17 September 2013: The UN Secretary-General has submitted a report to the General Assembly (UNGA) on wastes from chemical munitions dumped at sea. The report conveys responses to a questionnaire regarding the environmental effects of waste originating from chemical munitions dumped at sea, current research, incident response, awareness raising and cooperation efforts, and possible modalities for international cooperation to assess and increase awareness of this issue.

‘Cooperative measures to assess and increase awareness of environmental effects related to waste originating from chemical munitions dumped at sea’ (A/68/258) was requested in UNGA resolution 65/149.

Regarding possible modalities for international cooperation, the report notes that the two options mentioned most by respondents are: strengthening existing frameworks, including through regional seas conventions, and to continue international and regional project and activities; and creating a database and voluntarily sharing information, perhaps through the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Other modalities suggested by respondents included: promotion of dialogues in international and regional forums, such as the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) London Dumping Convention and Protocol; strengthening of capacity building, knowledge and training through national and regional workshops, or through creation of a series of capacity-building frameworks online; enhancement of the involvement of all stakeholders to assess and increase awareness of waste from chemical munitions dumped at sea; assistance by international organizations in assessing the risks involved; and UN coordination in developing standards and policies.

Responses to the UN Secretariat questionnaire were received from the EU, 23 Member States, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, IMO, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The final version of the report, dated 24 July 2013, was published in the Journal of the United Nations on 17 September 2013. It is expected to be taken up in the Second Committee during the 68th Session. [Publication: Document A/68/258] [Reports of UN Secretary-General to Second Committee]