by Daniel Mack, Instituto Sou da Paz
Upon adoption of an outcome document by consensus, the office of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon lauded the PoA Review Conference (RevCon) conclusion as “successful”. But what constitutes success in such a Conference? The RevCon’s mandate was to review the implementation of the PoA, and very little of that was actually done. Rather, it was more of a “Document Review Conference” for drafts that had been available for weeks.
Showing posts with label outcome document. Show all posts
Showing posts with label outcome document. Show all posts
10 September 2012
Outcome document adopted by consensus, but lacking in ambition
by Katherine Prizeman, Global Action to Prevent War
After the President of the UNPoA Review Conference (RevCon), Ambassador Ogwu of Nigeria, provided a third revision of the draft outcome document on Friday afternoon, delegations were able to adopt, by consensus, the compilation document. While this accomplishment was hailed as a success, particularly after the failure of the 2006 RevCon, states must use the next six-year review cycle to achieve more in the way of practical implementation.
After the President of the UNPoA Review Conference (RevCon), Ambassador Ogwu of Nigeria, provided a third revision of the draft outcome document on Friday afternoon, delegations were able to adopt, by consensus, the compilation document. While this accomplishment was hailed as a success, particularly after the failure of the 2006 RevCon, states must use the next six-year review cycle to achieve more in the way of practical implementation.
The final outcome document: a tentative step
by Eloise Watson, Reaching Critical Will of WILPF
Today’s global strategic environment is characterized by complexity, in which the problems posed by the illicit trade of small arms and light weapon (SALW) are amplified. It was therefore of cardinal importance that the 2012 UNPoA Review Conference conclude with positive results. The conference did achieve its goal of adopting by consensus a final outcome document emphasizing the renewed commitment of the international community to combating the illegal trade in SALW. Such success, as Ambassador U. Joy Ogwu, President of the Conference, explained, will help create the “much needed and timely momentum for positive movement in the overall multilateral disarmament process.”
Today’s global strategic environment is characterized by complexity, in which the problems posed by the illicit trade of small arms and light weapon (SALW) are amplified. It was therefore of cardinal importance that the 2012 UNPoA Review Conference conclude with positive results. The conference did achieve its goal of adopting by consensus a final outcome document emphasizing the renewed commitment of the international community to combating the illegal trade in SALW. Such success, as Ambassador U. Joy Ogwu, President of the Conference, explained, will help create the “much needed and timely momentum for positive movement in the overall multilateral disarmament process.”
Aftermath
by Dr. Robert Zuber, Global Action to Prevent War
Friday saw the end of a successful two-week Review Conference (RevCon) characterized by a consensus outcome document; generous pledges of government assistance; the release of a new “Matching Needs and Resources” booklet and other, more data-driven resources; the revival of one of our small arms partners; a particularly successful series of Small Arms Monitors; the skillfulness of some relatively young and immensely talented facilitators; the consistent, helpful presence of UNODA staff; expressions of leadership on UN Programme of Action (UNPoA) implementation from a new group of regionally diverse states; and much more.
Friday saw the end of a successful two-week Review Conference (RevCon) characterized by a consensus outcome document; generous pledges of government assistance; the release of a new “Matching Needs and Resources” booklet and other, more data-driven resources; the revival of one of our small arms partners; a particularly successful series of Small Arms Monitors; the skillfulness of some relatively young and immensely talented facilitators; the consistent, helpful presence of UNODA staff; expressions of leadership on UN Programme of Action (UNPoA) implementation from a new group of regionally diverse states; and much more.
Measuring the effectiveness of the PoA
by Natalie Goldring
As we reach the end of the Review Conference, it’s important
to focus once again on the fact that the real measure of the Programme of
Action is whether it is saving lives.
WOMEN COUNT: Women and the RevCon on UNPoA
by Jasmin Nario-Galace, IANSA Women's Network
A
total of 141 States sent representatives to the United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation
of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade
in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects in New York on 27 August–7
September 2012.
