Vatican City, 15 November 2014 (VIS) –
Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Holy See Permanent Observer at the
United Nations and Other International Organisations in Geneva spoke
on 10 November at the 8 th Conference of the States Party to Protocol
V of the Convention on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of
certain conventional weapons which may be deemed to be excessively
injurious or to have indiscriminate effects (CCW). Protocol V
stipulates the obligations and the best practices to defend the civil
population against the dangers of explosive remnants of war and
abandoned ordinances.
“For the sake of credibility and to
keep the door open for negotiating and adopting other instruments in
the future, it is incumbent upon all States parties to take seriously
the implementation of this instrument in its preventative dimension
as well as in its remedial dimension”, said Archbishop Tomasi in
his English-language address. “The many conflicts in the Middle
East, Africa, North Africa and Europe remind us of our
responsibilities regarding explosive remnants of war and abandoned
ordinances. Apart from the safety of civilians, we are witnessing
national and regional destabilisation because of the lack of safety
and security of stocks, that the international community is unable or
not sufficiently prepared to prevent. … It is true that the primary
responsibility lies with the affected State. But international
cooperation is also an obligation. Almost all current conflicts
involve national, regional and international actors, state actors and
non-state actors. It must also be borne in mind that the majority of
countries in conflict are developing countries which do not always
have sufficient means to overcome the consequences of armed conflict
on their soil”.
“The success of the partnership
between States, international organisations and non-governmental
organisations in several areas of disarmament is well established.
CCW, including Protocol V, has always opened its door to the
participation of civil society and its organisations. We all profit
from the professionalism and expertise of these organisations. We
believe they should continue to have a place and a voice in this
sphere, and a role to play in international cooperation in the
prevention and remedy of damages caused by explosive remnants of
war”.
“Wars and armed conflicts are always
a failure of politics and of humanity”, he concluded.
“International humanitarian law should keep this essential human
dimension to make coexistence possible nationally and
internationally. When the international community fails to preserve
peace, it should not accept a second failure. Protocol V is a modest
attempt to prevent innocent people from becoming victims once the
conflict is over. Compliance is not only a legal obligation. It is in
the first place a moral duty towards the people and a political duty
to restore peace”.
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