9 March 2006

Fittingly, the March 9 Conference on Disarmament session focused on International Women's Day and the anniversary of the Mine Ban Convention's entry into force. Several delegations made the link between the crucial role Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) played in establishing the Mine Ban outside the CD and their continued lack of access inside the CD. States also discussed the Programme of Work, a Fissile Materials Treaty (FMT), and a nuclear weapon free zone in the Middle East. The Conference said "goodbye and see you soon" to Ambassador Tim Caughley on his last day as New Zealand's Ambassador before he returns as Under-Secretary General of the CD.

NGO Engagement
"[D]espite all the support we have heard over the past several weeks, apparently it is not yet possible to have a female civil society leader address you from the floor in a statement delivered once a year on the occasion of International Women's Day," the President read from the NGO statement. "Although we are disappointed that we are unable to read our own statement, we see this as a testimony to the power of civil society and women’s NGOs in particular."

South Africa recalled Security Council resolution 1325's mandate to include women in peace and security decision making, and the important role women play therein. "NGOs have long been called the conscience of the international community, but we also serve practical functions," explained the NGOs. "We offer numerous resources to you, we act as a liaison to the public, as a source for technical expertise, and as archives and institutional memory." Italy recognized the role NGOs play in disarmament and Sweden actually commented on the content of the NGO statement, which it found "useful and thought-provoking".

Ireland, who introduced the proposal to have the women's NGOs read their own statement, thought it inappropriate to celebrate International Women's Day by having the women in the gallery "seen but not heard." Norway called this "bizarre practice [...] as embarrassing as the general impasse is embarrassing"; Algeria said it was "not mature"; and Kenya called it "deplorable". In total, 11 delegations spoke in favor of the NGOs reading their own statement. Irish Representative Declan Smyth noted that no delegation had spoken against the proposal and, after thanking the US for distributing Secretary Rice's comments saluting International Women's Day, asked the US delegation for its views on the proposal.

In her distributed statement, US Secretary Rice said, "In countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, and throughout the broader Middle East, women are contributing to and leading democratic change that cannot be stopped."

Syria bemusedly observed that "the states that objected to such participation [in the CD] are the same states that daily call on us to step up participation of NGOs in matters related to democracy, human rights, peace and security. These states seem to wish NGOs to be tools of their own policy."

Ireland questioned the process by which the decision was made and Sweden attributed the situation to "intransparent decision-making procedures and dysfunctional consultations through regional groups." The Republic of Korea said that despite the large number of delegations in favor of the Irish proposal, his Presidential consultations were "inconclusive". Several states suggested the situation change next year and Kenya advised the CD to "revisit the rules of procedure if it is to remain credible."

In that regard, the Republic of Korea asked the Friends of the President to find the best applicable practice for more constructive engagement of civil society, taking into account the practices in other fora, and report on their findings at the end of the year. This is the Friends' first assignment following their initial mandate to work on a programme of work and working methods.

Programme of Work
In his farewell address, Ambassador Tim Caughley gave a useful and succinct analysis of the state of play in the CD with regard to its procedures, programme of work and mood. He listed evidence that the CD is making some modest progress and said he is "more hopeful than at any time during the past four years that our rhetoric is giving way to pragmatism." He was encouraged by the year's timetable for substantive discussions, the increased level and cooperative tone of engagement, and the focus on results over process.

Ambassador Caughley also suggested a new programme of work formula with two activities: the negotiation of a fissile materials treaty (FMT), and the discussion of mandates for nuclear disarmament, the prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS), and negative security assurances. New Zealand "would like to hear a contrary view [to this proposal] if there is one."

The women's NGO statement also invited transparency on positions on a programme of work, having heard no public objections to the Five Ambassadors' proposal: "The world would like to know who opposes the A5 proposal, and why, and what alternative suggestions will be made to achieve consensus on a Programme of Work."