Rest stop
by Dr. Robert Zuber, Global Action to Prevent War
We are approaching the end of what has been a long and
challenging summer for many delegations and NGOs. There is one last hurdle to
be overcome—approval of an outcome document that can help define for states and
their public a set of obligations to drive the next six years of UNPoA
activity.
Final strides towards a meaningful consensus document
by Katherine Prizeman, Global Action to Prevent War
Thursday’s formal discussions showcased
the strong efforts on the part of both the President of the Conference,
Ambassador Ogwu of Nigeria, and delegates to reach consensus on a final outcome
document for this UN
Programme of Action (UNPoA) Review Conference (RevCon) by tomorrow
afternoon. At the opening of the afternoon session prior to moving into
informal consultations with the facilitators, Ambassador Owgu urged delegates
to not become part of the “culture of failure”. As noted by the delegate of New
Zealand in the morning session, consensus in this process is critical and
achieving consensus at this RevCon is particularly significant for several
reasons—to “heal the damage from 2006,” to help move the UNPoA into a new phase
of practical implementation measures rather than strictly continuous debate
over political norms, and to contribute to multilateral disarmament writ large.
06 September 2012
Strengthening implementation, not rewriting the Programme
by Ray Acheson, Reaching Critical Will of WILPF
During Tuesday’s discussions on the draft
declaration, the Syrian delegation questioned a phrase in paragraph 7 that says
states “resolve to tackle” the remaining challenges for full implementation of
the UN
Programme of Action (UNPoA) and the International
Tracing Instrument (ITI). The Syrian delegate argued that states first have
to identify what these challenges are and then propose solutions to tackle
them. This should, of course, have been the key exercise of this Review
Conference: to identify challenges and determine how to overcome them.
Unfortunately, this crucial work has not been undertaken at this conference.
Furthermore, attempts to strengthen future reviews have also been undermined by
skepticism of some delegations, which will only hurt the UN small arms process
going forward.
28 August 2012
Aiming for a meaningful outcome document
by Katherine
Prizeman, Global Action to Prevent War
As the Second
Review Conference (RevCon) for the UN Programme of Action on small arms (UNPoA)
opened on Monday morning, the President of the Conference, Ambassador Ogwu of
Nigeria, rightly called upon member states to clearly focus their general
debate statements on the “desired outcome” for the conference.
18 June 2010
Day 5: Outcome document adopted
by Ray Acheson, Reaching Critical Will of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
During a procedurally confusing Friday, the Chair of BMS4, Ambassador Macedo of Mexico, pleaded with delegations to adopt the draft outcome document without reopening the text with such limited time left. Though supported by the vast majority of delegations, who argued that they would not have time to get instructions from capital if substantive changes were made, a few delegations requested the opportunity to go through the text section by section to suggest amendments. Deliberations on how to proceed consumed all of the morning and afternoon meetings; in the end, a few delegates did manage to suggest changes, but most were able to work these out bilaterally between concerned individuals. While other delegates continued pressuring the Chair to open the text futher, a suggestion by the Egyptian delegate to add a description of the process to the technical part of the document saved the day. The paragraph read:
During a procedurally confusing Friday, the Chair of BMS4, Ambassador Macedo of Mexico, pleaded with delegations to adopt the draft outcome document without reopening the text with such limited time left. Though supported by the vast majority of delegations, who argued that they would not have time to get instructions from capital if substantive changes were made, a few delegations requested the opportunity to go through the text section by section to suggest amendments. Deliberations on how to proceed consumed all of the morning and afternoon meetings; in the end, a few delegates did manage to suggest changes, but most were able to work these out bilaterally between concerned individuals. While other delegates continued pressuring the Chair to open the text futher, a suggestion by the Egyptian delegate to add a description of the process to the technical part of the document saved the day. The paragraph read:
The Chairman presented to delegations a draft outcome document prepared with the assistance of the Friends of the Chair in thorough informal consultations with delegations. He appealed to delegations not to open the draft for discussion and requested its adoption as an outcome of the BMS4, while noting that such procedure will not represent a precedent in future meetings of the Programme of Action.At five minutes to 6, the document was adopted by consensus. Analysis of the document will follow over the next few days on this blog.
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