Disarmament
Status of multilateral arms regulation and disarmament agreements
The most up-to-date information on disarmament treaties, including their status of adherence, are available at the Disarmament Treaties Database of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
Foreword
Welcome to Part II of the 2021 United Nations Disarmament Yearbook. Since 1976, this annual flagship publication of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs has provided comprehensive, objective information for diplomats and the interested public on multilateral efforts to advance the cause of peace through the regulation, control and elimination of weapons.
Acknowledgements
Volume 46 (Part II) of the United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, like previous editions, was a collaborative effort to which the staff of the Office for Disarmament Affairs devoted considerable time and effort. It was prepared under the overall direction of the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, and the Director of the Office, Thomas Markram.
Message from the Director
In 2021 UNMAS strengthened its partnerships with national mine action authorities, Member States and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), consolidated its planning processes, further digitized its reporting tools and enhanced oversight of its programmes.
Yemen
Yemen remains severely contaminated by landmines, sea mines, IEDs and other ERW, which include cluster munitions. Governorates where there has been significant fighting, such as Al Bayda, Al Dhale’, Hajjah, Ma’rib, Sa’ada, Shabwa and Taiz are the most impacted.
Burkina Faso
Since the spread of armed conflict in Mali to Burkina Faso in 2016, there have been persistent armed attacks in the northern and eastern regions. The number of explosive ordnance-related incidents also increased significantly, spreading progressively from the north of Burkina Faso and the regions bordering Mali and Niger to the center and south of the country.
South Sudan
While the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan continued to hold in 2021, limited progress on meeting the benchmarks therein was achieved. Moreover, Government efforts to develop a roadmap to elections met with calls by other parties to the agreement for more inclusion in the process. This resulting political impasse increased tensions between Government parties and fuelled subnational and intercommunal violence across the country. The impact of this upsurge in violence was compounded by the presence of mines and ERW, with the Greater Equatoria region in the south being the worst affected. The total contaminated area by explosive ordnance in 2021 was estimated to be 17.9 square kilometres, restricting the movement of IDPs and preventing the safe return of refugees displaced by conflict.
UNMAS in 2021: Perseverance, Partnership, Progress
Ethiopia
Ethiopia has experienced a series of armed conflicts over the last 50 years which have left behind landmine and ERW contamination.
Nigeria
UNMAS deployed to Nigeria in 2018, following a request by the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.
UNMAS Programme Strategy Core Elements 2020-2023 (as of July 2022)
Occupied Palestinian Territory
The Occupied Palestinian Territory has been occupied by Israel since 1967; the Oslo Agreements (1994 and 1997) transferred security and civilian responsibility of specified areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority (PA). In 2006, Hamas won the Legislative Council elections and took control of the Gaza Strip and approaches for a unified government failed and reconciliation attempts have been stalled in recent years. In addition to the Israeli blockade of Gaza, starting in 2007, the escalation and cyclical nature of hostilities in 2008, 2014, and 2021 between the two parties has been the main source of ERW contamination. The State of Palestine is a party to the APMBC, the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (Protocols I, III, V).