2020 Intersessional Meetings
Due to the COVID-19 situation, the 30 June - 2 July 2020 Intersessional Meetings were held entirelly in a virtual format.
The programme was modified to include a series of thematic panels, sessions for States Parties requesting extensions of their mine clearance deadlines and a session dedicated to the preparations for the Eighteenth Meeting of the States Parties (18MSP).
States Parties and Organisations submitted written updates and/or statements.
Summary
Video > English | Español | Français | русский| عربى
- H.E. Osman Abufatima Adam Mohammed of Sudan, President of the Eighteenth Meeting of the States Parties
- Stefano Toscano, GICHD Director
Welcoming remarks
- Canada, Chair of the Committee on Article 5 Implementation
- Italy, Chair of the Committee on Victim Assistance
- United Kingdom, Chair of the Committee on the Enhancement of Cooperation and Assistance
- Panama, Representative of the Gender Focal Points
- Sudan, Chair of the Committee on Cooperative Compliance
Panel discussion concept paper | Videos > English | Español | Français | русский | عربى
- Hana Ryba Cervenka, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of the Norway to the UN at Geneva and Gender Focal Point of the Committee on Article 5 Implementation
- Miguel Ceballos, High Commissioner for Peace, Office of the President, Colombia
- Gona Hassan, Community liaison Supervisor, Iraq Programme, Mines Advisory Group (MAG)
- Sreng Sorphea, Deputy Secretary General of Cambodian Mine Action Authority and Head of Gender Team, Cambodia
- Agnes B. Nampeera, Senior Rehabilitation Officer, National CBR Coordinator, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Uganda
- Jasmine Dann, Policy and Advocacy Manager and member of the informal Gender Working Group, The HALO Trust
Canada, as Chair of the Committee on Article 5 Implementation, provided an update on the status of the extension request process.
- Canada, Chair of the Committee on Article 5 Implementation
- Videos > English | Español | Français | русский | عربى
The following States Parties which submitted a request for extension of their Article 5 deadlines for consideration at the Eighteenth Meeting of the States Parties presented highlights of their requests:
In addition, the Democratic Republic of the Congo which indicated that it will submit a request also took the floor.
Presentations from these States Parties were followed by comments from the following delegations:
- On the request submitted by Colombia: ICBL, Mine Action Review, The HALO Trust and GICHD
- On the request submitted by Senegal: MAG, ICBL and Mine Action Review
- On the request submitted by Bosnia and Herzegovina: MAG, ICBL and Mine Action Review
- On the request submitted by Niger: ICBL and Mine Action Review
- On the request submitted by Ukraine: The HALO Trust, Mine Action Review, ICBL and GICHD
- On the request submitted by South Sudan: MAG, Mine Action Review, ICBL and GICHD
- On the request submitted by Mauritania: ICBL and Mine Action Review
- On the statement delivered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo: ICBL
- The ICBL also provided comments on Eritrea and Nigeria
- The following States Parties replied to comments made by organisations: Colombia and Senegal
Panel discussion concept paper
Video English | Español | Français | русский | عربى
- Simon Cleobury, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the Conference on Disarmament, Chair of the Committee on the Enhancement of Cooperation and Assistance
- Sergio Larraín Barth, Disarmament Specialist, International Cooperation Unit, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense, Ministry of National Defence of Chile
- Wolfgang Bindseil, Implementation of Humanitarian Assistance, Humanitarian Mine Clearance, Regional Programmes, Regional Policy on Humanitarian Assistance, Germany, and Chair of the Mine Action Support Group
- Joe Shapiro, Mine Action Policy and Programme Lead, Conflict, Humanitarian and Security Department, Department for International Development, United Kingdom
- Jun Yamada, First Secretary, Defense Attaché, Delegation of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament
- Diana Esperanza Castillo Castro, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations at Geneva and Gender Focal Point
Matters related to Article 5 Implementation | Written submissions
States Parties with Article 5 obligations
- Chad, Croatia, Iraq, Peru, Senegal, Serbia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, United Kingdom, Yemen
Other States Parties and Organisations
- Chile, Ireland, Switzerland, United Nations Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action
Matters related to Cooperation and Assistance
- Chile, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Netherlands, Peru, Senegal, Sudan, Switzerland, Tajikistan, United Kingdom
VA panel discussion concept paper
Videos English | Español | Français | русский | عربى
- Tancredi Francese, Deputy-Permanent Representative of Italy to the Conference on Disarmament, Chair of the Committee on Victim Assistance
- Oscar Javier Siza Moreno, Office of Social Promotion, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Colombia
- Moaffak Al Khafaji, Iraqi Alliance of Disability Organizations (IADO), a member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL)
- Maria Soledad Cisternas, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Disability and Accessibility
- Marc Zlot, Physical Rehabilitation Program Coordinator, International Committee of the Red Cross
- Sophie Allin, Technical Unit Coordinator, Handicap International (HI) Iraq
Written submissions: States Parties that have declared significant numbers of landmine survivors
- Iraq, Peru, South Sudan, Sudan, Tajikistan, Yemen
Other States Parties and organisations
- Chile, United Kingdom
Addressing mines of an improvised nature, panel discussion paper
Videos English | Español | Français | русский | عربى
- Sachi Claringbould, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the Conference on Disarmament
- Lucy Pinches, Project Manager, Mine Action Review
- Jérôme Collard-Proulx, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of Canada, Chair of the Committee on Article 5 Implementation - French (English version)
- Mohammad Akbar Oriakhil, Head of Planning and Programme, Directorate of Mine Action Coordination (DMAC), State Ministry for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs of Afghanistan
- Hans Risser, Regional Director Africa, Latin America, Middle East, NPA
- Rory Logan, Secretary of the IMAS Review Board and Advisor IHL and Policy, GICHD
Panel discussion concept paper
Videos English | Español | Français | русский | عربى
- H.E. Osman Abufatima Adam Mohammed, 18MSP President
- Steve Goose, Executive Director, Arms Division, Human Rights Watch
- Wen Zhou, Legal Adviser, Arms Unit, Legal Division, ICRC
- Laurent Masmejean, Deputy Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the Conference on Disarmament
Matters related to Compliance
- Chile, Iraq, Netherlands, Sudan
The President of the Eighteenth Meeting of the States Parties, H.E. Osman Abufatima Adam Mohammed of Sudan, provided an overview of the status of Article 3 and highlighted important matters related to the retention of anti-personnel mines for training purposes.
- Video > English | Español | Français | русский | عربى
- 18MSP President
- Status of implementation of Article 3
The Development Initiative (TDI) provided a presentation on the use of 3D printed training aides.
The presentation was followed by questions and comments from delegations.
The President of the the Eighteenth Meeting of the States Parties presented a draft agenda for the work of the Eighteenth Meeting of the States Parties.
H.E. Félix Baumann, Ambassador of Switzerland to the United Nations in Geneva, delivered a statement in his capacity as 18MSP Secretary-General Designate.
UNODA provided an update on financial matters related to the organisation of the 18MSP.
Australia, in its capacity as Coordinator of the Sponsorship Programme provided an update on the Sponsorship Programme.
The Intersessional Meetings were closed by the President of the Eighteenth Meeting of the States Parties.
- Closing remarks