and its Protocols, including the important amendment that extended that scope of the Convention to include situations of non-international conflict.
The purpose of the resolution which I introduce today, is to continue to express support for the CCW, with particular focus on the universalization of the Convention and its protocol. This year’s resolution is also intended to follow up on the Third Review Conference, which was held in November last year. It reflects the outcome of the Review Conference, and it includes the necessary technical updates from last year’s resolution. It is an expression of support for the CCW as an important international humanitarian law instrument. The specific substantive issues will, of course, have to be addressed by the States Parties at forthcoming meetings.
It is our sincere hope and expectation that this resolution, as in previous years, can be adopted without a vote.
Thank you, Mr Chairman