Seven policies contend for international award: Shortlist reflects successful disarmament efforts worldwide
Hamburg/Geneva/New York – 7 October 2013: Seven disarmament policies from five continents have been shortlisted as final contenders for the 2013 Future Policy Award.
Organised by the World Future Council in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) 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 that it celebrates policies rather than people on an international level.
By promoting the exchange of best practices, the Future Policy Award showcases a range of innovative policy approaches to advance disarmament and celebrate policies that create better living conditions for current and future generations.
In response to a worldwide call for nominations, the World Future Council received twenty-five policies from fifteen countries and six regions (see here for the full list). 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.
- 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 on-going threat posed by nuclear and chemical weapons as well as the historic adoption of a global Arms Trade Treaty by UN 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 geo-political spread of successful approaches designed to tackle these issues at both the national and regional level.
The winning policies will be announced at a press conference on 23 October 2013 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to be webcast live at 11.30 a.m. EST on webtv.un.org.
The award will be presented at a ceremony on the evening of 23 October, marking the start of UN Disarmament Week, 24 – 30 October 2013.
Media Contacts
World Future Council Phone: +49 40 30 70 914-16 UNODA Phone: +1 212 963 3022 IPU Phone: + 41 22 919 4158
Anne Reis
Media & Communications
Mexikoring 29
22297 Hamburg
Fax: +49 40 30 70 914-14
anne.reis@worldfuturecouncil.org
Ewen Buchanan
Information and Outreach
United Nations
New York 10017
Fax: +1 917-367-0339
buchanane@un.org
Jemini Pandya
Communications
5, Chemin du Pommier
1218 Geneva
Fax: + 41 22 919 4160
jep@ipu.org
The World Future Council brings the interests of future generations to the centre of policy-making. Its up to 50 eminent members from around the globe have already successfully promoted change. The Council addresses challenges to our common future and provides decision makers with effective policy solutions. In close cooperation with civil society actors, parliamentarians, governments, business and international organizations the World Future Council identifies “best policies” around the globe. The World Future Council is registered as a charitable foundation in Hamburg, Germany. United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) Inter-Parliamentary Union Future Policy Award UN Disarmament WeekThe World Future Council
UNODA provides substantive and organizational support for norm-setting in the area of disarmament through the work of the General Assembly and its First Committee, 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.
As the global organization of national parliaments, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (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.
The Future Policy Award is designed to alert policymakers and the public to the importance of best practice in lawmaking and highlight outstanding examples of regulatory vision. The Award 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, visit www.worldfuturecouncil.org/future_policy_award.html.
The annual observance of Disarmament Week, which begins on the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, 24 October, 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.
