
Summary
The Conference was opened by His Excellency Dr. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice-President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority and President of the Fifth Review Conference.
The opening ceremony of the Fifth Review Conference featured the participation of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, Armida Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), who conveyed a message from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Wrood Taleb Eqyoosh representing the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) who conveyed a message on behalf of the landmine survivors, Gilles Carbonnier, Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein, Convention Special Envoy, and Ms Tamar Gabelnick, Director of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines – Cluster Munition Coalition.
- Ms. Wrood Taleb Eqyoosh on behalf of the landmine survivors
- H.E. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive-Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, High Representative of the United Nations
- Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei HUN MANET, Prime Minister of Cambodia
The States Parties adopted the agenda of the Fifth Review Conference.
In keeping with past practice, the eight outgoing members of the Committees were elected as Vice-Presidents of the Fifth Review Conference, namely Algeria, Colombia, Japan, Norway, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden and Zambia.
H.E. Ly Panharith, Secretary-General of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority was confirmed as Secretary-General of the Fifth Review Conference.
The States Parties adopted the programme of work for the Fifth Review Conference.
The following representatives of States Parties addressed the Conference during the high level segment:
- H.E. Archbishop Ettore Balestrero Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva read a message from Pope Francis
- Honourable Oppah C.Z. Muchinguri – Kashiri, Minister of Defence of Zimbabwe
- H.E. Muzaffar Ashuriyon, Minister of Justice of Tajikistan
- H.E. Dr. Ali Hijazy, Minister of Freedom of the Fatherland Fighters of Guinea-Bissau
- Ms. Bêbgnasgnan Stella Eldine KABRE/KABORE, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso
- Ms. ERI Arfiya, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan
- HRH Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan
- The Hon Kim Beazley AC, Chair, Council of the Australian War Memorial
- H.E. Ian G. McKay, Canada’s Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific, Ambassador of Canada to Japan
- Mr. Andreas Kravik, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway
- H.E. Hope Kalabi Situmbeko, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Zambia
- H.E. Maria Teresa T. Almojuela, Assistant Secretary, Office of United Nations and International Organisations, Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines
- Mr. Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission
- Mr Toufiqe Hasan, Director General, United Nations Wing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh
- Ms. Dayani Mendis, Director-General, United Nations and Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka
- H.E. Ms. Pinsuda Jayanama, Director-General of the Department of International Organisations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
The following representatives of observer delegations addressed the Conference during the high level segment:
- H.E. Mr. Hai-Anh Pham, Director General of the Department of International Organisations of Viet Nam
- H.E. Thongphane Savanphet, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR
- Mr. Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
- Mr. Gilles Carbonnier, Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross
- Ms. Barbara Haering, President of the GICHD Council of Foundation
The following delegations also renewed their political commitment to the Convention:
- Angola
- Argentina
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Chile
- Colombia
- Côte d’ivoire
- Dominican Republic
- Germany
- Holy See
- Hungary
- Indonesia
- Italy
- Lesotho
- Mexico
- Mozambique
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- New Zealand joint statement
- Peru
- Portugal
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Türkiye
- Vanuatu
In addition, the following States Parties submitted written statements: Cameroon, Indonesia Ireland and the United Kingdom.
The following representatives of observer delegations also addressed the Conference:
- ICBL
- NPA
In addition, the following observer delegation submitted a written statement: HALO Trust
The following States Parties which had submitted requests for extensions of their Article 5 mine clearance deadlines presented their requests:
- Chad
- Eritrea
- Cyprus
- Guinea-Bissau
- Niger
- Peru
- Serbia
The Chair of the Committee on Article 5 Implementation introduced the analyses that had been prepared with respect to the requests submitted by Chad, Cyprus, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Peru and Serbia. The Chair also introduced observations on the request for an extension of the Article 5 deadline for completing the destruction of anti-personnel mines in Afghanistan.