Algeria and Syria advised the CD treat all four core issues (FMT, nuclear disarmament, PAROS and negative security assurances) equally, reminding the conference that while delegations say the FMT is ripe for negotiations, nuclear disarmament has been on the agenda for over fifty years, since the first UN General Assembly resolution.

Fissile Materials Treaty (FMT)

Japan, a leader on a Fissile Materials Treaty (FMT), discussed it in-depth, giving an overview of its utility, and highlights from the coming Japanese working paper, including the physical protection of fissile materials, different types of FMT verification, and different types of existing stocks of fissile materials. With regard to verification, he noted "even if one category is difficult, others may still work." The women's NGO statement maintained that "[a]n FMT is verifiable, and verification is absolutely crucial to any effective disarmament and nonproliferation regime." 

Importantly, Japan outlined that scope of existing stocks, verification, and the definition of fissile materials would need to be addressed with a minimum of two sessions each for the first two and one focused session for the third, as well as one session for other issues when the CD discusses an FMT in May. Japan will be bringing experts in from capital, and expects other delegations to do so. "The seriousness of this [FMT] exercise will have a significant influence on the outside world's opinion of the CD's ability to work without help from other fora" advised the NGO statement.

Syria, while agreeing that an FMT is a nuclear disarmament measure, argued that a negotiating mandate "without preconditions" was itself conditional. Existing stocks has long been a contentious issue, which the Shannon mandate solved by excluding it from the mandate without prejudice to any delegation raising the issue in negotiations. Now it looks as though the same may be done for verification if the US does not agree to a mandate including verification before the negotiations begin. This is "another way of supporting the preconditions of no present stocks, no material other than that used for NW, and no verification" said Syria.

Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in the Middle East
Israel took the floor to explain how its view of nuclear disarmament was linked to both a global and regional perspective. Israel, a non-state party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, reiterated its position that it will participate in disarmament and a nuclear weapon free zone in the Middle East after peace is established in the region. The Iranian President's comments about wiping Israel off the map were “not contributing to achieving that goal”, and calls for disarmament amidst violence in the region "ill-timed". Syria responded that Israel is responsible for regional tensions through its occupation of Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, and if Israel followed international law "there would be no problem with peaceful relations.” Iran used its right of reply to say that as a non-state party to the NPT, Chemical Weapons Convention and Biological Weapons Convention, Israel was least authorized to talk about compliance issues, including Iran". 

Mine Ban Treaty
Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Egypt, Malaysia, Norway, South Africa and Switzerland made statements supporting the Mine Ban Treaty on the seventh anniversary of its entry into force (March 1), several recognizing the contribution of NGOs. Croatia, who hosted the 6th meeting of States Parties at the end of 2005, told the conference that 149 states, ¾ of the world, were now party to the treaty. Argentina noted that Latin America has the highest membership, and the Western Hemisphere contains only two non-States Parties. South Africa told the CD that Africa has suffered greatly from anti-personnel landmines and "believes that the Mine Ban Treaty has irreversibly established itself as the international norm in banning anti-personnel mines." Canada cited the Landmine Monitor’s evidence that only four governments are currently laying new anti-personnel mines.

With the Mine Ban Treaty as an inspiration for creative collaboration between NGOs and governments, we turn to the different situation of nuclear disarmament. To increase transparency similar to the work of the Landmines Monitor, Reaching Critical Will publishes a Model Nuclear Inventory of all nuclear materials, both civilian and military, in the nuclear weapon and nuclear capable states. It is available online and in hard copy.

South Africa does not see a call to general and complete disarmament as sheer idealism or an excuse to never move on nuclear disarmament. Rather "nuclear disarmament is but a milestone to be reached on the way to the real objective of the disarmament process, namely general and complete disarmament." Nuclear disarmament followed by general and complete disarmament and thus the least diversion of the world's resources to armaments (Article 26 of the UN Charter) would free future generations from the scourge of war.

Jennifer Nordstrom, Reaching Critical Will
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom