Seven Policies in Contention for International Award Shortlist

Reflect Successful Disarmament Efforts Worldwide

 

HAMBURG/GENEVA/ NEW YORK, 7 October (Office for Disarmament Affairs) — Seven disarmament policies from five continents have been shortlisted as final contenders for the 2013 Future Policy Award.

Organized by the World Future Council in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), this year’s award seeks to highlight disarmament policies which contribute to achieving peace, sustainable development and security.  The Future Policy Award is unique in celebrating policies rather than people on the international level.

By promoting the exchange of best practices, the Future Policy Award showcases a range of innovative policy approaches to advancing disarmament and celebrating policies that create better living conditions for current and future generations.

In response to a worldwide call for nominations, the World Future Council received 25 policies from 15 countries and six regions (see for the full list at http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/fpa_2013.html).  After in-depth research, a jury of notable experts shortlisted the following seven policies:

Argentina — National Programme for the Voluntary Surrender of Firearms, 2006; Belgium — Law on Anti-personnel Mines, 1995 and the Law regulating Economic and Individual Activities with Weapons, 2006; Costa Rica — Abolition of the Army, Article 12 of the Constitution, 1949; Mongolia — Law of Mongolia on its nuclear-weapon-free status, 2000; Mozambique and South Africa — Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Mozambique and the Government of the Republic of South Africa in Respect of Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in the field of Crime Combating, 1995; New Zealand — New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act, 1987; and Latin America and the Caribbean — Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, Treaty of Tlatelolco, 1967.

Disarmament issues have featured regularly and prominently in the headlines in 2013, including the ongoing threat posed by nuclear and chemical weapons, as well as the historic adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty by Member States.  Weapons of mass destruction continue to pose a threat to all life on Earth while the trafficking of small arms and light weapons fuels tensions, undermines peace and incites armed violence.  The above policies reflect a geopolitical spread of successful approaches designed to tackle these issues at both the national and regional levels.

The winning policies will be announced during a press conference on 23 October at United Nations Headquarters in New York, to be webcast live at 11:30 a.m. on webtv.un.org.

The award will be presented at a ceremony on the evening of 23 October, marking the start of United Nations Disarmament Week, 24-30 October.

Notes to Editors

World Future Council:  The World Future Council brings the interests of future generations to the centre of policymaking.  Comprising 50 eminent members from around the globe who have already successfully promoted change, it addresses challenges to humanity’s common future and provides decision makers with effective policy solutions.  The Council is registered as a charitable foundation in Hamburg, Germany.  For more information, please visit www.worldfuturecouncil.org.

Office for Disarmament Affairs:  The Office provides substantive and organizational support for norm-setting in the area of disarmament through the work of the General Assembly and its First Committee (Disarmament and International Security), the Disarmament Commission, the Conference on Disarmament and other bodies.  It fosters disarmament measures through dialogue, transparency and confidence-building on military matters, and encourages regional disarmament efforts.  It also provides objective, impartial and up-to-date information on multilateral disarmament issues and activities to Member States, States parties to multilateral agreements, intergovernmental organizations and institutions, departments and agencies of the United Nations system, research and educational institutions, civil society, especially non-governmental organizations, the media and the general public.

Inter-Parliamentary Union:  As the global organization of national parliaments, IPU works to establish democracy, peace and cooperation among peoples by uniting members to drive positive change.  A commitment to peace dating back to IPU’s inception in 1889 forms the bedrock of the organization.  Over the years, IPU members have made a particular push to ensure global peace and security through various political resolutions on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament that commit them to pursuing a nuclear-free world.  These have been followed by working on practical measures that parliaments can take to advance the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation agenda.

Future Policy Award:  The Award is designed to alert policymakers and the public to the importance of best practice in lawmaking and highlight outstanding examples of regulatory vision.  It draws attention to existing sustainable policies and demonstrates that when political will is asserted, positive change can happen.  Celebrating visionary policies raises public awareness, encourages rapid learning and speeds up policy action towards just, sustainable and peaceful societies.  For more information, please visit www.worldfuturecouncil.org/future_policy_award.html.

United Nations Disarmament Week:  The annual observance of Disarmament Week, which begins on 24 October, the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, was called for in the final document of the General Assembly 1978 special session on disarmament (resolution S-10/2).  All Member States and civil society organizations are invited to highlight the danger of the arms race, propagate the need for its cessation and increase public understanding of the urgent tasks of disarmament.

Media Contacts

World Future Council Anne Reis Media & Communications Mexikoring 29 22297 Hamburg Phone: +49 40 30 70 914 16 Fax:  +49 40 30 70 914 14 anne.reis@worldfuturecouncil.org

UNODA Ewen Buchanan Information and Outreach United Nations New York 10017 Phone: +1 212 963 3022 Fax: +1 917 367 0339 buchanane@un.org

IPU Jemini Pandya Communications 5, Chemin du Pommier 1218 Geneva Phone: +41 22 919 4158 Fax: +41 22 919 4160 jep@ipu.org

* *** *

For information media • not an official record