Views were shared by the following delegations with respect to requests submitted by:
- Afghanistan: Türkiye, ICBL, NPA on behalf of Mine Action Review, HALO Trust
- Chad: Mauritania and NPA on behalf of Mine Action Review
- Eritrea: ICBL and NPA on behalf of Mine Action Review
- Cyprus: Türkiye
Cyprus exerted its right of reply.
- Peru: NPA
- Serbia: NPA on behalf of Mine Action Review
8a.Universalization
The President provided an update on the status of universalization and details on how universalization has been addressed in the Conference proposed outcome documents.
The Convention’s Special Envoy, His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al Hussein of Jordan, delivered introductory remarks on universalization.
The following States not party shared views on the Convention and provided updates on steps being taken or considered to accede to the Convention: Morocco and Tonga.
The following other delegations shared views or provided updates on efforts taken to encourage universal acceptance of the Convention or or otherwise shared views on the pursuit of the universalization of the Convention: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Belgium, Cameroon, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, European Union, ICBL, ICRC, NPA and the UN Resident Coordinator in Cambodia on behalf of the United Nations Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action.
In addition, Indonesia submitted a written statement.
8b.Destroying stockpiled anti-personnel mines
The President provided an update on the status of implementation of Article 4 stockpile destruction obligations and details on how matters related to stockpile destruction have been addressed in the Conference proposed outcome documents.
General Saksit Sangchanintr, Director General of Thailand Mine Action Centre delivered introductory remarks on stockpile destruction.
The following States Parties in the process of destroying stockpiled anti-personnel mines provided an update on efforts to complete implementation of Article 4 of the Convention: Greece and Ukraine.
The following States Parties provided updates on anti-personnel mines retained in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention: Bangladesh and Botswana.
The following delegations commented on the stockpile destruction aspects of the proposed outcome documents or otherwise shared views on stockpile destruction: ICBL
8c. Clearing mined areas
The President provided an update on the status of implementation of Article 5 mine clearance obligations and details on how matters related to mine clearance and mine risk education have been addressed in the Conference proposed outcome documents.
Colombia, in its capacity as Chair of the Committee on Article 5 Implementation, gave an overview of mine clearance from the Committee’s perspective.
The following States Parties in the process of implementing Article 5 mine clearance obligations provided updates: Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Colombia, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Iraq, Mozambique, Oman, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, State of Palestine, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine, Yemen and Zimbabwe.
The following delegations commented on the mine clearance and/or mine risk education aspects of the proposed outcome documents or otherwise shared views on mine clearance and/or mine risk education: Austria, Cameroon, Ireland, Mali, Mali on behalf of the Confederation of Sahel States, Norway, South Africa on behalf of the African Union, Switzerland, European Union, Morocco, CEOBS on behalf of the Environmental Issues in Mine Action Working Group, GICHD, HALO Trust, ICBL, IFRC-ICRC joint statement, MAG, MAG on behalf of the EORE Working Group, NPA, NPA on behalf of Mine Action Review, UNDP on behalf of the United Nations Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action.
One delegation exerted its right of reply: Mali.
In addition, the following statement was provided in a written form: ICBL on behalf of the Gender and Diversity in Mine Action Working Group.
Ms. Memory Mutepfa, Senior Community Liaison Officer and Head of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education, NPA Zimbabwe delivered closing remarks.
Thailand, as incoming Chair of the Committee on Article 5 Implementation presented the Committee’s priorities for next year.
8d. Assisting the victims
The President recalled that even if the goal of a mine-free world and without new mine victims is achieved, work still needs to be done to ensure that mine victims and survivors are fully and equally included in society and that they receive the services they need to participate in society. In this context, the President provided details on how matters related to victim assistance have been addressed in the Conference proposed outcome documents.
Ms. Maria Soledad Cisternas Reyes, Disability Rights Lawyer, Former Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Disability and Accessibility delivered introductory remarks.
Slovenia, in its capacity as Chair of the Committee on Victim Assistance, gave an overview of victim assistance from the Committee’s perspective.
