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2021 Intersessional Meetings

This year’s Intersessional Meetings were particularly important given efforts to build upon the established baseline for the implementation of the Oslo Action Plan (OAP). Due to the ongoing restrictions related to COVID-19, the 22-24 June 2021 Intersessional Meetings were held in virtual format. 

Summary

Ambassador Robbert Gabriëlse of the Netherlands, President of the Nineteenth Meeting of the States Parties and Ambassador Stefano Toscano, Director of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) delivered opening remarks.

Video of the session: English | Español | Français | Pусский | عربى

The President closed the opening segment by expressing his sincere condolences concerning the recent atrocities committed upon the staff of the HALO Trust in Afghanistan. These deplorable acts are a sad reminder of the threat faced by deminers working in volatile conditions. Maj Gen James Cowan, CEO of The HALO Trust took the floor to speak on the attack:

The Chairs of the Convention’s Committees presented the Committee's activities and preliminary observations.

The President presented his activities and preliminary observations on stockpile destruction.

The following States Parties which have missed their Article 4 deadlines responded to the President’s observations and / or provided updates on the status of their stockpile destruction programme:

Video of the session: English | Español | Français | Pусский | عربى

The following State Party in the process of carrying out its stockpile destruction programme presented on progress in meeting its stockpile destruction obligations:

  • Sri Lanka

The following organisation shared views on matters related to Article 4 obligations:

  • ICBL

The President then presented his activities and updated information on matters related to anti-personnel mines retained for permitted purposes under Article 3.

  • Status of implementation of Article 3

No views were shared on matters related to anti-personnel mines retained for permitted purposes under Article 3. The President finalised the session presenting activities on universalization.

The following States not party shared views and information on universalization of the Convention:

Videos (session one): English | Español | Français | Pусский | عربى

  • Morocco
  • Azerbaijan
  • Republic of Korea
  • Armenia

Azerbaijan and Armenia exercised their rights of reply: Azerbaijan (first right of reply and second right of reply) and Armenia (first right of reply and second right of reply)

The following States Parties and organisations shared view on matters related to universalization:

Videos (session two): English | Español | Français | Pусский | عربى

  • United Kingdom
  • Philippines
  • ICBL

Videos (session three): English | Español | Français | Pусский | عربى

  • Germany
  • European Union
  • Canada
  • Mexico

Thematic Session Concept note

The Chair of the Committee on Victim Assistance introduced the thematic session. This thematic session was aimed at drawing attention to challenges in data collection and in establishing/strengthening national centralised database in support of fulfilment of Action 35 of the Oslo Action Plan.

  • Opening remarks by Thailand

The panel for this session aimed to enhance understandings of the significance and importance of data collection and a sustainable national unified database for victim assistance. The panel also aimed to provide information to States on good practices and on available assistance. Presentations were delivered by the following speakers:

Views and comments on matters related to data and a central database as well as implementation efforts in this regard were shared by the following delegations:

Videos (session one): English | Español | Français | Pусский | عربى

  • Chile
  • Cambodia
  • Tajikistan
  • Peru
  • Sudan
  • Uganda
  • Colombia
  • Thailand

Videos (session two): English | Español | Français | Pусский | عربى

  • Somalia
  • Afghanistan
  • Venezuela
  • Turkey
  • Sri Lanka
  • UN-Inter-Agency Coordination Group

Video (session three): English | Español | Français | Pусский | عربى

  • Nicaragua

Thematic Session Concept Note

The Gender Focal Point of the Committee on Cooperative Compliance introduced the thematic session. This thematic session aimed at continuing the promotion of the importance of gender and diversity in the efforts of the States Parties.

  • Opening remarks by Spain

The panel for this session aimed at (1) providing examples of best practices on how to ensure that gender and the diverse needs of affected communities are integrated into operational planning and prioritization setting mechanisms; (2) provide information on the tools and support available to States Parties to achieve this objective; and, (3) provide a donor perspective on what States in a position to provide assistance can do to further support the implementation of this objective. Presentations were delivered by the following speakers:

Views and comments on matters related to national efforts to integrate gender and the diverse needs of affected communities in operational Planning and prioritization were shared by the following delegations:

Videos: English | Español | Français | Pусский | عربى

The following delegation provided a written submission:

Zambia, as Chair of the Committee on Article 5 Implementation, provided an update on the status of the extension request process.

  • Zambia, Chair of the Committee on Article 5 Implementation

The following States Parties which have submitted a request for extension of their Article 5 deadlines for consideration at the Nineteenth Meeting of the States Parties presented highlights of their requests:

In addition, Guinea Bissau which indicated that it will submit a request also took the floor.

