25 March 2026 | The UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD), in partnership with the CCW Implementation Support Unit (ISU), convened a regional workshop to support Asia-Pacific States in fulfilling their reporting obligations under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW).
Building Transparency Ahead of Review Conference
Held virtually on 25 March 2026, the workshop brought together national focal points and representatives from High Contracting Parties across the Asia-Pacific region, just days before the 30 March reporting deadline. The timing was strategic, with the Seventh CCW Review Conference scheduled for November 2026 in Geneva.
Opening remarks emphasized that national reports would form a critical part of discussions at the upcoming Review Conference. These reports are not merely procedural requirements—they serve as reflections of national implementation, tools for transparency, and foundations for confidence among High Contracting Parties. Participants were encouraged to submit reports even if slightly delayed beyond the deadline, as maximum participation strengthens the collective assessment of progress under the Convention.
Demystifying Reporting Obligations
The workshop provided comprehensive guidance on the three types of CCW reports:
- Compliance Mechanism Report – Required annually from all High Contracting Parties to the Framework Convention
- Amended Protocol II Report – For States party to the protocol on mines, booby-traps, and other devices
- Protocol V Report – For States party to the protocol on explosive remnants of war
Photo 1: Ms. Sophie Guillermin-Golet, Associate Political Affairs Officer, UNODA, laying down the agenda of the CCW Regional Workshop for Asia-Pacific States
Participants received detailed briefings on reporting templates, summary sheets that streamline annual submissions, and practical tools including reporting guides available in English, French, and Spanish. It was clarified that all reports share the same annual deadline of 31 March and cover activities from the preceding calendar year.
Flexibility was emphasized throughout the session: late submissions are accepted, and States that have missed reporting cycles may submit a single report covering a multi-year period rather than preparing separate retrospective reports. Summary sheets were highlighted as a practical mechanism for States to indicate unchanged information from previous years, reducing administrative burden while maintaining reporting continuity.
Photo 2: Mr. Clément Bailly, Associate Political Affairs Officer, UNODA, discussing the CCW Compliance Reports Database
Sharing Regional Experiences and Best Practices
The workshop included an exchange of national experiences on coordinating CCW reporting. Australia shared its approach to leveraging synergies between reporting requirements under the CCW, the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, and the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Close inter-agency coordination particularly between foreign affairs and defense ministries was identified as essential for collating information on legislation, doctrine, training, and international assistance.
Key insights from this exchange included:
- The initial report is typically the most challenging, but subsequent annual updates become more manageable through systematic coordination and the use of summary mechanisms
- The reporting process itself generates internal benefits, fostering better communication across government departments and helping identify opportunities to showcase national contributions to mine action and victim assistance
- Regular coordination helps maintain awareness of ongoing programs and enables timely identification of success stories suitable for presentation at international forums
Photo 3: Ms. Desislava Gancheva, Assistant Director for Conventional Weapons and Multilateral Space, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, sharing Australia's experience in preparing the CCW reports.
Supporting Implementation and Looking Ahead
The workshop addressed how national reports are utilized beyond compliance monitoring. Submitted reports are uploaded to UNODA databases to reinforce transparency among High Contracting Parties and stakeholders. The CCW ISU analyzes submitted reports to produce quantitative and qualitative assessments, which inform expert meetings and help identify trends, good practices, and implementation gaps across regions.
Discussion also covered preparations for the Seventh Review Conference. Key substantive and procedural issues expected to be addressed include:
- Addressing procedural matters regarding observer participation
- The future of the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, whose mandate concludes in September 2026
- Continued work on improvised explosive devices under Amended Protocol II and explosive remnants of war under Protocol V
- Institutional arrangements and support capacity for the Convention
It was noted that efforts are underway to develop a unified reporting platform to streamline obligations across different humanitarian disarmament instruments, making it easier for States to track deadlines, access templates, and submit reports through a single interface.
Continued Regional Engagement
With 19 of 31 Asia-Pacific High Contracting Parties submitting reports in 2025, the region has demonstrated strong engagement with CCW transparency mechanisms. The workshop reaffirmed UNRCPD's commitment to supporting Asia-Pacific States in their engagement with global disarmament forums, ensuring that regional perspectives and priorities are reflected in discussions in Geneva and New York.
Participants received access to reporting guides, templates, analysis reports from previous years, and direct contact information for ongoing support. The workshop concluded with an invitation for States to maintain communication with UNRCPD and the CCW ISU, and to share success stories and best practices for potential promotion at the Review Conference.
For more information:
- CCW Reporting Guides: UNODA CCW Database
- Contact: UNRCPD at unrcpd-info@un.org
- CCW ISU: ccw-isu@un.org
The Seventh Review Conference of the CCW will take place in Geneva, 16-20 November 2026.
