International Humanitarian Law and Humanitarian Disarmament-November 2022 - Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights

International Humanitarian Law and Humanitarian Disarmament

Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights Association is an NGO in consultative status with the UN ECOSOC since 2016. We have many different positions at the international and regional levels

Maat works on different fields of work

The field of international and regional mechanisms for the protection of human rights
The field of international humanitarian law and humanitarian disarmament
The field of sustainable development
Support for democracy

In the context of international humanitarian law and humanitarian disarmament, Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights is the Secretary General The Global Coalition for Limitation of Armaments (GCLA)

In this context, the Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights would like to inform you of its activities in the disarmament meetings in November and the first of December 2022 related to the international humanitarian law program, humanitarian disarmament.

Conventional Weapons (CCW)

On November 14, the Maat Foundation participated in the Sixteenth Annual Conference of the Fifth Protocol to the Convention on Conventional Weapons in Geneva with an oral intervention on "The Impact of Explosive Remnants of War on Human Rights in Arab Conflict Zones". Maat confirmed during its intervention that explosive remnants of war constitute a source of danger for many Humans in conflict areas in the Arab world

Maat recommended the necessity of international cooperation in order to implement Article 8 (2) of the Fifth Protocol, and joint coordination between national, regional and international bodies, to appoint a body responsible for detecting areas that have been cleared and those that are still under the threat of explosive remnants of war. It also called for speedy and intensified efforts to remove unexploded ordnance, enhance victim assistance, and support children's right to a safe and protected environment.

On November 14, the Maat Foundation participated in the Sixteenth Annual Conference of the Fifth Protocol to the Convention on Conventional Weapons in Geneva, with an oral intervention on "The Impact of Explosive Remnants of War on Human Rights in Arab Conflict Zones." Maat confirmed during its intervention that explosive remnants of war constitute a source of danger for many human beings in conflict areas in the Arab world.

Maat recommended the necessity of international cooperation in order to implement Article 8 (2) of the Fifth Protocol, and joint coordination between national, regional and international bodies, to appoint a body responsible for detecting areas that have been cleared and those that are still under the threat of explosive remnants of war. It also called for speedy and intensified efforts to remove unexploded ordnance, enhance victim assistance, and support children's right to a safe and protected environment.

The Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights participated in the three conventional weapons meetings that were held at the beginning of the second half of November for 4 days in a row, from November 14 to November 18, where Maat personally participated inside the United Nations headquarters in Geneva in each meeting separately.

The Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights participated in the three Conventional Weapons (CCW) meetings that were held at the beginning of the second half of November for 4 days in a row, from November 14 to November 18, where Maat personally participated inside the United Nations headquarters in Geneva in every meeting on

On November 15, Maat also participated in the twenty-fourth annual conference of the Second Amended Protocol to the Convention on Prohibition or Restriction of the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons That May Be Considered Excessively Harmful or Indiscriminate Effects (CCW). What the Houthis are committing in the field of planting mines in Yemen may rise to the level of war crimes.

Maat and the Global Coalition for Arms Control called on all regional and international actors involved in the conflict in Yemen to provide adequate funding for mine clearance operations and mine awareness activities, especially in schools.

On November 15, Maat also participated in the twenty-fourth annual conference of the Second Amended Protocol to the Convention on Prohibition or Restriction of the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons That May Be Considered Excessively Harmful or Indiscriminate Effects (CCW). What the Houthis are committing in the field of planting mines in Yemen may rise to the level of war crimes.

Maat and the Global Coalition for Arms Control called on all regional and international actors involved in the conflict in Yemen to provide adequate funding for mine clearance operations and mine awareness activities, especially in schools.

Maat also participated in the meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW), which took place over three days from 14-16 November 2022, and the Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights made an oral intervention in Cooperation with the Global Coalition for Arms Control, and during her intervention indicated that independent weapon systems pose a set of ethical, legal and security challenges, and that these machines dehumanize armed violence and threaten human dignity.

Finally, it was recommended to focus on protecting civilians and developing a legal system to support stopping the development of these independent weapons, in addition to involving civil society institutions and allowing them to participate in efforts to stop the development of weapons.

Maat also participated in the twenty-seventh session of the Conference of the States Parties CSP 27 - Chemical Weapons, which was held from November 28 to December 2, 2022, in The Hague - Holland, and human rights expert Ayman Aqil gave an oral intervention on “chemical terrorism”, during which he emphasized Terrorist groups seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction, which increases the risk that radioactive, nuclear and chemical materials will remain within the reach of these groups.

