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.