Council Decision 2009/42/CFSPShow full title

2. Project

2.1. Purpose of the project

The project will:

(a)

increase awareness by national and regional actors, United Nations Member States, civil society and industry, of the current international discussions around an ATT;

(b)

reinforce the purpose of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on an Arms Trade Treaty and strengthen the United Nations as the only forum that can deliver a truly universal instrument;

(c)

contribute to the better involvement of all United Nations Member States and regional organisations in the ATT process;

(d)

encourage the exchange of views between States which are part of the GGE and those which are not part of it;

(e)

foster debate among United Nations Member States, particularly among those which are not part of the GGE;

(f)

promote an exchange of views among United Nations Member States, regional organisations, civil society and industry;

(g)

identify possible elements, the scope and the implications of an ATT; and

(h)

share these debates and views with the whole international community.

2.2. Results of the project

The project will:

(a)

increase the awareness, knowledge and understanding of the ATT process;

(b)

involve new actors in the debate;

(c)

share national and regional concerns and ideas with the international discussions; and

(d)

feed ideas and suggestions into the content of an ATT, particularly on the scope and implications of an ATT.

2.3. Description of the project

The project provides for the organisation of a launching event, six regional seminars, a final seminar to present overall results and a side-event in the margins of the 1st Committee (UNGA 64th session). The final seminar will be structured as follows: one-day OSCE countries regional seminar and one-day final seminar.

2.3.1. Launching event:

A launching event will take place over one day to present the aims of the project and seek inputs from civil society, researchers and NGOs to secure support for the project.

2.3.2. Regional seminars:

1. The regional seminars will take place over two days in a location to be determined in the target regions. The seminars will be structured in four parts to allow the following presentations and discussions to take place:

(a)

general overview of the ATT, background, actors, etc.;

(b)

specific presentation of the international process currently underway;

(c)

discussion of the scope and implication of a possible ATT; and

(d)

gathering of ideas for further action, recommendations and suggestions to feed into the ATT process.

2. Participants in these regional seminars will include:

(a)

representatives from countries in the region;

(b)

representatives from regional organisations, including NGOs;

(c)

representatives from local/regional industry;

(d)

representatives from Unidir and UNODA (Conventional Arms Branch and Regional Branch, including regional centres if appropriate);

(e)

technical experts from EU Member States, including representatives from the industry;

(f)

representatives from partner organisations which may include among others the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sweden) or the Foundation for Strategic Research (France).

3. Depending on the size of the regions, between 30 and 40 participants are expected to participate in each seminar.

4. A summary report of the discussions and recommendations will be produced after each seminar. This summary report will be made available online and on electronic storage devices.

5. The regional seminars will take place according to the following groupings:

(a)

one seminar for Central, Northern and Western Africa;

(b)

one seminar for Eastern and Southern Africa;

(c)

one seminar for Latin America and the Caribbean;

(d)

one seminar for Asia and the Pacific;

(e)

one seminar for OSCE countries;

(f)

one seminar for the Middle East.

6. Suggested tentative locations for the seminars are:

(a)

Dakar and Nairobi or Addis Abeba (for each of the two seminars in Africa);

(b)

Mexico or Rio de Janeiro (for Latin America and the Caribbean);

(c)

Phnom Penh or New Delhi (for Asia and the Pacific);

(d)

Amman or Cairo (for the Middle East);

(e)

Brussels or Vienna (for OSCE countries).

7. Final locations will be determined to maximise resources and the available assistance at local level. The Presidency, assisted by the HR/SG, will be responsible for the final choice of location following the recommendations made by Unidir.

2.3.3. Concluding seminar:

A concluding seminar will be organised after all six regional seminars have been hosted to present the discussions, recommendations and ideas on the ATT process to the international community. The final seminar will be structured as follows: one-day OSCE countries regional seminar and one-day final seminar.

2.3.4. Side-event at the 1st Committee (64th session of the UNGA)

A side event will be organised in the margins of the 1st Committee (64th session of the UNGA) to present to stakeholders gathered in New York with the results of the project to date.

2.3.5. Outputs — Publication

Each seminar will produce a short summary report of the discussions and of the recommendations and ideas put forward for an ATT. The seminar reports will be made available online and on electronic data storage devices for distribution.

A final report compiling the summary reports of the six regional meetings will be produced and presented for comments at the concluding seminar, and made available online and on electronic data storage devices for distribution.