Maat also participated in the twenty-seventh session of the Conference of the States Parties CSP 27 - Chemical Weapons, which was held from November 28 to December 2, 2022, in The Hague - Holland, and human rights expert Ayman Aqil gave an oral intervention on “chemical terrorism”, during which he emphasized terrorist groups seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction, which increases the risk that radioactive, nuclear and chemical materials will remain within reach of these groups

At the present time, the Maat Foundation continues to participate in the work of the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention, which began on November 28, and is scheduled to end on December 16, 2022. Maat also obtained the status of an international observer at the Ninth Conference of the States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention, which Its work continues until the sixteenth of this December, and the Maat Foundation focused in its participation on supporting the participation of young generations of women in the work of the Ninth Conference of the Parties to Biological Weapons and work on building youth capacities to promote and activate the Biological Weapons Convention, and called for work to highlight the role of youth through their inclusion In the field of disarmament, Maat was the only Arab institution that obtained observer status in the Conference of the States Parties.

Currently, the Maat Foundation continues to participate in the work of the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention, which began on November 28, and is scheduled to end on December 16, 2022. Maat also obtained the status of an international observer at the Ninth Conference of the States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention, whose work continues until the sixteenth of this December. To promote and activate the Biological Weapons Convention, and call for work to highlight the role of youth by integrating them in the field of disarmament, the Maat Foundation was the only Arab institution that obtained observer status in the Conference of the States parties.

On the sidelines of participation in the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention, both Maat Foundation, in cooperation with the Global Coalition for Arms Control, presented an oral intervention on “biological weapons”. And continue the global efforts to combat these threats in order to reach a complete and comprehensive ban on the production and use of biological weapons, by including in domestic national laws legal rules that prohibit and restrict the use and activation of these deadly weapons.

On the sidelines of participation in the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention, both Maat Foundation, in cooperation with the Global Coalition for Arms Control, presented an oral intervention on “biological weapons”. And the continuation of global efforts to combat these threats in order to reach a complete and comprehensive ban on the production and use of biological weapons, through the inclusion in domestic national laws of legal rules that prohibit and restrict the use and activation of these deadly weapons ..

Maat also published, on the sidelines of the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention, a report entitled “The Biological Weapons Convention Towards Full and Immediate Activation,” as part of its interest in the work of the Preparatory Committee meeting.

Maat also published, on the sidelines of the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention, a report entitled “The Biological Weapons Convention Towards Full and Immediate Activation” as part of its interest in the work of the Preparatory Committee meeting.

The Maat Foundation also participated in the informal session of the mixed intersessional consultations to discuss the second draft of an international framework on private military and security companies in the period 1-2 December at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva. UN parties and mechanisms to achieve the general purpose of preparing the draft in accordance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

Unanimously.. Maat heads the cross-programs sector in the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union

During the activities of the formation of the Fourth General Assembly of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (African ECOSOC), elections were held for the heads of sectors, and Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights won the presidency of the “Overlapping Programs Sector” with the unanimous votes of the General Assembly held in Nairobi, Kenya from 6-9 December 2022. The international human rights expert, Ayman Aqil, took the oath before the members of the General Assembly as head of the overlapping programs sector, concerned with international cooperation, partnership achievement, and cooperation with various sectors within the ECOSOC on issues related to sustainable development, human rights, and others. “Aqil” confirmed during the swearing-in The oath to respect and promote the principles of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and that it always seeks to work in the service of the African people, in order to achieve the 2063 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Africa. “Aqil” congratulated the new President of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council, Mr. “Khaled Boudali”, and the heads of other sectors and the secretariat General, pledging to work in a framework of cooperation and seriousness, in order to achieve the interests of the African continent.

Unanimously, Maat Heads the Interdependent Programs Sector in the Economic, Social, and Cultural Council of the African Union

During the activities of forming the 4th ECOSOCC General Assembly (#AU_ECOSOC), elections were held for the heads of sectors, and Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights won the presidency of the “interdependent programs Sector” with the unanimous votes of the General Assembly held in Nairobi, #Kenya from 6-9 December 2022. @AymanOkeil, the international human rights expert, took the oath before the members of the General Assembly, in his capacity as a newly elected head of the interdependent programs Sector concerned with international cooperation and partnerships, and cooperation with various sectors within the ECOSOC on issues relevant to sustainable development, human rights, among others. Okeil affirmed the respect and promotion of the principles of the Constitutive Act of the African Union and stressed the relentless strive to work in the service of the African people, in order to achieve the 2063 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Africa. Okeil also congratulated the new head of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council, Mr. Khaled Boudali, and the heads of other sectors and the General Secretariat, pledging to work within a framework of cooperation and seriousness, in order to best serve the interests of the African continent.+4