Aligning the Convention with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent

Implementation of the Convention on Antipersonnel Mines in the Pacific
Aligning the Convention with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent
Regional Stakeholder Dialogue’s Concept Note and Provisional Programme | 7-9 September 2026, Koror, Palau

The Pacific Region boasts near-universal adherence to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Production, Stockpiling, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction. Of the 14 sovereign Pacific Island Nations, 13 are party to the Convention. This high level of membership is also reflected within the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), where all independent Member States except one, are States Parties to the Convention. Most other Pacific Rim countries are also States Parties, making this region a stronghold platform for engagement. With the current global context, the Pacific region’s renewed interest as reflected by recent positive developments, where the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Tonga joined the Convention, demonstrates that progress is possible if political commitment, regional ownership, and sustained engagement come together; and that small island nations play a big role in humanitarian norms and frameworks. 

The momentum created by recent ratification/accession makes Pacific regional dialogue a natural progression. Creating a dedicated regional space for Pacific States to exchange mine action experience, including on the clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and anti-personnel mines, to identify common challenges and priorities, to encourage one another as neighbours and partners to strengthen regional ownership of the Convention, and to foster continued cooperation in advancing shared humanitarian objectives is a well-timed effort. 

For many Pacific States implementation challenges are not related to mine contamination but rather to maintaining awareness of treaty commitments, preserving institutional knowledge, ensuring continuity, and integrating obligations into national systems. These include annual transparency reporting and/or putting in place national implementation measures to prevent and supresses any activity prohibited to a State Party or reporting on applicable national implementation measures. Palau, which will soon commemorate 20 years since adopting the Convention, therefore seeks to leverage its upcoming Chairing of the PIF to address these implementation challenges and to convene a Regional Stakeholder Dialogue (RSD).

The RSD has the technical backing of the Convention’s Implementation Support Unit (ISU) and is held to funding provided through a Decision adopted by the European Union to support implementation of the Convention and its Siem Reap–Angkor Action Plan 2025–2029 (SRAAP)[1].

The RSD also seeks to provide a platform to exchange experiences on synergies and complementary obligations under related instruments. These include the Convention on Cluster Munitions and Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War (CCW framework, as well as international agendas and frameworks, including for Sustainable Development Goals). This, with a view to strengthening consistency in national reporting, institutional arrangements, and operational coordination. A site visit to UXO-affected locations is planned for delegates to gain practical insight into survey and clearance methodologies and operational contexts, provide input for technical exchanges and facilitated discussions.

[1]Established under Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/781.

Day One | Monday 7 September | 08:00 – 16:00
A1 | Peleliu Field Visit

The field visit is hosted by the Ministry of State with support of the Government of Peleliu, Norwegian People’s Aid, Japan Mine Action Service, the ISU, and European Union (full details in separate programme).

Day Two | Tuesday 8 September | 08:30  – 17:00 

08:00-08:30 | Registration and welcome coffee 

08:30– 09:30 | B1

Official Opening 

Master of Ceremony: John Techitong, Legislative Liaison Officer, Bureau of Domestic Affairs, Ministry of State of Palau

• Distinguished Maeverlyn Pitanoe, Founder, Bomb Free Solomon Islands
• Distinguished Juan Carlos Ruan, Director, Implementation Support Unit / or other Convention representative
• Distinguished Nola Faasau, Adviser, PIF Delegation to the UN and other organisations in Geneva and Europe
• H.E. Barbara Plinkert, Ambassador of the European Union to the Pacific (online)
• H.E. Gustav N. Aitaro, Minister of State of Palau

Immediately following the opening session, all participants are invited to join the speakers for a group photo.

09:30 – 10:30 | B2 

The Convention: Successes and Challenges and its Implementation Framework in the Pacific

Overview of the Convention, its humanitarian objectives, and core obligations; implementation within broader regional/international priorities related to human security, resilience, and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. The session could include discussions on how best increase and align interests with the Pacific strategies.

Moderator: Juan Carlos Ruan, Director, Implementation Support Unit

• Fahad Ahmed, Legal Advisor, International Committee of the Red Cross
• Jamie Tarawa - Climate Security Advisor – PIF Secretariat (PIFS)/UN Development Programme (UNDP)
• Eunice Akiwo, Director, Bureau of Domestic Affairs, Ministry of State

10:45 – 12:45 | B3

Status of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) in the Pacific

Pacific States Parties are invited to present on their current contamination challenges and priorities, as well as lessons learnt and national frameworks for survey and clearance (State presentations). The exchange is an opportunity for States to highlight progress achieved and ongoing requirements for assistance. Session may continue if need be.

Moderator: Jamie Tarawa, Climate Security Advisor, PIFS/UNDP

Presentation by States on their national context (Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Naoero, Vanuatu)

14:00 – 14:45 | B4

Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War Casualties

Presentation of the largest epidemiological study on casualties from landmines and unexploded ordnance, which analysed data from over 100,000 individuals across 17 countries by Dr Stacey Pizzino, global health expert specialising in the intersection of conflict, disasters, and climate change, followed by discussion.

14:45 – 16:00 | B5

Addressing the Socioeconomic Impact of Antipersonnel Mines and Unexploded Ordnance  

Following the presentation, the session explores practical approaches to promoting inclusion, accessibility, and the meaningful participation of survivors of explosive remnants of war, in policy and programming. This session seeks to further provide an opportunity for participant to discuss the socioeconomic impact of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and experience with victims of explosive ordnance and disability issues as they relate to unexploded ordnance.

