The new draft is aimed at awareness raising and is intended to trigger activity and discussion on the depleted uranium issue. This is necessary to overcome a deadlock that has arisen at the level of the UN. Couched in cautious and reasonable terms, this might be a quite successful move even in view of the current situation of deaf ears towards depleted uranium weapons.

Content of the resolution

Because of the sensitivity of the issue, the draft resolution is guided by the prevailing political context and asks for small, yet realistic steps. First of all, due to the unclear information on the use of DU weapons in Afghanistan and Kosovo, the regional dimension is limited to the use of such weapons, inter alia, in Kuwait and southern Iraq in 1991, and in Iraq again since March 2003. Secondly, in its essence, the resolution recalls the statements of the IAEA, WHO and UNEP that more research is needed on the immediate or long term health or environmental effects of depleted uranium weapons.

In this regard the draft text requests independent field studies of sites in Iraq targeted with DU weapons. It asks the Secretary-General to seek the views of States and relevant international organisations and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly. Meanwhile states are urged to refrain, in line with the precautionary principle, from the operational use of such weapons. Furthermore, it invites States and international organisations to study our Draft Convention and present reports on the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.

Lessons from the past

Besides the developments on a national level, e.g. parliamentary initiatives in Belgium, court decisions in the UK, lower UN bodies have dealt with the issue quite successfully. The Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities adopted two resolutions on the issue in 1996 and 1997. The UN Secretary General in 2002 pointed in a speech on the occasion of the International Day at the possible inhumane and indiscriminate effects of weapons containing depleted uranium. But most interesting of all is a draft resolution on the effects of the use of depleted uranium, which was introduced to the General Assembly First Committee on Disarmament and International Security in October 2001. Even though the resolution was put forward by Iraq under the then Saddam regime, and later failed, it was approved within the Committee by a slight majority of states (49). This record firstly shows that there is an interest in the issue, and secondly, that a resolution might be successful if introduced by another, more “neutral” state. Thirdly, a new resolution might get through if linked to more substantive issues like calling for investigations and introducing a draft instrument.

Partners and timetable

The most essential job in pushing our initiative forward is finding partners, and especially a leading country to introduce the resolution as a sub item in the UN GA First Committee at its annual session. While the European Parliament issued last November, for the third time, a call for a moratorium on the use of depleted uranium munitions, most of the EU Member States are sceptical on the issue.

The larger EU states in particular are afraid of any confrontation with the US government. However, Belgium, as noted before, and also Finland might be potential candidates for introducing a resolution. In the meantime, the Belgian ICBUW Coalition has presented the draft resolution project to their Foreign Ministry.

Outside the EU, Norway, New Zealand and Mexico might be sympathetic to the issue. Lobbying these countries will be the main task for the next few months. Moreover, we are, once again, trying to place the issue on the agenda of other UN and international community fora. The fourth International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is another option to campaign for this important but politically difficult issue.

ICBUW is going to prepare a special report that will be presented to the UN on the International Day, and, once again we are planning to hold a workshop event in Geneva in November, to coincide with the Review Conference for the UN Conventional Weapons Convention.

Draft Resolution

Concerns About Weapons Containing Depleted Uranium

The General Assembly,

Concerned about the widespread existence and use of weapons containing depleted uranium,

Taking into consideration the potential harmful effects of the use of such weapons to human health and the environment,

Recalling the use of such weapons, inter alia, in Kuwait and southern Iraq in 1991, and in Iraq again since March 2003,

Noting that post-conflict assessments conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in the Balkans, in collaboration with IAEA and WHO, concluded that more research was needed on how the dust from depleted uranium weapons affects the environment,

Recalling the UN Secretary-General’s speech on the occasion of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict (Nov 6th 2002), stating that "although international conventions govern nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, new technologies, such as depleted uranium ammunition, threaten the environment",

Referring to resolutions 1996/16 and 1997/36 adopted by the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities expressing the belief that continued efforts must be undertaken to sensitise public opinion to the inhumane and indiscriminate effects of weapons like those containing depleted uranium and to the need for their complete elimination.

1. Supports UNEP's request for an independent environmental field study of sites in Iraq targeted with weapons containing depleted uranium.

2. Urges States, in line with the precautionary principle, to refrain from the operational use of such weapons until it is scientifically established that such use causes no serious immediate or long-term health or environmental effects, and has no indiscriminate effects on civilians.

3. Invites States and relevant international organizations to study the Draft Convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling, transfer and use of uranium weapons and on their destruction (see Annex), and to present reports on the issue in the frame of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict (November 6th ).

4. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of States and relevant international organizations on all aspects of the effects of the use of weapons containing depleted uranium and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly at its [61st] session.

Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its [one of its next sessions / 61st ] session an item entitled “Concerns about weapons containing depleted uranium".