Forty-ninth session
Agenda item 22
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 48/7 on assistance in mine clearance,
adopted without a vote on 19 October 1993,
Affirming its deep concern at the tremendous humanitarian
problem caused by the presence of mines and other unexploded devices
that have serious and lasting social and economic consequences
for the populations of mine-infested countries and constitute
an obstacle to the return of refugees and other displaced persons,
to humanitarian aid operations and to reconstruction and economic
development, as well as to the restoration of normal social conditions,
Stressing its grave alarm at the ever-increasing presence
of mines and other unexploded devices as a result of armed conflicts,
Deeply concerned that the number of mines being laid each
year exponentially outweighs the number of such mines that can
be cleared during that time, and convinced of the necessity and
urgency of an increase in mine- clearance efforts by the international
community,
Recognizing the importance of recording, where appropriate,
the location of mines,
Reiterating its dismay at the high number of victims of
mines, especially among civilian populations, and taking note
in this context of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1994/94
of 9 March 1994 on the effects of armed conflicts on children's
lives, 1/
Bearing in mind the serious threat that mines and other
unexploded devices pose to the safety, the health and the lives
of personnel participating in humanitarian, peace-keeping and
rehabilitation programmes,
Recalling, in this regard, its resolution 48/79 of 16 December
1993 on 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 2/ and
the convening by the Secretary-General of a conference to review
and amend that Convention, noting in particular, in this regard,
the work of the group of governmental experts at present engaged
in preparing the review of the Convention and especially the Protocol
on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps
and Other Devices (Protocol II) 2/ as a matter of priority,
Recalling also its resolution 48/75 K of 16 December 1993,
calling for a moratorium on the export of anti-personnel land-mines,
Bearing in mind that significant progress needs to be achieved
in these fields,
Recognizing that, in addition to the primary role of States,
the United Nations has an important role in the field of assistance
in mine clearance,
Welcoming, in this regard, the efforts made by the United
Nations to foster the establishment of national mine-clearance
capacities in countries where mines constitute a serious threat
to the safety, health and lives of the local population,
Noting with satisfaction the inclusion in the mandates
of several peace- keeping operations of provisions relating to
mine-clearance work carried out under the direction of the Department
of Peace-keeping Operations of the Secretariat, in the context
of such operations,
Commending the activities already undertaken by the United
Nations system, donor and recipient Governments, the International
Committee of the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations
to address solutions of problems relating to the presence of mines
and other unexploded devices,
Commending in particular the activities already undertaken
by the Secretary-General, especially the establishment in the
Secretariat of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs as a focal
point within the United Nations for coordinating de-mining and
related issues,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General
for his comprehensive report on assistance in mine clearance,
3/ and takes note with interest of the proposals contained therein,
as well as of the contributions by Member States and bodies that
have observer status with the General Assembly, contained in the
addendum to the report;
2. Welcomes the establishment by the Secretary-General
of a voluntary trust fund to finance, in particular, information
and training programmes relating to mine clearance and to facilitate
the launching of mine-clearance operations;
3. Appeals to Member States as well as to intergovernmental
and non-governmental organizations and foundations to contribute
to the voluntary trust fund;
4. Invites all relevant multilateral and national programmes
and bodies to include, in coordination with the United Nations,
activities related to mine clearance in their humanitarian, social
and economic assistance activities;
5. Emphasizes again, in this connection, the importance
of coordination by the United Nations of activities related to
mine clearance, including those by regional organizations, in
particular activities relating to information and training;
6. Commends the Secretary-General for his efforts to make
use of available resources to strengthen the coordination role
of the United Nations, and encourages him to continue those efforts
with a view to improving the effectiveness of assistance in mine
clearance by the United Nations;
7. Notes, in this regard, the creation, in the context
of the current reorganization of the Department of Humanitarian
Affairs of the Secretariat, of a Mine Clearance and Policy Unit,
which, with the support of other Secretariat units, especially
the technical expertise provided by the Department of Peace-keeping
Operations, is responsible for carrying out the Department's functions
as a focal point;
8. Urges Member States, regional organizations, governmental
and non-governmental organizations and foundations to continue
to extend full assistance and cooperation to the Secretary-General
and, in particular, to provide him with all information and data
as well as other pertinent resources which could be useful in
strengthening the coordination role of the United Nations in the
fields of mine awareness, training, surveying, mine detection
and clearance, scientific research for mine-detection and clearance
technology and information on and distribution of medical equipment
and supplies;
9. Calls upon all States, especially those that have a
capacity to do so, to provide the necessary information and technical
and material assistance, as appropriate, and to remove or otherwise
render ineffective minefields, mines and booby-traps in accordance
with international law;
10. Calls upon Member States and governmental and non-governmental
organizations that have the ability to do so to promote scientific
research aimed at the rapid advancement of mine detection and
clearance technology;
11. Requests the Secretary-General to consider the convening,
as early as possible, of an international meeting on mine clearance,
to include a meeting of experts and a meeting of potential donors,
in order to promote the work of the United Nations and international
cooperation in this field;
12. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the
General Assembly before its fiftieth session a report covering
the activities of the United Nations on assistance in mine-clearance
activities during the past year and especially the operation of
the voluntary trust fund;
13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its
fiftieth session the item entitled "Assistance in mine clearance".
95th plenary meeting
23 December 1994
____________
1/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1994,
Supplement No. 4 (E/1994/24), chap. II, sect. A.
2/ See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United
Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII.
3/ A/49/357 and Add.1