Seminar: The humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapon use: Reshaping the disarmament debate?

Date: 30 October 2013
Time: 10h00 - 12h30
Venue: Conference Room, ISS Pretoria

In November 2011, the Council of Delegates of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement adopted a resolution calling on its members to raise awareness of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons. In March 2013 Norway held a global meeting to address the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, and Mexico has announced that it will host a follow-up meeting in 2014.

These developments all reflect a shift from the traditional military discourse of nuclear deterrence to a focus on the humanitarian impact of these weapons, and come at a time when the call for a treaty to ban nuclear weapons is gaining momentum.

This joint International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – ISS seminar will discuss the humanitarian effects of nuclear weapons and explore the way forward for states and civil society.

Welcome and opening remarks: Noel Stott, Senior Research Fellow, Transnational Threats and International Crime Division, ISS Pretoria

The humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons: the current dynamic: Dr Patricia Lewis, Chatham House, London

The way forward: Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO), South Africa; His Excellency Ambassador Héctor Valezzi, Embassy of Mexico, Pretoria, and Sarah Swart, Regional Legal Advisor, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Pretoria

This event is made possible through funding provided by the Royal Norwegian Government. The ISS is also grateful for the support of the following core partners: the governments of Norway, Sweden, Australia and Denmark.

Venue: Conference Room
ISS Pretoria

RSVP: Ms Agar Ngwenya
Phone: +27 12 346 9500
Email: angwenya@issafrica.org

Enquiries: Noel Stott
Phone: +27 12 346 9500
Email: nstott@issafrica.org

For the first time civil society is given a platform at the Chemical Weapons Convention

Noel Stott, Senior Research Fellow, Transnational Threats and International Crime Division, ISS Pretoria

In a major coup for global civil society, non-governmental organisations – including the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) – were this week for the first time provided the opportunity to address states parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The Third Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention is being held from 8–19 April 2013 in The Hague. The CWC represents the world’s first multilateral disarmament agreement providing for the elimination of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction within a fixed timeframe.

Conference report: Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, Oslo, Norway 4-5 March 2013

Reaching Critical Will has published a conference report for the meeting hosted by the government of Norway on 4-5 March 2013 on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons.

The report contains an analysis of the conference's importance, highlights from government and other interventions, a brief overview of the Civil Society Forum hosted by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) before the government conference, and lists some additional resources.

Source: http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/

UNSCR 1540 8-10 January 2013 Event: Civil Society Forum - Opportunities for Engagement

1540 CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM STEERING COMMITTEE

The first-ever Civil Society Forum in support of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) tookplace in Vienna from 8-10 January 2013. It was convened to provide civil society representatives with the opportunity to discuss their increased contributions to national and international efforts to fully implement the key requirements of resolution 1540 (2004) which concerns the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-state actors.

The Civil Society Forum in Vienna involved the participation of more than sixty non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia, think tanks and industries and includes representatives from Asia, Africa, Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. The Forum was hosted by the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria, convened in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and organized by the Steering Committee of the Forum.

Meeting Documents

 

Agenda 

List of Participants

Press Release

Information Note

Aide Memoir

Vienna Hotel Information 

Services in the VIC and Additional Information

Forum Banner

Video Message by High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Angela Kane to Participants of the Civil Society Forum in Support of Resolution 1540 (2004)

Stanley Foundation Reception Invitation 

1540 Forum Group Photo 

Abstracts and Presentations 

 

Day 1 (January 8th)

Opening Remarks, Ambassador Alexander Kmentt, Director, Disarmament and Arms Control Division Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs

Opening Remarks, Ms. Elena Sokova, VCDNP, on behalf of the Steering Committee

Resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1977 (2011): Objectives, Mandate, Status of Implementation, and Challenges, Dr. Dana Perkins, 1540 Committee Expert

Resolution 1540 (2004) and Civil Society, Dr. Dana Perkins

Statement by Mr. Nikita Smidovich, UN Office for Disarmament Affairs

Meeting the Objectives of UN Security Council Resolution 1540: The Role of Civil Society, Mr. Brian Finlay, Stimson

Transcript of speech delivered by Mr. Wissam Hassan Fattouh, Secretary General, Union of Arab Banks

The Role of Civil Society in Organising the Workshop on the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) for African States, Mr. Noel Stott, Institute for Security Studies

Civil Society-A Key to UNSCR 1540 Success, Ms. Irma Arguello, Nonproliferation for Global Security Foundation

The Role of Civil Society in Raising Awareness, Ms. Elisande Nexon, Pharm D., Research Fellow, Foundation for Strategic Research

Side Event, Ethics and Nonproliferation, Mr. Johannes Rath, University of Vienna, Austria (Abstract)

Side Event, Ethics and Nonproliferation, Mr. Rath (Presentation)

Nuclear Security Process and the Role of Civil Society, Mr. Kees Nederlof, Security Policy Department, Non-Proliferation, Disarmament, Arms Control and Export Control Policy Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands

Day 2 (January 9th)

VERTIC's CBRN-UNSCR 1540 Legislative Assistance, Mr. Scott Spence, Senior Legal Officer

Achieving Sustainable Implementation: Integrated Training, Education, and Best Practices, Dr. Igor Khripunov, Center for International Trade & Security, University of Georgia

Multilateralism, the EU, and UNSCR 1540: Reinforcing National Responsibilities, EU Institute for Security Studies Policy Brief (Supplementary document for Dr. Khripunov's presentation)

Civil Society and Implementation of UNSCR 1540, Mr. Tim Trevan, International Council for the Life Sciences

Facilitation of Nonproliferation & Demilitarization: Green Cross and Civil Society, Mr. Paul F. Walker, Ph.D., Green Cross International

Africa Peace Forum Presentation UNSCR 1540, Ambassador Ochieng Adala, Acting Executive Director of Africa Peace Forum

Enhancing the Implementation of UNSCR 1540, Ms. Masamichi Minehata, Bradford Disarmament Research Centre

Monitoring Trade in WMD Relevant Items by Using Open Source Data, Mr. Gunnar Jeremias, Research Group for Biological Arms Control

Day 3 (January 10th)

International and Regional Organizations: Partnership with Civil Society, Mr. Tim Andrews, Head of the Programme Support Group, Office of Nuclear Security, Department of Safety and Security

Opportunities for Engagement, Mr. Nico Frandi, Policy Officer, EEAS

CARICOM UNSCR 1540 Implementation Programme, Mr. O'Neil Hamilton, Regional Coordinator for the Implementation of UNSCR 1540 in the Caribbean Community

Partnerships, Ms. Maria Lorenzo Sobrado, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Closing Remarks, Dr. Dana Perkins, 1540 Committee Expert

Summary Statement, Goals of the Vienna Civil Society Forum, Ms. Elena Sokova, VCDNP

Closing Remarks, Ambassador Alexander Kmentt, Director, Disarmament and Arms Control Division Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs