|
|
Strategy for an Era of Application of International Law - Action Plan
Adopted
by the Senior Management Group and Approved by the Secretary-General,
June 2000
Download Action Plan in PDF
B. Suggested Actions
1. Encouraging Participation in Multilateral
Treaties
Background
This Action Plan is directed towards promoting compliance by States
with the treaties they have ratified. At the same time, it is beyond
dispute that measures to promote wider and faster participation in
multilateral treaties will both complement and reinforce a programme
that is aimed at ensuring greater compliance with those same treaties (1).
Issue
Many multilateral treaties of potential global application remain
unsigned by a large number of States or, though signed, unratified.
The objective of creating a global framework of binding norms in the
areas concerned is consequently frustrated, particularly in those cases
in which the treaties are prevented from entering into force.
Action
A) The Secretary-General may wish to use his unique position to
advocate the signature and ratification of treaties. The following
suggestions are made with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of
such advocacy:
A list of a dozen or
so key multilateral treaties should be compiled by EOSG, in consultation
with relevant Secretariat units, Programmes, Funds and Agencies, which
treaties should be the subject of a focused and sustained campaign;
The Secretary-General may wish
to make it a standard practice to use the opportunities provided
by bilateral contacts, such as country visits and meetings with Heads
of State or Government, as well as multilateral meetings and statements
to the press, to advocate signature and ratification of these key
treaties;
Reports of the Secretary-General
to political organs might also be used for this purpose;
The Secretary-General may,
as and when appropriate, write directly to Heads of State or Government
encouraging signature and ratification of the selected treaties;
Target audiences of the Secretary-General's
advocacy should also include non-State actors, NGOs and other groups
in civil society with a particular interest in specific treaties,
with a view to enlisting their support.
B) The following additional steps might also be taken
to promote signature and ratification of the selected treaties that are
the subject of the campaign:DPI,
in collaboration with OLA and other relevant offices, might initiate
a campaign to raise consciousness amongst parliamentarians, public policy
research centres, legal professional associations and the public at large
both of the selected treaties and of their status as to signature and
ratification;
The assistance of the secretariats
of the regional commissions, treaty secretariats and the secretariats
of the specialized agencies should be sought for this campaign, as
well as the assistance of Regional Centres, UNICs and UNDP country
teams;
The assistance of particular NGOs working
in relevant fields might be sought to encourage Governments to sign and ratify
the treaties concerned;
Small,high-level missions might be
sent to capitals to contact government officials with direct responsibility
for the signature and ratification of the selected treaties;
A solemn ceremony might be organized
in connection with the Millennium Summit to encourage visiting dignitaries
to sign the treaties or, if possible, deposit their instruments of ratification
or accession. In this connection:
Assistance in, and support
for, this initiative should be sought from Permanent Missions, NGOs, the regional
commissions, UN Programmes, Funds and Agencies, Regional Centres, UNICs and the
specialized agencies;
The Treaty Section of OLA should
take special measures to provide technical assistance to Permanent Missions
regarding the completion of the necessary treaty formalities;
A book might be produced for distribution
at the Summit, containing a list of conventions deposited with the Secretary-General
highlighting the treaties that are the focus of the campaign, with a brief
introduction to each treaty written by an internationally recognised personality
closely associated with the treaties concerned explaining its importance. (2)
|
|