ANNEX
1. Objective
The overall objective of this Decision is to support the preparatory process leading up to the UN Conference on the ATT to ensure that it as inclusive as possible and able to make concrete recommendations on the elements of the future ATT, and to support UN Member States in developing and improving national and regional expertise to implement effective arms export and transfer controls.
2. Project description
2.1. Project objective
The project aims at achieving the following specific objectives:
(a)
support for the preparatory process leading up to the UN Conference on the ATT process, including through:
(i)
increasing awareness, knowledge and understanding of the ATT process among UN Member States, civil society and industry representatives;
(ii)
promotion of inclusive, active and effective participation of as many UN Member State as possible in the Preparatory Committee to be held in 2010-2011;
(iii)
identification and formulation of concrete proposals on the content of an ATT, including the most comprehensive scope, parameters and implications;
(iv)
promotion among third countries of the highest possible standards for the ATT, also on the basis of regional experiences and instruments;
(v)
support the preparation of the 2012 Conference by reinforcing the negotiation capacities of participants.
(b)
support to third countries in their efforts to establish, improve and implement, as appropriate, export and transfer control systems, including through:
(i)
assistance in the establishment and enforcement of licensing systems;
(ii)
assistance in improving compliance with and enforcement of national controls implementing a future ATT, including border controls, and monitoring on arms exports and transfers;
(iii)
support for the development of national and regional reports on arms exports and imports in order to promote transparency and accountability of arms trade;
(iv)
support further transparency and accountability of arms trade through participation in the UN Register of Conventional Arms (UN ROCA);
(v)
assistance to national efforts to mark and trace small arms and light weapons (SALW).
2.2. Project Results
The implementation of the project will result in:
(a)
increased awareness, knowledge and understanding of the ATT process by UN Member States;
(b)
wide and more substantive participation of UN Member States in the Preparatory Committee to be convened in 2010-2011, including through the formulation of concrete proposals on the content of an ATT that should reflect the most comprehensive scope and the highest possible standards;
(c)
increased awareness by third countries of the structure and functioning of export control systems on conventional weapons, including through support aiming at improving compliance with and enforcement of national controls implementing a future ATT, including border controls, and monitoring of arms exports and transfers;
(d)
improvement of record keeping and accounting of weapons, including through marking and tracing and national submission to the UN ROCA on and improved national capacities in export controls among participant states.
2.3. Description of activities
The project provides for the organisation of seven regional seminars, a launching and a concluding event, up to three side-events, and dissemination of results.
The regional seminars will take place over three days in a location to be determined in the target regions.
2.3.1. Structure of the regional seminars
The seminars will include the following presentations and discussions:
First part [DAY 1 and DAY 2 (first half)]:
(a)
general overview of the ATT, background, possible scope and parameters, etc.;
(b)
national and regional views on the ATT, including presentation of the Union’s view on the ATT;
(c)
other aspects of the ATT, including transparency and assistance measures;
(d)
formulation of recommendations for the work of the Preparatory Committee sessions.
Second part [DAY 2 (second half) and DAY 3]
(a)
presentation of national and regional systems to control the trade in conventional weapons, including Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP of 8 December 2008 defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment ( 1 ) ;
(b)
aspects of establishment and enforcement of licensing systems, including legal and administrative aspects;
(c)
aspects of compliance with, and enforcement of national controls implementing a future ATT, including border controls, and monitoring of arms exports and transfers;
(d)
aspects of record keeping and accounting of weapons, including national and regional reports on arms exports and transfers;
(e)
role and functioning of the UN ROCA, including assistance in the submission of national reports to the Register;
(f)
international and national instruments on marking and tracing of SALW and assistance in their implementation.
The three-day seminars will include working group sessions on specific aspects of an ATT.
2.3.2. Participants in the seminars
Participants in the regional seminars include:
(a)
diplomatic and military/defence personnel from countries in the regions, in particular authorities responsible for national policies vis-à-vis the ATT, including national delegates participating in the ATT Preparatory Committee;
(b)
technical and law-enforcement personnel from countries in the regions, in particular export controls authorities, customs, and law enforcement officials (two participants per country);
(c)
representatives from international and regional organisations, regionally-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs), think tanks and local/regional industry;
(d)
representatives from UNIDIR and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA; Conventional Arms Branch and Regional Branch, including regional centres, as appropriate);
(e)
national and international technical experts on aspects of exports controls on conventional arms, including Union experts and industry representatives.