The following States Parties in the process of fulfilling their responsibilities to mine victims provided updates on their efforts related to victim assistance: Algeria, Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Colombia, Colombia landmine survivor, Croatia, Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau, Iraq, Jordan, Mali, Peru, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.
In addition, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Yemen submitted written statements.
The following delegations commented on the victim assistance aspects of the proposed outcome documents or otherwise shared views on victim assistance: Argentina, Austria, Cameroon, Cameroon, Canada, Germany, Italy, Mozambique, Netherlands, Slovenia, Zambia, European Union, Morocco, ICBL, ICBL on behalf of the Gender and Diversity in Mine Action Working Group and UNICEF on behalf of the United Nations Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action.
Burkina Faso, as incoming Chair of the Committee on Victim Assistance presented the Committee’s priorities for next year.
8e (i) Cooperation and assistance
The President recalled that while each State Party is responsible for fulfilling its obligations under the Convention, meaningful cooperation and assistance – be it financial, technical or other types of support – can significantly help a State Party in fulfilling its obligations under the Convention, or to help it do so faster than it would have been able to on its own. In this context, the President provided details on how matters related to cooperation and assistance have been addressed in the Conference proposed outcome documents.
Mr. Dunas Ezekiel, Executive-Director, Youths Awaken Foundation in Nigeria delivered introductory remarks.
Algeria, in its capacity as Chair of the Committee on the Enhancement of Cooperation and Assistance, gave an overview of cooperation and assistance from the Committee’s perspective.
The following delegations shared views on matters relation to cooperation and assistance: Nigeria and Türkiye joint statement, Ecuador-Peru joint statement, Algeria, Argentina, Cameroon, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Finland, France, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mauritania, Namibia, New Zealand, Qatar, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UK, European Union Morocco and UNMAS.
In addition, the following delegations submitted written statements: Brazil and Cambodia, ICBL, ICBL on behalf of the Gender and Diversity in Mine Action Working Group, ITF Enhancing Human Security, FSD on behalf of the Environmental Working Group, GICHD, HALO Trust, NPA and MAG.
8e (ii) Transparency in implementation
The President provided an update on the status of transparency and the exchange of information and emphasized the link between the provision of high-quality information and cooperation and assistance. In addition, the President provided details on how matters related to transparency and the exchange of information have been addressed in the Conference proposed outcome documents.
Mr. Angel Valjean Horna Chicchon, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Peru in Geneva and Member of the Committee on Cooperative Compliance delivered introductory remarks.
The following delegations provided updates and/or shared views on transparency and the exchange of information: Benin, Cameroon, Sudan and the ICBL.
8e (iii) Measures to ensure compliance
The President underlined the importance of ensuring compliance with all the Convention’s obligations and highlighted the Convention’s tradition of cooperation and transparency in this regard. In this context, the President emphasized the importance of having clear and agreed ways to handle cases of non-compliance and provided details on how these matters are reflected in the Conference proposed outcome documents.
Ms. Ingrid Schøyen, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Norway to the UN in Geneva and Member of the Committee on Cooperative Compliance, delivered introductory remarks.
The following States Parties that have sustained a cooperative dialogue with the Committee on alleged or confirmed use of anti-personnel mines provided an update: Ukraine and Yemen.
The following delegations provided updates and/or shared views on measures to ensure compliance: Austria, Belgium, Cameroon, Ghana, ICBL, ICRC and NPA.
After the closing of this agenda item, Japan delivered, on behalf of 60 countries, a joint cross-regional statement on gender and diversity mainstreaming progress.
8e (iv) Implementation support
The President recalled that the Fifth Review Conference is an opportunity to review the machinery that was established at the Third Review Conference in 2014 and amended at the Fourth Review Conference in 2029 as well an opportunity to review the need and the nature of meetings (both formal and informal) and agree on the meetings programme for the period until the Sixth Review Conference in 2029. In this regard, the President presented his report on the Convention's machinery and meeting programme which was prepared to facilitate the Conference's review of these matters.
