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How did delegations prepare?

Date and time of the 18MSP

The 18MSP took place from 16 to 20 November 2020 with plenary sessions held daily from 10:00 - 12:00 CET and 15:00 - 17:00 CET. 


Format of the 18MSP

Due to the continued travel and other restrictions imposed by the ongoing global pandemic, the 18MSP was held virtually and the programme was modified to this end.

Following the meeting: all participants were able to follow the meeting online via UN WebTV.

Taking the floor: the use of the Interprefy platform was available for registered delegates to take the floor under specific agenda items. Separate testing sessions for Interprefy were offered by the ISU to familiarize speakers with the use of the platform and test the required equipment and connectivity. 

In keeping with the Convention’s practices, simultaneous interpretation during plenary sessions was available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

 

Who participated in the 18MSP?

  • States Parties;
  • States not party;
  • Organisations such as the United Nations Secretary-General, UNHCR, UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, WFP, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Sovereign Order of Malta, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining;
  • Other non-profit international organisations or institutions, regional organisations and non-governmental organisations, the purpose and activities of which are consistent with the object and purpose of the Convention, and;
  • Member organisations of the ICBL.

Official notification of the 18MSP was addressed to all States Parties and States not party by the Convention’s depository (i.e., the UN Secretary General) on 21 January 2020 through a note verbale sent to all Permanent Missions in New York. Official notification was also provided by the depository to relevant organisations.

Note verbale from the UN Secretary General

Registration

All participants to the 18MSP must be registered.

Each delegation must officially notify the Executive Secretary of the 18MSP of the composition of its delegation by email aplc(at)un.org or (fax:+41 22 917 00 34) by 9 November 2020.

 

Statements and list of speakers

There was a list of speakers established in advance of the meeting. Delegations wishing to speak were requested to inscribe themselves by email 18msp(at)apminebanconvention.org on the list of speakers before the start to the meeting at the latest by 11 November 2020 indicating the country, full name, email address and telephone number of speaker as well as the agenda item (i.e. mine clearance, victim assistance, cooperation and assistance, etc..) under which they wanted to speak in accordance with the programme.

Please note that the speakers should be officially registered for the meeting. If your delegation is not inscribed on the list of speakers once the meeting has started, it may request the floor during the meeting but priority will be given to delegations on the list of speakers.

Delegations are kindly requested to deliver statements that do not exceed 3 minutes in length. States Parties that will present their extension requests are encouraged to limit their interventions to 10 minutes. Priority will be given to States Parties.

Delegations that wish to send pre-recorded video messages can do so in advance of the meeting. For more information, please contact 18msp(at)apminebanconvention.org.

Delegations can also submit written statements. They will be made available on the Convention website and form part of the record of the meeting.

In order to ensure smooth interpretation of the meeting, delegations are invited to send their statements in advance to 18msp(at)apminebanconvention.org.

 

Informal Preparatory Meeting 

An informal preparatory meeting was held in Geneva by the President on Friday 18 September from 10:00 to 13:00 at the Palais des Nations, Council Chamber.