03 July 2015 - The Philippine Mission to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons Implementation Support Unit (CCW-ISU) organized a universalization Briefing for ASEAN Member States on the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva on June 29.

The Briefing, conducted by Sri Lanka Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha as Chairperson-designate of the CCW Meeting of the High Contracting Parties, Mr. Bantan Nugroho of the CCW-ISU and Mr. Gilles Giacca of the International Committee of the Red Cross, provided an excellent opportunity for ASEAN Member States to learn more about the Convention, as well as the current work being undertaken within the purview of the CCW, such as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS).

In her remarks, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong undercored the importance of the Convention as one of the principal instruments of international humanitarian law, which seeks a balance between humanitarian concerns and defense considerations.

As a State party to the Convention and former President of the Meeting of States Parties, the Philippines fully supports and promotes universal adherence to the Convention. To date, of the 10 Member States of ASEAN, only three States are States parties to the Convention (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Philippines) and one is a signatory State (Vietnam). END