Ministry Statements & Speeches:
I take the floor on behalf of Algeria, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina*, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Gambia (Republic of The), The Holy See, Ireland, Jordan, Lesotho, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Norway, Palestine, Peru, the Philippines, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Switzerland and my own country, New Zealand.
Anti-personnel mines cause profound humanitarian harms that, in some cases, span generations.
It is an irrefutable fact that civilians, not least women and children, bear the brunt of this harm.
Their devastating impacts are still visible in many regions of the world, including in Siem Reap, where we currently meet.
It is for this reason that 27 years ago, States around the world came together to ban these weapons.
Basing themselves on the principles that prohibit the employment of indiscriminate and inhumane weapons, States Parties have prohibited the use, production, stockpiling, transfer and acquisition of anti-personnel mines.
Like others, we are committed, as States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, to putting an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines.
We commend Cambodia for its decades of commitment to mine action and its leadership under this Presidency. We are confident the spirit of Siem Reap will live long after we have departed this wonderful city.
Before we depart, however, it is important that we place on record our deep concern over recent developments related to the Convention.
We are concerned by recent announcements regarding the transfer of anti-personnel mines. This is prohibited for States Parties under Article 1 of the Convention. We call on all States Parties to uphold the Convention.
In the Oslo Action Plan, we committed to condemn violation of the Convention and take appropriate steps to end the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines by anyone.
Together, as States Parties, we need to protect the integrity of the Convention. Over the past three decades, it has contributed to saving countless lives. Anti-Personnel mines have no place on the battlefield or in arsenals. Let us uphold, protect, and advance the Convention, in keeping with our commitments and efforts of the past 25 years.
*Added after delivery.