- Proposals regarding the Convention’s meeting programme and machinery 2025 - 2029
The President presented a set of proposed decisions on the Convention's meeting programme and on the machinery.
- Proposed decisions on the Convention’s programme and machinery
No delegation took the floor on these matters.
The Conference adopted the decisions on the Convention's meeting programme and the Convention's machinery.
With regards to matters related to the Implementation Support Unit (ISU), the Director of the ISU presented the ISU Work Plan and Budget 2025-2029, the ISU Work Plan 2025, the interim 2024 report on activities and finances and the audited annual financial report for 2023.
The following delegations shared views with respect to the ISU: Switzerland.
Following expressions of support for the work of the ISU Director and the wish of the current and the next two presidencies to extend the Director’s mandate, a silence procedure was launched on 7 July 2024 on this matter in which no reservations were expressed.
The Conference agreed to extend the contract of the current Director of the ISU until 30 April 2027.
In addition, the President recalled the need to support the mechanisms established by States Parties and called on all States Parties to consider a voluntary contribution to the ISU.
The Conference also considered a number of other matters concerning implementation support, including the new Committee members and the Convention's Sponsorship Programme.
In keeping with its mandate, the Fifth Review Conference President consulted with States Parties to identify a list of nominees to serve as new Committee members following the Fifth Review Conference. The Conference agreed that the following States Parties serve as Committee members from the end of the Fifth Review Conference for a two-year term:
- Committee on Victim Assistance: Austria and Sri Lanka
- Committee on Article 5 Implementation: Algeria and Norway
- Committee on the Enhancement of Cooperation and Assistance: Cameroon and Switzerland
- Committee on Cooperative Compliance: Belgium and Cambodia
It was agreed that these States Parties would join the following which would be completing the second year of their two-year term between the end of the Fifth Review Conference and the end of the Twenty-Second Meeting of the States Parties:
- Committee on Victim Assistance: Burkina Faso and the Netherlands
- Committee on Article 5 Implementation: Thailand and the United Kingdom
- Committee on Enhancement of Cooperation and Assistance: Denmark and Türkiye
- Committee on Cooperative Compliance: Germany and Peru
In addition, Australia, in its capacity as Coordinator of the Sponsorship Programme provided an update on the Sponsorship Programme.
- Update of the Sponsorship Programme Coordinator
The Fifth Review Conference Executive-Secretary, Mélanie Regimbal from UNODA, provided an update on the status of assessed contributions.
- Executive-Secretary update
No delegation took the floor under this item.
8. Review of the operation and status of the Convention
The President provided an update on the status of universalization and details on how universalization has been addressed in the Conference proposed outcome documents.
The Convention’s Special Envoy, His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al Hussein of Jordan, delivered introductory remarks on universalization.
The following States not party shared views on the Convention and provided updates on steps being taken or considered to accede to the Convention: Morocco and Tonga.
The following other delegations shared views or provided updates on efforts taken to encourage universal acceptance of the Convention or or otherwise shared views on the pursuit of the universalization of the Convention: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Belgium, Cameroon, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, European Union, ICBL, ICRC, NPA and the UN Resident Coordinator in Cambodia on behalf of the United Nations Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action.
In addition, Indonesia submitted a written statement.
The President provided an update on the status of implementation of Article 4 stockpile destruction obligations and details on how matters related to stockpile destruction have been addressed in the Conference proposed outcome documents.
General Saksit Sangchanintr, Director General of Thailand Mine Action Centre delivered introductory remarks on stockpile destruction.
The following States Parties in the process of destroying stockpiled anti-personnel mines provided an update on efforts to complete implementation of Article 4 of the Convention: Greece and Ukraine.
The following States Parties provided updates on anti-personnel mines retained in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention: Bangladesh and Botswana.
The following delegations commented on the stockpile destruction aspects of the proposed outcome documents or otherwise shared views on stockpile destruction: ICBL.
