Statement by Ms Rachita Bhandari, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India to the Conference on Disarmament, at the 16th Meeting of States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) held at Vienna on December 18, 2017
Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction/ Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC)
16th Meeting of States Parties,
Vienna, 18-21 December 2017
Statement by India
Mr. President,
India is pleased to see you chair the 16thMSP of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention this year, which coincides with the 20th anniversary of its adoption.
We are also pleased that Her Excellency Suraya Dalil, Ambassador of Afghanistan in Geneva will chair the 17th MSP next year.
India supports the vision of a world free of anti-personnel mines. Our presence as an Observer in this meeting,and at other MSPs and Review Conferences since 2004is a demonstration of our support towards this goal. We believe that the availability of militarily effective alternative technologies that can perform, cost-effectively, the legitimate defensive role of anti-personnel mines will considerably facilitate the goal of their complete elimination.
India is party to AP II of the CCW which takes into account the legitimate defence requirements of States, especially those with long borders. India has fulfilled its obligations under AP-II, including ceasing the production of non-detectable mines as well as rendering all our anti-personnel mines detectable. India is also observing a moratorium on the export and transfer of anti-personnel mines.
India, along with the ICRC, organized an International Conference on the CCW in New Delhi earlier this month, which brought together 24 States from Asia, the Gulf Region and East Africa, as well as experts from a number of international organizations. A range of legal, military and humanitarian perspectives were covered on a number of issues including Landmines and ERW: Views of affected States; The international rules to address the consequences of landmines and ERW; CCW’s work on IEDs and efforts to strengthen CCW Protocols.
In March last year, India had also conducted a multi–national Exercise on Humanitarian Mine Action, which brought together participants from 18 countries.
We have taken a number of measures to address humanitarian concerns arising from the use of anti-personnel mines. Increasing public awareness is an integral part of our efforts to avoid civilian casualties. India's ratification of the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities underscores the importance we attach to victim assistance. The “Jaipur foot” prosthetic has become symbolic of India’s contribution to victim assistance, with more than 60 limb-fitment camps having been undertaken in 27 countries across the world over recent years.
India has extended assistance to international demining and rehabilitation efforts, including as part of UN peacekeeping operations to which it is a leading contributor. Indian mine clearance professionals have contributed to both clearance and clearance training globally, including in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Angola, Benin, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. In the last five years, more than 500personnel from various countries have undergone training in India in mine clearance and explosives disposal. India remains committed to increased international cooperation and assistance for mine clearance and is willing to extend technical assistance and expertise to this end.
I thank you, Mr. President.
