Rules of Procedure


Presented by the Co-Chairs of the 
Standing Committee on the General Status and Operation of the Convention
 
 
CHAPTER I. PARTICIPATION IN THE MEETING OF THE STATES PARTIES
 
 
Rule 1
 
Participation in the Meeting of the States Parties
 
1. States Parties present at the Meeting of the States Parties will be participants.  Other States may participate in the Meeting of the States Parties as observers.
 
2. Relevant international organizations or institutions and regional organizations may attend  the Meeting of the States Parties as observers.
 
3. The United Nations Secretary-General, the UNHCR, UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, WFP, the  International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Sovereign Order of Malta, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining may attend the Meeting of the States Parties as observers.
 
4. Others that have received an invitation from the Coordinating Committee may attend the  Meeting of the States Parties as observers, subject to approval of the Meeting of the States Parties.  In issuing invitations to others to attend the Meeting of the States Parties as observers, the Coordinating Committee shall take into consideration criteria such as whether the proposed observer is a non-profit entity and whether its purpose and activities are consistent with the object and purpose of the Convention.

5. The plenary meetings of the Meeting of the States Parties shall be held in public unless the Meeting decides otherwise.
 
 
CHAPTER II. REPRESENTATION 
 
Rule 2
 
Designation of delegations
 
Each State or organization participating in the Meeting of the States Parties shall designate a head of delegation and such other representatives, alternate representatives and advisers as may be required.
 
Rule 3
 
Alternates and advisers
 
An alternate representative or an adviser may act as a representative upon designation by the head of delegation.
 
Rule 4
 
Submission of delegation information
 
The names of representatives and of alternate representatives and advisers that 48 hours before the opening of the Meeting of the States Parties have not been submitted to the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs shall be submitted to the Executive Secretary of the Meeting of the States Parties if possible not later than 24 hours after the opening of the Meeting.  Any later change in the composition of delegations shall also be submitted to the Executive Secretary.