The President provided an update on the status of implementation of Article 5 mine clearance obligations and details on how matters related to mine clearance and mine risk education have been addressed in the Conference proposed outcome documents.
Colombia, in its capacity as Chair of the Committee on Article 5 Implementation, gave an overview of mine clearance from the Committee’s perspective.
The following States Parties in the process of implementing Article 5 mine clearance obligations provided updates: Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Colombia, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Iraq, Mozambique, Oman, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, State of Palestine, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine, Yemen and Zimbabwe.
The following delegations commented on the mine clearance and/or mine risk education aspects of the proposed outcome documents or otherwise shared views on mine clearance and/or mine risk education: Austria, Cameroon, Ireland, Mali, Mali on behalf of the Confederation of Sahel States, Norway, South Africa on behalf of the African States parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, Switzerland, European Union, Morocco, CEOBS on behalf of the Environmental Issues in Mine Action Working Group, GICHD, HALO Trust, ICBL, IFRC-ICRC joint statement, MAG, MAG on behalf of the EORE Working Group, NPA, NPA on behalf of Mine Action Review, UNDP on behalf of the United Nations Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action.
One delegation exerted its right of reply: Mali.
In addition, the following statement was provided in a written form: ICBL on behalf of the Gender and Diversity in Mine Action Working Group.
Ms. Memory Mutepfa, Senior Community Liaison Officer and Head of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education, NPA Zimbabwe delivered closing remarks.
Thailand, as incoming Chair of the Committee on Article 5 Implementation presented the Committee’s priorities for next year.
The President recalled that even if the goal of a mine-free world and without new mine victims is achieved, work still needs to be done to ensure that mine victims and survivors are fully and equally included in society and that they receive the services they need to participate in society. In this context, the President provided details on how matters related to victim assistance have been addressed in the Conference proposed outcome documents.
Ms. Maria Soledad Cisternas Reyes, Disability Rights Lawyer, Former Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Disability and Accessibility delivered introductory remarks.
Slovenia, in its capacity as Chair of the Committee on Victim Assistance, gave an overview of victim assistance from the Committee’s perspective.
The following States Parties in the process of fulfilling their responsibilities to mine victims provided updates on their efforts related to victim assistance: Algeria, Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Colombia, Colombia landmine survivor, Croatia, Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau, Iraq, Jordan, Mali, Peru, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.
In addition, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Yemen submitted written statements.
The following delegations commented on the victim assistance aspects of the proposed outcome documents or otherwise shared views on victim assistance: Argentina, Austria, Cameroon, Cameroon, Canada, Germany, Italy, Mozambique, Netherlands, Slovenia, Zambia, European Union, Morocco, ICBL, ICBL on behalf of the Gender and Diversity in Mine Action Working Group and UNICEF on behalf of the United Nations Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action.
Burkina Faso, as incoming Chair of the Committee on Victim Assistance presented the Committee’s priorities for next year.
The President recalled that while each State Party is responsible for fulfilling its obligations under the Convention, meaningful cooperation and assistance – be it financial, technical or other types of support – can significantly help a State Party in fulfilling its obligations under the Convention, or to help it do so faster than it would have been able to on its own. In this context, the President provided details on how matters related to cooperation and assistance have been addressed in the Conference proposed outcome documents.
Mr. Dunas Ezekiel, Executive-Director, Youths Awaken Foundation in Nigeria delivered introductory remarks.
Algeria, in its capacity as Chair of the Committee on the Enhancement of Cooperation and Assistance, gave an overview of cooperation and assistance from the Committee’s perspective.
The following delegations shared views on matters relation to cooperation and assistance: Nigeria and Türkiye joint statement, Ecuador-Peru joint statement, Algeria, Argentina, Cameroon, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Finland, France, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mauritania, Namibia, New Zealand, Qatar, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UK, European Union Morocco and UNMAS.
