Countering the threat posed by improvised explosive devices
A/RES/71/72
devices, the network of regional and multilateral communities of action established
by States to counter improvised explosive devices, the research on those devices
undertaken by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research and the work
undertaken by the Mine Action Service of the United Nations to mitigate the threat
posed by those devices to civilians, United Nations staff, peacekeepers and
humanitarian personnel, in particular in the field,
Taking note of the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist
Bombings 7 and the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, 8
Reaffirming the inherent right of Member States to individual or collective
self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations,
1.
Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
resolution 70/46, 9 and takes note of the recommendations contained therein;
2.
Recognizes that existing approaches in multilateral arms regulation,
while valuable, do not fully address the issue of improvised explosive devices, and
therefore strongly urges States to develop and implement, where appropriate, all
national measures, including outreach and partnerships with relevant actors,
including the private sector, necessary to promote awareness and vigilance among
their nationals, persons subject to their jurisdiction and firms incorporated in their
territory or subject to their jurisdiction that are involved in the production, sale,
supply, purchase, transfer and/or storage of precursor components and materials that
could be used to make improvised explosive devices;
3.
Strongly encourages States, where appropriate, to develop and adopt
their own national policy to counter improvised explosive devices that includes
civilian-military cooperation, to strengthen their countermeasure capability, to
prevent their territory from being used for terrorist purposes and to combat illegal
armed groups, terrorists and other unauthorized recipients in their use of improvised
explosive devices, while bearing in mind their obligations under applicable
international law, and notes that the policy could incl ude measures to support
international and regional efforts to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover
from and mitigate attacks using improvised explosive devices and their widespread
consequences;
4.
Stresses the need for States to take appropriate measures to strengthen
the management of their national ammunition stockpiles to prevent the diversion of
materials for making improvised explosive devices to illicit markets, illegal armed
groups, terrorists and other unauthorized recipients, and encour ages the application
of the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines for the safer and more secure
management of ammunition stockpiles, while also recognizing the importance of
capacity-building in this regard; 10
5.
Underlines that, for the issue of improvised explosive devices to be
effectively addressed, it is essential to comprehend the importance of action needed
at the local and community levels; through activities ranging from awareness -raising
_______________
7
Ibid., vol. 2149, No. 37517.
Resolution 60/288.
9
A/71/187.
10
The General Assembly, in its resolution 66/42, welcomed the completion of the International
Ammunition Technical Guidelines and the establishment of the “SaferGuard” knowledge resource
management programme for the stockpile management of conventional ammunition.
8
3/6