Open-ended Working Group on Conventional Ammunition
September 28, 2021.
On 24 December 2021, the General Assembly adopted resolution 76/233 establishing an Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) to elaborate a set of political commitments as a new global framework that will address existing gaps in through-life ammunition management.
The first substantive session of the OEWG on conventional ammunition will be held in person at the United Nations headquarters in New York City from 23 to 27 May 2022. The Chair-designate is Albrecht von Wittke.
IANSA will be coordinating civil society statements in the upcoming session in New York City (23-27 May). The aide-memoire (memorandum) containing instructions is accessible below. Information and updates related to the OEWG on conventional ammunition are available on the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs’ (UNODA) dedicated webpage, here.
Group of Governmental Experts on Problems Arising from the Accumulation of Conventional Ammunition Stockpiles in Surplus (A/76/324)
In September 2021, the Group of Governmental Experts published their report on “Problems Arising from the Accumulation of Conventional Ammunition Stockpiles in Surplus”, as per the request of the General Assembly in resolution 72/55 in 2017. The Secretary-General established the Group of Governmental Experts in 2020. In accordance with the request of the General Assembly, the Group of Governmental Experts has considered matters relevant to problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus, taking into account the exchanges in the open, informal consultations held in 2018 and 2019.
The Group notes that safety and security problems associated with conventional ammunition extend beyond national stockpile facilities. In the case of safety risks, the management of conventional ammunition poses challenges throughout its life – from the factory to its eventual use or disposal. Equally, from a security perspective, ammunition is vulnerable to diversion throughout its life – whether during storage, transport, or deployment – and along the full length of the supply chain.
The Group therefore adopted a more comprehensive approach to understanding safety and security risks posed by conventional ammunition than its predecessor, the 2008 Group of Governmental Experts, which had focused largely on the management of national ammunition stockpiles (A/63/182). The Group determined that there is a pressing need to concentrate on through-life ammunition management as a means to identify and address ammunition safety and security risks. It also stressed that through-life ammunition management, if it is to be effective, must apply to all convention ammunition types. In this regard, the Group noted that most existing frameworks address small arms and light weapons ammunition only, which leaves many of the risks associated with larger ammunition calibres unaddressed.
Final report of Group of Governmental Experts on Problems Arising from the Accumulation of Conventional Ammunition Stockpiles in Surplus (A/76/324) (ENG)
Informe del Grupo de Expertos Gubernamentales establecido en virtud de la resolución 72/55 de la Asamblea General sobre los problemas que plantea la acumulación excesiva de existencias de municiones convencionales (ESP)
Rapport du Groupe d’experts gouvernementaux créé en application de la résolution 72/55 de l’Assemblée générale et chargé d’examiner les problèmes découlant de l’accumulation de stocks de munitions classiques en surplus (FRA)