In addition, the following delegations submitted written statements: Brazil and Cambodia, ICBL, ICBL on behalf of the Gender and Diversity in Mine Action Working Group, ITF Enhancing Human Security, FSD on behalf of the Environmental Working Group, GICHD, HALO Trust, NPA and MAG.
The President provided an update on the status of transparency and the exchange of information and emphasized the link between the provision of high-quality information and cooperation and assistance. In addition, the President provided details on how matters related to transparency and the exchange of information have been addressed in the Conference proposed outcome documents.
Mr. Angel Valjean Horna Chicchon, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Peru in Geneva and Member of the Committee on Cooperative Compliance delivered introductory remarks.
The following delegations provided updates and/or shared views on transparency and the exchange of information: Benin, Cameroon, Sudan and the ICBL.
The President underlined the importance of ensuring compliance with all the Convention’s obligations and highlighted the Convention’s tradition of cooperation and transparency in this regard. In this context, the President emphasized the importance of having clear and agreed ways to handle cases of non-compliance and provided details on how these matters are reflected in the Conference proposed outcome documents.
Ms. Ingrid Schøyen, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Norway to the UN in Geneva and Member of the Committee on Cooperative Compliance, delivered introductory remarks.
The following States Parties that have sustained a cooperative dialogue with the Committee on alleged or confirmed use of anti-personnel mines provided an update: Ukraine and Yemen.
The following delegations provided updates and/or shared views on measures to ensure compliance: Austria, Belgium, Cameroon, Ghana, ICBL, ICRC and NPA.
After the closing of this agenda item, Japan delivered, on behalf of 60 countries, a joint cross-regional statement on gender and diversity mainstreaming progress.
The President recalled that the Fifth Review Conference is an opportunity to review the machinery that was established at the Third Review Conference in 2014 and amended at the Fourth Review Conference in 2029 as well an opportunity to review the need and the nature of meetings (both formal and informal) and agree on the meetings programme for the period until the Sixth Review Conference in 2029. In this regard, the President presented his report on the Convention's machinery and meeting programme which was prepared to facilitate the Conference's review of these matters.
- Proposals regarding the Convention’s meeting programme and machinery 2025 - 2029
The President presented a set of proposed decisions on the Convention's meeting programme and on the machinery.
- Proposed decisions on the Convention’s programme and machinery
No delegation took the floor on these matters.
The Conference adopted the decisions on the Convention's meeting programme and the Convention's machinery.
With regards to matters related to the Implementation Support Unit (ISU), the Director of the ISU presented the ISU Work Plan and Budget 2025-2029, the ISU Work Plan 2025, the interim 2024 report on activities and finances and the audited annual financial report for 2023.
The following delegations shared views with respect to the ISU: Switzerland.
Following expressions of support for the work of the ISU Director and the wish of the current and the next two presidencies to extend the Director’s mandate, a silence procedure was launched on 7 July 2024 on this matter in which no reservations were expressed.
The Conference agreed to extend the contract of the current Director of the ISU until 30 April 2027.
In addition, the President recalled the need to support the mechanisms established by States Parties and called on all States Parties to consider a voluntary contribution to the ISU.
The Conference also considered a number of other matters concerning implementation support, including the new Committee members and the Convention's Sponsorship Programme.
In keeping with its mandate, the Fifth Review Conference President consulted with States Parties to identify a list of nominees to serve as new Committee members following the Fifth Review Conference. The Conference agreed that the following States Parties serve as Committee members from the end of the Fifth Review Conference for a two-year term:
- Committee on Victim Assistance: Austria and Sri Lanka
- Committee on Article 5 Implementation: Algeria and Norway
- Committee on the Enhancement of Cooperation and Assistance: Cameroon and Switzerland
- Committee on Cooperative Compliance: Belgium and Cambodia
It was agreed that these States Parties would join the following which would be completing the second year of their two-year term between the end of the Fifth Review Conference and the end of the Twenty-Second Meeting of the States Parties:
- Committee on Victim Assistance: Burkina Faso and the Netherlands
- Committee on Article 5 Implementation: Thailand and the United Kingdom
- Committee on Enhancement of Cooperation and Assistance: Denmark and Türkiye
- Committee on Cooperative Compliance: Germany and Peru
In addition, Australia, in its capacity as Coordinator of the Sponsorship Programme provided an update on the Sponsorship Programme.