The presentations from these States Parties were followed by comments from the following delegations:

On the request submitted by Cyprus: Turkey, ICBL and Mine Action Review

On the request submitted by Mauritania: ICBL, Mine Action Review, MAG and GICHD

On the request submitted by Nigeria: ICBL, MAG and Mine Action Review

On the request submitted by Somalia: ICBL, Mine Action Review and GICHD

On the request submitted by Turkey: ICBL, Mine Action Review and GICHD

On the presentation made by Guinea Bissau: ICBL and Mine Action Review

  • The following States Parties replied to comments: Cyprus, Nigeria and Somalia.

Comments were provided on the Democratic Republic of the Congo by the Mine Action Review. 

Comments were provided on Eritrea by Switzerland, ICBL, Norway, and Mine Action Review.

Video: English | Español | Français | Pусский | عربى

  • The following delegations also took the floor on matters related to the extension process: Ireland and Belgium.


Thematic Session Concept Note

The Chair of the Committee on Article 5 Implementation introduced the thematic session. This thematic session aimed to provide some lessons learned and best practices in drawing down a national mine action programme, ensuring the establishment of a sustainable national capacity to address previously unknown mined areas discovered following completion and ensuring that key elements of the national mine action programme remain following completion.

  • Opening remarks by Zambia

Presentations were delivered by the following speakers:

Views and comments on matters related to efforts and challenges in the establishment of a national sustainable capacity and / or updates on the implementation of Article 5 were shared by the following delegations:

Videos (session one): English | Español | Français | Pусский | عربى

  • Peru, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Afghanistan, Venezuela

Videos (session two): English | Español | Français | Pусский | عربى

  • South Sudan, Cambodia, Ukraine, Nicaragua, Colombia, United Kingdom, Argentina (right of reply), Canada, ICRC, Moroccan Red Crescent, GICHD, The HALO Trust, ICBL, Mine Action Review

The following delegations provided a written submission on matters related to Article 5 implementation and/or completion and sustainable capacities: Angola, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Philippines, Spain, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines, and NPA.

Thematic Session Concept Note

The Chair of the Committee on the Enhancement of Cooperation and Assistance introduced the thematic session. This thematic session aimed to explore the relevant cooperation and assistance actions of the Oslo Action Plan to reflect on how they interact with each other to provide guidance to States Parties in mobilizing resources to fulfil their commitments as soon as possible.

  • Opening remarks by Colombia

The panel for this session looked at the results of discussions between the Committee and stakeholders to explore how to integrate best practices to ensure that States Parties successfully achieve their 2025 ambition. Presentations were delivered by the following speakers:

Updates on efforts to implement the cooperation and assistance commitments under the Oslo Action Plan were shared by the following delegations:

Videos (session one): English | Español | Français | Pусский | عربى

Videos (session 2): English | Español | Français | Pусский |  عربى

The following delegation provided a written submission on matters related to resource mobilisation: Mine Action Review. 


Thematic Session Concept Note

The President of the Nineteenth Meeting of the States Parties and Chair of the Committee on Cooperative Compliance introduced the thematic session. This thematic session aimed at discussing matters related to compliance one year following the adoption of the Oslo Action Plan.

  • Opening remarks by the Netherlands

Presentations were delivered by the following speakers:

The following State Party provided an update on matters related to allegations of non-compliance with Article 1.1:

Videos: English | Español | Français | Pусский | عربى

  • Sudan

The following State Party provided a written submission: Yemen

The following State party provided an update on its efforts to implement Article 9 of the Convention:

The following States Parties delivered general statements on compliance:

The President of the Nineteenth Meeting of the States Parties presented a draft agenda and programme of work for the Nineteenth Meeting of the States Parties.

The 19MSP Presidency provided an update on preparations for the 19MSP

The 19MSP Presidency recalled the interest expressed by Colombia to preside over the 20MSP. Colombia took the floor to introduce their expression of interest:

The following States Parties shared views on matters related to the 20MSP:

  • Venezuela
  • Nicaragua
  • Colombia (right of reply)
  • Netherlands

UNODA provided an update on financial matters related to the organisation of the 19MSP.

  • UNODA

Australia, in its capacity as Coordinator of the Sponsorship Programme provided an update on the Sponsorship Programme.

The ISU Director presented his update on the activities of finances of the ISU.

  • ISU Director

12. Closing of the 2021 Intersessional Meetings

The Intersessional Meetings were closed by the President of the Nineteenth Meeting of the States Parties.

Watch the proceedings

List of Side Events

Photos and videos on Flickr

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