A/RES/71/72
Countering the threat posed by improvised explosive devices
Underlining the important role that States can play in raising awareness among
private sector entities about the possible theft, diversion and misuse of their
products to make improvised explosive devices, with a view to enabling business
entities to develop effective strategies to counter the threat of improvised explosive
devices, 3 including to prevent the adverse impact of the diversion of materials and
the potential loss of revenue and risk to reputation,
Noting the contribution of good governance, the promotion of human rights,
the rule of law and sustained and inclusive socioeconomic growth, including
through effective measures and mechanisms for persons belonging to vulnerable
groups, as important elements in comprehensively addressing the issue of
improvised explosive devices, in particular in post-conflict situations,
Stressing the paramount need to prevent illegal armed groups, terrorists and
other unauthorized recipients from, and identify the networks that support them in,
obtaining, handling, financing, storing, using or seeking access to all types of
explosives, whether military or civilian, as well as other military or civilian materials
and components that can be used to manufacture improvised explosive devices,
including detonators, detonating cords and chemical components, while at the same
time avoiding any undue restrictions on the legitimate use of those materials,
Stressing also the importance of securing conventional ammunition stockpiles
in order to mitigate the risk of their diversion to illicit use as materials for
improvised explosive devices,
Stressing further the importance of engagement by all Member States in a
comprehensive and coordinated community of action to counter the global threat
posed by improvised explosive devices in the hands of illegal armed groups,
terrorists and other unauthorized recipients, taking into account national capacities,
Noting that, at the global level, organizations across many sectors have expertise
that can contribute to a useful set of measures for the mitigation of improvised
explosive devices, and noting also the value of considered and coordinated efforts by
various stakeholders, including intergovernmental organizations, with a view to
investing effectively in coordination and information exchange,
Noting also the discussions on the issue of improvised explosive devices by
the informal group of experts under the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on
the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices as amended on 3 May 1996
(Amended Protocol II) 4 and on the technical annex to the Protocol on Explosive
Remnants of War (Protocol V) 5 to 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, 6
Noting further the multilateral efforts to counter improvised explosive devices
of the Programme Global Shield, led by the World Customs Organization and
assisted by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, to prevent the smuggling and illicit
diversion of precursor chemicals that could be used to build improvised explosive
_______________
3
See the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations “Protect,
Respect and Remedy” Framework (A/HRC/17/31, annex).
4
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2048, No. 22495.
5
Ibid., vol. 2399, No. 22495.
6
Ibid., vol. 1342, No. 22495.
2/6