• UK
  • 09:56 07 Nov 2009
  • |    Geneva
  • 10:56 07 Nov 2009
 

The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

CCW Cluster bombs

2009

2nd Meeting of the Governmental Group of Experts on Cluster Munitions (14-17 April)

The Second meeting of the GGE started as the last left off.  With few formal plenaries, several informal working groups tackled the outstanding issues of definitions, prohibitions and transfers.  With only four days to complete the formal negotiations the task of the GGE was always going to be difficult.  The Chair, Gustavo Ainchil of Argentina, made great efforts to reach agreement but by the end of the week several issues remained unresolved.  As this was the last formal meeting he appended a revised consolidated text to the procedural report which will remain the record of the discussions

In a final attemt to try and resolve the outstanding issues before the report is presented to the Meeting of State -Parties (MSP) in November, the Chair called for a further week of informal discussions from 17-21 August 2009 to try and reach agreement on possible compromises.

Meeting of the Group of Governmental Experts on Amended Protocol II (20-21 April)

The meeting of this GGE focussed predominately on the implementation of APII and how the issue of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) has advanced from simple trip-wire victim activated devices to more sophisticated devices including those detonated through the use of mobile phones or infra red receivers.  The Group considered possible ways to address this issue but many thought that it was difficult to tackle these in the CCW and more appropriated methods might be through elaborating guidance on how best to control ammunition stockpiles, many of which are poorly regulated or abandoned after conflict.  A report will be sent to the MSP in November.

Meeting of the Group of Governmental Experts on Protocol V (22-24 April)

A wide ranging discussion on the implementation of Protocol V took place between 22-24 April.  Best practices and experiences were shared among governmental experts on victim assistance and the technical guidance needed to implement Article III.  A report of this meeting will be sent to the MSP in November.

1st Meeting of the Governmental Group of Experts on Cluster Munitions (16-20 February)

The First 2009 Session of the Group of Governmental Experts of the Convention on  Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) took place from 16 to 20 February at the Palais des Nations, Geneva.  The Group was mandated by the CCW States parties to continue its negotiations to address urgently the humanitarian impact of cluster munitions, while striking a balance between military and humanitarian considerations.  The Group started negotiations on cluster munitions last year and had met for seven weeks of five sessions throughout 2008. Click here to read more on the cluster munitions sessions.

A series of informal consultations in small groups took place throughout the week which encouraged frank and transparent discussions among all States parties and observers on outstanding issues included in an 'Elements for discussion' non-paper.

At the end of the session a consolidated Chair's text was circulated and will constitute the basis for the negotiations during the second session of the Group, which will meet from 14 to 17 April 2009.

 

Background 

The aim of the Convention on CCW (or full title: the 1980 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) is to provide new rules for the protection of military personnel and, particularly, civilians and civilian objects from injury or attack under various conditions by means of fragments that cannot readily be detected in the human body by X-rays, landmines and booby traps, and incendiary weapons and blinding laser weapons.    
 
The CCW opened for signature on 10 April 1981 and entered into force on 2 December 1983. As of 4 December 2006, there were 101 States Parties that have ratified the convention, Turkey being the most recent State to ratify on 2 March 2005.  The operative provisions of the CCW are contained within its protocols. Currently, there a five protocols in force. These are:
 
  • Protocol I: Non-detectable Fragments   
  • Amended Protocol II: Landmines, Booby-Traps, and Other Devices
  • Protocol III: Incendiary Weapons
  • Protocol IV: Blinding Lasers
  • Protocol V: Explosive Remnants of War  
 
The UK has ratified all Protocols except for Protocol V.  The UK hopes to be able to ratify this Protocol in the near future.
 
The Third Review Conference of the CCW took place in Geneva from 6-17 November 2006.  Building on the success of the past, the Review Conference gained agreement to work further on the issue of cluster munitions, universalisation of the convention and agreed a compliance mechanism.  Unfortunately, after 5 years of intensive consultations and negotiation, agreement could not be reached on ways to address the humanitarian concerns raised by Mines other than Anti-Personnel Mines (MOTAPM), ie anti-vehicle mines (AVM).   As such the UK, with several other countries, declared that they would unilaterally implement certain conditions applicable to the use of Anti Vehicle Mines.

 

 

 



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