Depending on the size of the regions, between 45 to 80 participants are expected to participate in each seminar. One diplomatic or military official for each state invited will participate in the first part of each seminar, while the second part will be attended by a technical and law-enforcement official for each state invited. The selection of countries to be invited to each seminar and of the participants will be made by the HR, in consultation with the competent Council bodies, on the basis of a proposal made by UNIDIR.
The participation of Union experts in the seminar should be ensured to an adequate level, both in terms of technical and political expertise.
2.3.3. Input: Research component
To ensure a well-informed, substantive and timely input to the UN process, a strong research component is needed. UNIDIR will commission up to 12 background research papers from competent research institutes or individual experts, focusing on some key relevant aspects of the project and of the regional seminars. UNIDIR will propose to the HR a short-list of possible research institutes or individual experts having a sound background in specific issues of an ATT. The HR will select the most appropriate ones on the basis of the short-list and in consultation with the competent Council bodies.
2.3.4. Regional distribution of the seminars
The regional seminars will take place according to the following groupings:
(a)
one seminar for the Americas and the Caribbean;
(b)
one seminar for the Middle East;
(c)
one seminar for Northern, Western and Central Africa;
(d)
one seminar for Eastern and Southern Africa;
(e)
one seminar for East Asia and the Pacific;
(f)
one seminar for South and Central Asia;
(g)
one seminar for ‘Wider Europe’ region.
Suggested tentative locations for the seminars are:
(a)
Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro for the Americas and the Caribbean;
(b)
Cairo or Beirut for the Middle East;
(c)
Rabat or Accra for Northern, Western and Central Africa;
(d)
Nairobi or Johannesburg for Eastern and Southern Africa;
(e)
Jakarta or Beijing for East Asia and the Pacific;
(f)
New Delhi or Astana for South and Central Asia;
(g)
Moscow or Belgrade for ‘Wider Europe’ region.
Final locations will be determined to maximize resources, minimize carbon footprint and on the basis of available assistance at local level. UNIDIR will propose motivated recommendations on locations, for consideration and endorsement by the HR in consultation with the competent Council bodies.
2.3.5. Launching and closing events
A launching event will take place over one day to present the aims of the project to the international community and to seek inputs from civil society, researchers and NGOs to secure support for the project. A closing event of one day will be organised to present the results of the project. Final locations for these events will be determined according to the procedure foreseen for the selection of the locations of regional seminars. The launching event might be held in the margins of the July 2010 Preparatory Committee, depending on the date of the adoption of this Decision.
2.3.6. Side-events
A first side event will be organised in the margins of the 1st Committee (65th session of the UN General Assembly) in October 2010 to increase awareness of stakeholders gathered in New York about the project and to discuss some concrete substantial elements relevant to the ATT process.
A second side event will be held in the fourth session of the ATT Preparatory Committee meeting in New York to be held in 2011 to present to stakeholders gathered in New York the results of the project achieved by that date.
A third side event will be held in the margins of the 1st Committee (66th session of the UN General Assembly) in October 2011 to present to stakeholders gathered in New York the results of the project achieved by that date.
2.4. Outputs — Dissemination
REPORTS-PUBLICATION
Each seminar and event will produce a short summary report of the discussions and of the recommendations and ideas put forward for an ATT and of the technical aspects discussed. The seminar reports, written in English, will be made available online and on electronic data storage devices for distribution.
A draft of the final report analysing the summary reports of the seven regional meetings and other events included in the project will be produced and presented for comments at the concluding seminar. The final report will be made available online and on electronic data storage devices for distribution. A publication summarising the final report will be made available online and in hard copies.
3. Duration
The implementation period of the project is 24 months after the date of conclusion of the financing agreement referred to in Article 3(3).
4. Beneficiaries
The beneficiaries of this project will be UN Member States, with particular emphasis on state authorities responsible for setting national policies vis-à-vis the ATT, export controls authorities, customs, and law enforcement officials that need to strengthen their expertise in order to ensure a responsible arms trade and prevent an irresponsible proliferation of conventional arms in the framework of a future ATT. The selection of specific state beneficiaries will be made on the basis of a short-list of beneficiaries proposed by UNIDIR for consideration and endorsement by the HR, in consultation with the competent Council bodies.
5. Implementing entity
The technical implementation of this Decision will be entrusted to UNIDIR. UNIDIR will perform its task under the responsibility of the HR. UNIDIR shall cooperate with UNODA and members of the Bureau of the Preparatory Committees to the UN Conference on an ATT.
UNIDIR shall, where appropriate, work with institutions such as regional organisations, think tanks, NGOs and industry. UNIDIR will ensure the visibility of the Union’s contribution, appropriate to its size.
( 1 )
OJ L 335, 13.12.2008, p. 99 .
