PH Hosts Workshop on Convention on Cluster Munitions
The Philippine delegation during the Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). (DFA photo)
PASAY 26 June 2019 – The Philippines hosted the Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), on 18-19 June 2019, which discussed the challenges faced in the ratification or accession process to the CCM and to exchange concrete ideas on ways to address these in order to accelerate adherence.
Organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in partnership with the Implementation Support Unit of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (ISU-CCM) through the assistance of the Government of New Zealand, the regional workshop welcomed 22 delegates from 13 countries and participants from the International Committee on the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines-Cluster Munition Coalition (ICBM-CMC).
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for United Nations and International Organizations Noralyn Jubaira-Baja welcomed the participants and highlighted the Philippines’ anticipation to participate for the first time as a State Party in the upcoming 9th Meeting of States Parties (MSP) to the Convention in September 2019.
The statement was received warmly by the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva Ambassador Aliyar Lebbe Abdul Azeez, who is also the current president of the 9th MSP. Ambassador Azeez emphasized that Sri Lanka focuses on the implementation of Article 9 or the article on national implementation measures of the CCM, which signifies the approach that he will take as president of the 9th MSP.
Deputy Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations in Geneva Charlotte Skerten highlighted the work that still needs to be done to achieve the goal of reaching 130 States Parties to the CCM by the time of the Second Review Conference in 2020. So far, 106 states are parties to the Convention and 14 are signatories. Ms. Skerten also highlighted the available assistance for non-State Parties towards the ratification of the Convention.
Director of the ISU-CCM Shiela Mweemba shared the importance of ratifying the CCM. Ms. Mweemba highlighted Article 5 of the Convention, which focuses on victim assistance. She emphasized that the CCM is the first treaty to have a stand-alone provision on victim assistance.
The CCM is a multilateral treaty that “prohibits all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions”. The international treaty also “addresses the humanitarian consequences and unacceptable harm caused by cluster munitions to civilians, through categorical prohibition and a framework for action.” The CCM represents the culmination of the Oslo Process, which was launched by Norway in 2007 to craft an international treaty to prohibit cluster munitions. The CCM was adopted during a diplomatic conference in Dublin, Ireland on 30 May 2008 and opened for signature to states on 03 December 2008 in Oslo, Norway.
The Philippines ratified the CCM on 16 October 2018 and deposited its instrument of ratification on 03 January 2019. The Convention will enter into force in the Philippines on 01 July 2019. END
Participants of the Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on the CCM broke into groups to discuss the challenges and ways forward in the ratification and implementation of the Convention (DFA photo)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in partnership with the Implementation Support Unit of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (ISU-CCM) and the sponsorship of the Government of New Zealand, hosted the representatives from the States Parties, non-State Parties and organizations dedicated to the promotion of the ratification of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) for the two-day workshop entitled “Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on the Convention on Cluster Munitions,” on 18 June 2019 at the DFA.
The CCM is a legally binding international treaty that seeks to eliminate the harmful effects caused by cluster munitions through a comprehensive prohibition of their use, production, stockpiling and transfer. The Philippines ratified the CCM on 03 January 2019 and is the latest State Party to the Convention. (DFA photo)
Current President of the 9th Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Aliyar Lebbe Abdul Azeez (rightmost), addresses the participants during the first day of the Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on the CCM. Also in the photo are (from left) ISU-CCM Director Shiela Mweemba, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for United Nations and International Organizations Noralyn Jubaira-Baja, and Deputy Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations in Geneva Charlotte Skerten. (DFA photo)