Revitalizing the CD: Structure for Success Disarmament Architecture and Outcomes.

Revitalizing the CD: Revitalizing the CD: Structure for SuccessStructure for Success

Disarmament Architecture Disarmament Architecture and Outcomesand Outcomes

Structure for SuccessStructure for Success

The UN has hosted unprecedented The UN has hosted unprecedented levels of complementary, levels of complementary, disarmament-related activity in disarmament-related activity in recent months – from building recent months – from building support for a Middle East Weapons of support for a Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone to Mass Destruction Free Zone to creating a binding treaty to regulate creating a binding treaty to regulate the global arms trade. the global arms trade.


This activity has raised public This activity has raised public expectations that the UN can expectations that the UN can leverage measurable improvements leverage measurable improvements in global security. in global security.

It has also created structural and It has also created structural and capacity challenges for both UN capacity challenges for both UN agencies and many diplomatic agencies and many diplomatic missions. missions.


Engaged participation by all Engaged participation by all diplomatic missions is essential diplomatic missions is essential to enhance the basic fairness of to enhance the basic fairness of the UN system and improve the UN system and improve prospects for broad prospects for broad implementation of disarmament implementation of disarmament obligations.obligations.


We must ensure that current, We must ensure that current, hopeful levels of disarmament hopeful levels of disarmament activity nurtured in large part by activity nurtured in large part by UNODA are matched by UNODA are matched by sufficient structural capacity. sufficient structural capacity.


The UN’s legitimacy in the eyes of The UN’s legitimacy in the eyes of the world is tied closely to its the world is tied closely to its successes on issues ranging from the successes on issues ranging from the elimination of stockpiles of illicit elimination of stockpiles of illicit small arms to ensuring full small arms to ensuring full participation by women in all participation by women in all disarmament-related processes. disarmament-related processes.


In pursuing our own mandate, we In pursuing our own mandate, we have learned much about the have learned much about the inter-connectedness of inter-connectedness of disarmament activity and the disarmament activity and the skills available through many skills available through many sources to meet those diverse sources to meet those diverse challenges. challenges.


We especially affirm the We especially affirm the extraordinary skills of extraordinary skills of disarmament stakeholders from disarmament stakeholders from all global regions able to all global regions able to contribute to shaping all aspects contribute to shaping all aspects of disarmament policy and of disarmament policy and structure. structure.

Revitalizing the CDRevitalizing the CD

The CD has been a singular focus The CD has been a singular focus of concern voiced by many of concern voiced by many diplomats and NGOs. diplomats and NGOs.

There is concern that the CD has There is concern that the CD has become a ‘drag’ on what are become a ‘drag’ on what are otherwise strong indicators of otherwise strong indicators of disarmament-related progress. disarmament-related progress.


Protracted stalemate in the CD Protracted stalemate in the CD carries the strong potential to carries the strong potential to further erode confidence in the further erode confidence in the UN’s ability to promote UN’s ability to promote sustainable global security at the sustainable global security at the least possible level of armament. least possible level of armament.


On September 24, at the request On September 24, at the request of the Secretary-General, various of the Secretary-General, various state approaches to CD state approaches to CD revitalization and eliminating revitalization and eliminating stalemates were articulated. stalemates were articulated.


Some states merely reaffirmed Some states merely reaffirmed the role of the CD as the single the role of the CD as the single legitimate forum for multi-lateral legitimate forum for multi-lateral disarmament negotiations.disarmament negotiations.

Others seemed to have crossed Others seemed to have crossed the line of viability, preferring to the line of viability, preferring to put the CD out of its misery put the CD out of its misery rather than invest major rather than invest major energies in its revitalization. energies in its revitalization.


The majority, however, vetted The majority, however, vetted proposals to help energize the proposals to help energize the CD, including expanding CD, including expanding membership, renouncing veto membership, renouncing veto rights on procedural matters, rights on procedural matters, and creating an ‘eminent and creating an ‘eminent persons’ panel to review and persons’ panel to review and reform CD working methods.reform CD working methods.

NGO PerspectivesNGO Perspectives

NGOs have also put forward NGOs have also put forward reform proposals, many of which reform proposals, many of which have been captured in a have been captured in a document prepared principally document prepared principally by Ray Acheson of Reaching by Ray Acheson of Reaching Critical Will and John Burroughs Critical Will and John Burroughs of the Lawyers Committee on of the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy. Nuclear Policy.


Many of these recommendations Many of these recommendations are currently under review by the are currently under review by the international community. Three international community. Three are particularly important for us.are particularly important for us.

There is a need to integrate more There is a need to integrate more civil society expertise into the CD, civil society expertise into the CD, perhaps following the ‘Peaceful perhaps following the ‘Peaceful Uses of Outer Space’ process used Uses of Outer Space’ process used in Vienna. in Vienna.


We also seek negotiations We also seek negotiations towards a nuclear weapons towards a nuclear weapons convention. If the CD is unable to convention. If the CD is unable to successfully host this process, it successfully host this process, it could organize ad hoc committees could organize ad hoc committees to begin negotiations on the to begin negotiations on the Convention and related issues Convention and related issues (negative assurances, FMCT). (negative assurances, FMCT).


Finally, we support the idea of an Finally, we support the idea of an ‘eminent persons’ panel with the ‘eminent persons’ panel with the caveat that ‘eminence’ does not caveat that ‘eminence’ does not necessarily indicate the presence necessarily indicate the presence of skills and commitment needed of skills and commitment needed to assess the CD, suggest to assess the CD, suggest reforms, and ‘sell’ those reforms, and ‘sell’ those proposals to governments. proposals to governments.


If the CD is to survive and If the CD is to survive and energize other disarmament energize other disarmament activity, it will require much activity, it will require much attentiveness and careful attentiveness and careful analysis. Diverse skills and analysis. Diverse skills and ‘lenses’ on this work --beyond ‘lenses’ on this work --beyond gravitas -- are needed. gravitas -- are needed.


As this board addresses its As this board addresses its responsibility to ‘undertake a responsibility to ‘undertake a thorough review’ of issues thorough review’ of issues raised on September 24, we urge raised on September 24, we urge you to continue to consult with a you to continue to consult with a wide range of stakeholders from wide range of stakeholders from all global regions.all global regions.


Many stakeholders seem to want Many stakeholders seem to want the CD to be fixed or abandoned. the CD to be fixed or abandoned. Many also understand that Many also understand that stalemate in the CD cannot be stalemate in the CD cannot be allowed to jeopardize the harvest allowed to jeopardize the harvest of disarmament riches that are of disarmament riches that are now available to us. now available to us.

For More InformationFor More Information

Global Action to Prevent WarGlobal Action to Prevent War866 UN Plaza, Suite 4050866 UN Plaza, Suite 4050

New York, New York 10017New York, New York [email protected]

Reaching Critical WillReaching Critical Will777 UN Plaza, 6777 UN Plaza, 6thth Floor Floor

New York, New York 10017New York, New York [email protected]

Revitalizing the CD: Structure for Success Disarmament Architecture and Outcomes.

Documents

reform cd

cd revitalization

cd protracted stalemate

disarmamentrelated activity

disarmamentrelated processes

aspects of disarmament

harvest of disarmament

ngo perspectives ngos