CM/Res.1628 (LXIII)
RESOLUTION ON THE REVISION OF THE 1980 UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS AND PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PROLIFERATION OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES IN AFRICA
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, meeting in its Sixty-Third Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 26 to 28 February, 1996,
Considering Resolution C M/Res. 1593 (LXII) on the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional weapons and the Problems Posed by the Proliferation of Anti-Personnel Mines in Africa,
Further Considering Resolution CM/Res.152G (LX) on respect for International Humanitarian Law and Support for Humanitarian Action in Armed Conflicts adopted by Council, particularly its paragraph 6 (b) by which the Council invites Member States which have not yet become party to the above Convention to do so,
Noting that the Review Conference of the Convention which met in Vienna, Austria, from 25 September to 13 October, 1995 did not agree on the new measures aimed at prohibiting or limiting strictly the production, the use and transfer of anti-personnel mines, and that it will resume its deliberations in Geneva, Switzerland from 22 April to 3 May, 1996,
Deeply concerned over the fact that Africa is, throughout the world, the Continent with the largest presence of emplaced anti-personnel mines and is, as a result, paying the heaviest toll,
Noting that, despite the firm appeal made by the Sixty- Second Ordinary Session of Council to all Member States to participate actively in the Review conference in Vienna, less than 12 African countries took part in the deliberations,
Noting in particular with concern the tremendous increase in the number of victims of anti - personnel mines, among the civilian population and the high cost involved in mine clearing and rehabilitation of the affected areas;
Conscious of the fact that only appropriate measures adopted by the entire international community will eventually put an end to this scourge;
TAKES NOTE of the Report of the Secretary-General on the problems posed by the proliferation of anti- personnel mines in Africa and the recommendations contained therein;
CONDEMNS the cases of flagrant violation of international humanitarian law through the
indiscriminate use of anti-personnel mitres;
URGES all Member States which have not yet acceded to the 1980 UN Convention on some Conventional arms to consider doing so as early as possible, particularly to its Protocol II;
FURTHER URGES Member States to participate fully and actively in the Review Conference scheduled in Geneva from 22 April to 3 May, 1996 and to defend the African Common Position as contained in the operative paragraph 4 of the Resolution CM/Res. 1593 (LX--I);
CALLS ON African Sub-regional organizations and particularly their Current Chairmen, to take, at the level of their respective regions, the appropriate initiatives aimed at banning anti- personnel mines as a way of buttressing the efforts of the international community and the OAU in this area;
APPEALS to the International Community to give increased support for national and regional structures charged with assisting victims of anti- personnel mines, notably, the African Rehabilitation Institute (ARI);
FURTHER APPEALS to the international community to continue its support to the on-going national efforts of clearing mines in order to facilitate development in the countries affected;
REQUESTS the countries responsible for supplying the necessary resources and information, including maps relating to the mines locations, to African countries which have been victims of the mines scourge during the 2nd World War and/or during conflicts @ preceding their attainment of independence;
EXPRESSES SATISFACTION with the adoption of a Protocol banning blinding laser weapons by the Review Conference and CALLS on all Member States to consider adhering to it;
TAKES NOTE of the new direction adopted by the Review Conference, which constitute a way forward towards the achievement of the ultimate aim of total ban on anti-personnel mines, namely:
the extension of the field of applications of the 1980 Convention to non-international armed conflicts;
the assignment of responsibility for mine clearing to those who have laid them;
the mandatory registration of all mine fields and mine areas and not only certain types;
the banning of the use of devices which trigger the- explosion of a mine at the approach of the electromagnetic detector or similar detector as those used in demining teams.
REITERATES the provisions of resolution CM/Res. 1370 (LV) on refugees and displaced persons "appealing to all Member States of the Organization of African Unity that are able to do so, to contribute, through the Organization of African Unity or any other appropriate arrangements, expertise, personnel, equipment, technical know-how or any other relevant resources towards the clearance of land mines and other unexploded ammunitions in areas of potential return of refugees;"
APPEALS to all Member States to cooperate in developing- and enhancing self-reliance in all fields relevant to this resolution including technical capability of demining and humanitarian assistance to the victims of anti-personnel mines;
REQUESTS the Secretary-General to monitor the implementation of this resolution, and to report thereon to the Sixty-Fourth Ordinary Session of council.