Statement by Ambassador Pankaj Sharma during the Meeting of Experts to the CCW Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War (ERW)Geneva, 18 August 2021
Mr. President-designate
India congratulates you on chairing this important Meeting of Experts of the Protocol V of the CCW. We assure you of the full support of our delegation in ensuring the success of this meeting.
2. We also wish to express our sincere appreciation to the Secretariat for its support to the High Contracting Parties throughout the year. The Coordinators also deserve our appreciation for the work carried out by them.
3. India is fully committed to the CCW and is a signatory to all the five protocols of the CCW. As a dynamic Convention, the CCW has time and again demonstrated its enduring relevance by adapting to meet the contemporary security challenges in a balanced manner. India is committed to ensure the full implementation of our obligations under the CCW and its Protocols.
4. India attaches special importance to Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War and held the Presidency of the CCW when the Protocol was negotiated. India, as an original signatory to Protocol V, is deeply aware of the grave humanitarian concerns caused by the explosive remnants of war, and is fully committed to cooperation and assistance towards its full implementation.
5. India’s efforts to implement its obligations under the Protocol V are contained in our National Annual Reports, which are submitted in a timely manner. International cooperation and assistance, in the implementation of Protocol V is an area to which India attaches high priority. India stands ready to contribute towards capacity building, victim assistance and victim rehabilitation, upon request from friendly countriesunder the UN mandate. As a major troop contributor to the UN Peacekeeping Missions, India actively participates in peace activities that include removal and deactivation of IEDs and demining assistance, wherever required.
Mr. President-designate
6. In October 2018, India launched the India for Humanity initiative, as part of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, keeping in line with his vision for compassion and service to humanity. Under the aegis of this initiative, India has conducted several limb fitment camps in more than a dozen countries with over 6500 limbs fitted as of 2020.The limb fitment camps, which aim to provide for the physical, economic and social rehabilitation of the victims and helps them regain their mobility, has now been extended up to March 2023.India has been extending such humanitarian assistance under its Development Partnership programmes which are derived from our core philosophyand beliefof Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam, or ‘the world is one family’.
7. India’s ratification of the Convention on Right of Persons with Disabilities underscores the importance we attach to victim assistance.
Mr. President-designate
8. India presently does not have any explosive remnants of war. Our military engineers are well trained and geared for clearance and destruction of the Explosive Remnants of War. Detailed standard operating procedures are in place for marking and clearance of the ERW which include, prioritization of areas requiring clearance, identification of risk zones, liaison with civilian authorities, educating the civil populace, providing medical support as well as provision of fencing with posters and danger signs, in ERW risk zones.
9. India supports the focusing of efforts by affected States, in developing new technologies which can be deployed for removal or deactivation of ERW. Voluntary reporting, mapping of contaminated areas, dynamic updating of the database and maintaining real time sanitization record of the clearance efforts are some basic procedures, adhering to which would also help in mitigating the threats of ERW.
10. We sincerely hope that this meeting would further contribute towards the efforts being made on Protocol V universalization and strengthening its implementation under your able leadership.
I thank you Mr. President-designate
