LM Report 2000

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PARAGUAY

Key developments since March 1999: The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for Paraguay on 1 May 1999. Paraguay has stated for the first time that it does not have a stockpile of antipersonnel mines.

Paraguay signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997. The National Congress passed ratification legislation, Law 1339, on 6 October 1998 and Paraguay deposited its instrument of ratification at the United Nations on 13 November 1998. The treaty entered into force for Paraguay on 1 May 1999.

In May 1999 the government stated its commitment to pass national legislation to implement the treaty.^[1] Likewise, in November 1999, the government said, “Paraguay commits to adopt all the legal measures to prevent and repress into its territory any forbidden activity of the States Parts as provided by Art. 9 of the Convention.”^[2] Yet, it has still not enacted implementation legislation.

Paraguay participated in the First Meeting of States Parties in Maputo in May 1999. Lilianne Lebrón-Wenger, Director-General of Multilateral Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Relations told the plenary that “Paraguay is a country free of antipersonnel mines,” and urged greater effort toward universalization of the ban treaty.^[3] Paraguay has not taken part in the intersessional meetings of the treaty.

In a May 2000 response to Landmine Monitor, Paraguay said that issues such as the Mine Ban Treaty are viewed as promoting peace and humanitarian actions and they therefore have significant importance for Paraguay.^[4]

Paraguay voted for UN General Assembly Resolution 54/54B in support of the Mine Ban Treaty in December 1999, as it had done on similar resolutions in 1997 and 1998. It has supported, by consensus, the pro-ban resolutions of the Organization of American States.

In December 1999, the government gave Landmine Monitor a copy of Paraguay’s Article 7 report, dated 17 November 1999. However, the report has apparently never been officially provided to the United Nations, as required.^[5] The report, which covers the period from 1 May 1999 - 17 November 1999, was prepared by the Ministry of Defense in Spanish.

Paraguay is not a party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons and is not a member of the Conference on Disarmament.

Paraguay is not believed to have ever produced, transferred, stockpiled, or used antipersonnel mines. In its Article 7 report, Paraguay states that it has no antipersonnel mines whatsoever, including for training. This is the first official declaration by Paraguay that it has no stockpile of antipersonnel mines.

Paraguay is not known to have contributed to international mine action programs. However, at the First Meeting of States Parties in May 1999, Paraguay stated its commitment to mine action, and indicated its intention to provide training for deminers and survivor rehabilitation.^[6]

[1] Statement by Lilianne Lebrón-Wenger, Director-General of Multiateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Relations, to the First Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, Maputo, 3-7 May 1999. In Spanish, translation by Landmine Monitor editors.
[2] Paraguay Article 7 report, dated 17 November 1999, received by Landmine Monitor in December 1999.
[3] Statement by Lilianne Lebrón-Wenger to the FMSP, 3-7 May 1999.
[4] Response to Landmine Monitor questionnaire by Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 10 May 2000.
[5] The Article 7 report was attached to a letter from Admiral Jose Ocampos Alfaro, Chief of the Armed Forces, faxed to Landmine Monitor researcher, 22 December 1999.
[6] Statement by Lilianne Lebrón-Wenger to FMSP, 3-7 May 1999.