Photo: Miriam Rodergas, Unsplash
The Sixth Meeting of States Parties (6MSP) to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) took place from 5 to 7 September 2016 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The 6MSP, presided by the Netherlands, marked the first formal meeting of the Convention after the adoption of the Dubrovnik Action Plan, a five-year action plan that provides a roadmap for States Parties to implement and universalize the Convention.
At the end of the 6MSP, States Parties adopted a political declaration. Through the political declaration, States Parties commit to fully implement all of their individual and collective outstanding obligations as quickly as possible and as conditions in affected states would allow in partnership with the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Cluster Munition Coalition and other non-governmental organizations, with an aim to implement all before 2030.
H.E. Ambassador Henk Cor van der Kwast, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva and Disarmament Ambassador at large, who presided over the meeting, handed over the Presidency of the Convention on Cluster Munitions to H.E. Ambassador Michael Biontino, Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
Final documents, including the List of Participants, the Geneva Progress Report and the Final Report can be found here.
MONDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2016
Ambassador Henk Cor van der Kwast, President of the Sixth Meeting of States Parties presided over the meeting.
The opening ceremony also featured the following special guests:
Representing the host country, Swiss Ambassador for Disarmament Sabrina Dallafior;
Deputy Director General Pieter Jan Kleiweg de Zwaan of the Netherlands MFA;
Vice-President of the ICRC Christine Beerli; and
Sister Denise Coghlan, Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service Cambodia, founding member of the Cluster Munition Coalition, which was instrumental in bringing about the 2008 Convention.
Acting Director of the Conference on Disarmament and Conference Support Branch, Ms. Mary Soliman, of UNODA in Geneva, appointed as Secretary-General of the 6MSP
The previous four CCM Presidents, namely, Norway, Zambia, Costa Rica, and Croatia were elected as vice-presidents of the 6MSP
Statement by Cuba on the status of its adherence process.
The Geneva Progress Report on the implementation of the Dubrovnik Action Plan;
CCM/MSP/2016/8
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Guidance on an integrated approach to victim assistance; CCM/MSP/2016/WP.2
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Proposal on a Draft decision on the re-composition of the Coordination Committee; CCM/MSP/2016/WP.1
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Croatia, President of the First Review Conference, gave an overview of its presidency over the four months from the First Review Conference up to 31 December 2015.
Review of the status and operation of the Convention and other matters important for achieving the aims of the Convention:
Coordinators on the General Status and Operation, Czech Republic and Switzerland, reported on the overall status of the Convention and content of the Geneva Progress Report
Coordinators, Ecuador and Zambia, reported on progress and challenges in implementation
Slovenia
Mozambique
Nigeria
The Netherlands
International Committee of the Red Cross
States Not Party were invited to express their views/support for the Convention:
Madagascar announced its desire to join the Convention within the next few months
China
Session resumed on Tuesday 6 September where:
Namibia announced its desire to join the Convention within the next few months
Coordinators, France and Mexico, reported on progress and challenges in implementation
Switzerland
Peru
France
Coordinators, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Norway, reported on progress and challenges in implementation
Lebanon
Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Netherlands
Australia
Session resumed Tuesday 6 September with the following statements:
Norway
Austria
Ireland
Switzerland
Tuesday 6 SEPTEMBER 2016
Review of the status and operation of the Convention and other matters important for achieving the aims of the Convention continued:
Coordinator, Costa Rica, reported on the progress and challenges in implementation
Colombia
Coordinator, New Zealand, reported on progress and challenges in implementation.
International Committee of the Red Cross
Statement by the 6MSP President
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Switzerland
The Netherlands
WEDNESDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2016
Review of the status and operation of the Convention and other matters important for achieving the aims of the Convention continued:
Coordinators, Austria and Iraq, reported on progress and challenges in implementation
Croatia (additional statement)
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Switzerland
Cuba
Spain
Sudan
The Meeting warmly welcomed the election of H.E. Ambassador Michael Biontino, Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
CCM/MSP/2016/7 – Estimated costs of the Seventh Meeting of States Parties of the Convention on Cluster Munitions
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The following States made comments and/or amendments before the adoption of the 6MSP Political Declaration
Lao PDR
Cuba (five interventions)
Iraq (two interventions)
Nicaragua (nine interventions)
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Australia (three interventions)
Canada
New Zealand