- Update of the Sponsorship Programme Coordinator
The 21MSP considered a number of other matters concerning implementation support, including dates for the Intersessional Meetings in 2024, the new Committee members and the Convention's Sponsorship Programme.
The 21MSP agreed to hold the 2024 Intersessional Meetings on 18-20 June 2024 in Geneva.
In keeping with his mandate, the 21MSP President consulted with States Parties to identify a list of nominees to serve as new Committee members following the 21MSP. The Meeting agreed on the following proposal:
- Committee on Article 5 Implementation: Colombia and Sweden (until the end of the Fifth Review Conference), Thailand and the United Kingdom (until the end of the Twenty-Second Meeting of the States Parties);
- Committee on Victim Assistance: Slovenia and Zambia (until the end of the Fifth Review Conference), Burkina Faso and the Netherlands (until the end of the Twenty-Second Meeting of the States Parties);
- Committee on Enhancement of Cooperation and Assistance: Algeria and Japan (until the end of the Fifth Review Conference), Türkiye and Denmark (until the end of the Twenty-Second Meeting of the States Parties);
- Committee on Cooperative Compliance: Norway and South Africa (until the end of the Fifth Review Conference), Germany and Peru (until the end of the Twenty-Second Meeting of the States Parties).
In addition, Australia, in its capacity as Coordinator of the Sponsorship Programme provided an update on the Sponsorship Programme.
The Fifth Review Conference Executive-Secretary, Mélanie Regimbal from UNODA, provided an update on the status of assessed contributions.
- Executive-Secretary update
No delegation took the floor under this item.
The Conference approved the ISU’s Five-Year Work Plan and Budget 2025-2029, the ISU 2025 work plan and budget, the ISU’s 2024 interim report and the ISU 2023 audited statement.
The Conference took decisions on the requests for extended mine clearance deadlines which had been submitted by Afghanistan, Chad, Cyprus, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Peru and Serbia.
- Decisions on the Article 5 request submitted by Afghanistan
- Decisions on the Article 5 request submitted by Chad
- Decisions on the Article 5 request submitted by Cyprus
- Decisions on the Article 5 request submitted by Eritrea
- Decisions on the Article 5 request submitted by Guinea-Bissau
- Decisions on the Article 5 request submitted by Niger
- Decisions on the Article 5 request submitted by Peru
- Decisions on the Article 5 request submitted by Serbia
The Conference decided to hold the Convention’s Twenty-Second Meeting of the States Parties the week of 1 December 2025 in Geneva and to hold the Intersessional Meetings the week of 16-20 June 2025.
The President recalled the decision of the States Parties that Her Excellency Tomiko Ichikawa, Ambassador of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament has been designated to preside over the Twenty-Second Meeting of the States Parties.
Statement of the President of the Twenty-Second Meeting of the States Parties
In addition, the Conference adopted costs estimates for the Twenty-Third Meeting of the States Parties.
- Estimated costs for the 23MSP
Following a presentation by the President of the latest amendments to the final documents, the Conference recommended the Review, the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan and the Siem Reap-Angkor Declaration on a Mine-Free World together with their respective amendments for adoption.
- Review of the operation and status of the Convention 2019-2024
- Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan 2025-2029
- Siem Reap-Angkor Declaration on a Mine-Free World
The following State Party submitted an interpretative statement on the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan: Türkiye.
No delegation took the floor under this item.
The Conference adopted its final report and related documents, which were recommended for adoption during the morning session on Friday 29 November.
The President of the Fifth Review Conference, H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch, and invited speakers closed the Fifth Review Conference.
- Keynote address by Sister Denise Coghlan, Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines
- Youth statement
- President’s closing remarks