Universalization

Aims and Objectives

The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) has 126 High Contracting Parties to date. This means that 67 UN Member States still have not joined the Convention. While the CCW is adaptable and relevant to a wide array of global challenges, its universalization rate is below 50% in certain regions.

The EU-supported project on Universalization aims to address this challenge. This initiative is designed to provide States not party with a deeper understanding of the Convention’s purpose and benefits, encouraging their active involvement in CCW meetings and activities. It analyzes the challenges of promoting universality and assists officeholders and States in conducting coordinated, sustained, and innovative outreach efforts.

The project anticipates several key outcomes:

• Promoting universalization of the Convention and its Protocols, particularly through a tailored regional approach
• Contributing to the establishment of a coordinated, strategic approach among officeholders and High Contracting Parties to promote universalization
• Fostering a deeper understanding of the CCW among relevant national authorities and experts
• Creating a network of experts and practitioners for continued engagement in CCW universalization and implementation efforts
• Encouraging a higher number of non-High Contracting Parties to join the CCW and actively engage in its activities
• Achieving more geographically balanced adherence to the CCW and its protocols

Implementation

Within the framework of this project, UNODA is organizing a series of workshops focusing priority regions and States not party.

• Regional Workshop on Achieving the Universalization of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in Southeast Asia, 4-5 April 2023, Bangkok, Thailand
• Regional Workshop on Achieving the Universalization of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in Southern and Eastern Africa, 12-13 June 2023, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Caribbean Community Regional Workshop on Achieving the Universalization of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, 11-12 July 2023, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
• Regional Workshop on Achieving the Universalization of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in the Pacific, 11-12 December 2023, Manila, Philippines
• Regional Workshop on Achieving the Universalization of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in Western Africa, 1-2 February 2024, Lome, Togo
• Regional Workshop on Achieving the Universalization of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, 11-12 April 2024, Geneva, Switzerland