Moderator: Juan Carlos Ruan, Director, Implementation Support Unit

• Firoz Alizada, Implementation Support Officer, Implementation Support Unit (online)
• Andree Gabriel Garay Chico, Administrator, Institute for the Administration of Benefits for Veterans and Ex‑Combatants, El Salvador
• Mette Eliseussen, National Coordinator and Director, Safe Ground
• Maeverlyn Pitanoe, Founder, Bomb Free Solomon Islands

Followed by dialogue with affected States on the impact of unexploded ordnance.

16:15 – 17:00 | B6

Synergies: Other Key Arms-Related Instruments (Hybrid Session)

Common operational pillars such as clearance of contaminated areas, risk education, victim assistance, transparency reporting, and opportunities for greater coherence in national implementation, reporting practices, and institutional arrangements can contribute to a more efficient use of limited capacities. Furthermore, other arms control treaties play an important role in global efforts to reduce human suffering.  

Presentations delivered online from Geneva by Convention secretariats on obligations of relevance to Pacific States and the benefits and rationale for membership of these instruments.

Moderator: Eunice Akiwo, Director, Bureau of Domestic Affairs, Ministry of State

• Pamela Moraga, Director, Convention on Cluster Munitions Implementation Support Unit
• Aaron Junhoung Yoo, Deputy Director, Political Affairs Officer, Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, UN Office for Disarmament Affairs
• Tom Nijs, Policy Officer, Arms Trade Treaty Secretariat

An Evening of Palauan Hospitality at the Mangrove | Hosted by the Ministry of State of Palau and the European Union

Day Three | Wedneday 9 September | 09:00  – 17:00

09:00 – 10:00 | C1 

Mine Risk Education and Risk Reduction Efforts in the Region

Pacific States Parties are invited to present on their current efforts to provide mine risk education and risk reduction to prevent casualties from unexploded ordnance as well as lessons learnt.

Moderator: Eunice Akiwo, Director, Bureau of Domestic Affairs, Ministry of State

• Hanson Ngirakesau, Safety Officer, National Safety Office, Government of Palau
• Melissa Fisher, Palau Country Director, Norwegian People’s Aid
• Benzili Kasutaba, Director National Unexploded Ordnance, Solomon Islands
• Japan Mine Action Service

Discussion on mine risk education and prevention efforts.

 10:00 – 11:00 | C2

Transparency and Reporting under Article 7 

Purpose of Article 7 reporting, common challenges faced by States Parties in the Pacific, and practical approaches to improving consistency and completeness of submissions as a tool for implementation monitoring and cooperation. The session will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss reporting challenges and practical solutions for addressing these challenges.

Moderator: Juan Carlos Ruan, Director, Implementation Support Unit

• Sophie Delfolie, Implementation Support Specialist, Implementation Support Unit
• Desislava Gancheva, Assistant Director, International Security Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia

Discussion on reporting, efforts and challenges. 

11:15 – 12:45 | C3 

National Implementation Measures Under Article 9 

Legislative, administrative, and other institutional requirements for effective domestic legislation on the Convention – examples of existing legislations and approaches to penalised sanctions, national checklist, exchange of experiences on reporting on existing legislation or the adoption of legislation.

Moderator: Sophie Delfolie, Implementation Support Unit

• Juan Carlos Ruan, Director, Implementation Support Unit
• Fahad Ahmed, Legal Advisor, International Committee of the Red Cross
• Laura-Madeleine Kuepper, Policy Officer, International Security and Disarmament Division, New Zealand (online)

14:00 – 15:00 | C4

Cooperation and Assistance: Applying the Convention’s Framework for ERW Support

This session seeks to explore how the Convention’s cooperation and assistance framework could potentially be used to support approaches to national mine action programmes in the Pacific; how States Parties could identify and articulate their needs through Article 7 reporting and Meetings of States Parties for bilateral, regional, and international support; and highlight current cooperation and assistance in the region, lessons learnt, and best practices.

• Pacific Island Forum on regional cooperation and assistance frameworks in the Pacific.
• States in a position to provide assistance are invited to highlight their cooperation and assistance efforts (Australia, Japan).
• Participating organisations (HALO Trust, Norwegian People’s Aid, Japan Mine Action Service, Mine Advisory Group, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining), are invited to present on their efforts to support States in the Pacific.

15:00 – 16:00 | C5

What Next for the Pacific? 

This session seeks to synthesize key themes emerging, including national implementation experiences, reporting practices, cooperation and assistance needs, and synergies with other relevant instruments. Participants are invited to identify shared regional priorities, practical follow-up actions, and opportunities for enhanced coordination and peer support. The discussion also aims to consolidate the outcomes and help inform future engagement.

• Juan Carlos Ruan, Director, Implementation Support Unit
• Hanson Ngirakesau, Safety Officer, National Safety Office, Government of Palau
• Paki Ormsby, PIFS UXO Consultant

Intervention by States/partners on their reflections on the way forward.

16:00 – 16:30 | Break for Evaluations and Preparing the Closing Session 

16:30 – 17:00 | C6 

Closing Ceremony 

• European External Action Service (EEAS) (online)

Key remarks,

• H.E. Gustav N. Aitaro, Minister of State of Palau delivers closing remarks.