PLAN OF ACTION FOR CANADIAN CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE HUMAN SECURITY NETWORK (MAY 2004 - MAY 2005)

Objectives

• HSN to show leadership in regional and multilateral fora
• Continuity with activities/priorities of Malian Chair and initiation of activities/priorities that can be carried forward by Thai Chair
• Concrete, creative initiatives that are focussed and could benefit from Network cooperation

Canadian Priorities and Activities

Canada's priorities during its period as HSN Chair fall into two categories, or 'baskets'. The first basket - established human security issues - encompasses those issues on which the Network has already developed a common approach. Our goal will be to use this common vision to move the issue forward in other bilateral and multilateral fora. The second basket - emerging human security issues - will allow us to further explore issues that have not been as fully developed within the Network to date. Our goal will be to develop a greater degree of consensus and understanding within the HSN on these issues so that, in the future, the Network can work together to advance them in other fora.

Basket 1 - Established Human Security Issues

Human Rights

• Build on the common vision expressed in the HSN submission to the Blue Ribbon Panel with a view to strengthening multilateral human rights mechanisms.
• Develop thinking regarding the connection between Human Rights 'including Human Rights education) and Conflict Prevention.

Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW)

• Continue to promote the human security dimension of small arms in the lead up to the July 2005 Biennial and 2006 Review Conference by identifying common positions and developing common strategies for HSN action.
• Sponsor events that give profile to work on cutting edge issues related to the small arms agenda, such as civilian possession; community-based policing; security sector reform; gender; and children and armed conflict.
• Follow up on Mali's ongoing small arms study.

Landmines

• Focus on preparing for the First Review Conference of the Ottawa Convention, to be held in Nairobi, Kenya from 29 November to 3 December 2004.
• Encourage high level participation at the Conference.
• Undertake follow-up to the letter campaign 'as outlined in the workplan.

Children affected by armed conflict

• Explore potential Network cooperation in addressing specific country situations.
• Sponsor events that give profile to work on cutting edge issues related to the CAAC agenda, such as why children join armed groups; impact of small arms on children; and accountability and monitoring.
• Use the Secretary‑General's list of parties to conflict known to recruit children as a starting point for potential HSN action, including a series of co‑ordinated demarches on/consultations with the Secretariat in New York, and, if deemed appropriate, undertake follow-up action.

Basket 2 - Emerging Human Security issues

Responsibility to Protect

• Advance understanding of the Responsibility to Protect agenda and specifically 'sovereignty as responsibility' within the HSN through ongoing discussions at the level of Ministers, Senior Officials and experts.

HIV/AIDS

• Develop a greater understanding of the links between human security and HIV/AIDS through, for example, a Roundtable on 'HIV/AIDS, Women and Human Security' in New York; and/or a brainstorming session on HIV/AIDS and human security in Geneva.
• Share Canadian experience in implementing the August 30th WTO Decision with respect to exporting affordable medicines to countries in need.

Women, Peace and Security (WPS)

• Develop thinking on WPS as a cross-cutting theme that interacts with and impacts other human security issues including SALW and HIV/AIDS.
• Encourage discussions and events surrounding the 4th anniversary of the UNSC Women Peace and Security Resolution (Res1325) and the associated UNSC Open Debate (October 2004).

Process

• Ongoing consultations with HSN partners
• Achieving consensus prior to any joint-HSN statement or action
• Strategic, co‑ordinated diplomatic engagement by Network countries on specific issues/situations; ie joint demarches
• Activities that both raise the profile and push the development of an item on the HS agenda; ie brainstorming sessions, workshops
• In tandem with Chair's priorities, encourage other HSN partners to take the lead on activities related to their priority objectives
• Development of new medium term workplan - to be adopted at May 2005 Ministerial

Action at Ministerial level

Ministerial Breakfast in New York (September)

Meeting on the margins of an international event (as appropriate)

Ministerial Meeting in Ottawa (May 2005)

Action at the level of Senior Officials

First Senior Officials Meeting in Ottawa (early September): prepare for Ministerial Breakfast on the Margins of UNGA; discuss possible coordination of work in the GA

Side events

Second Senior Officials Meeting

Cooperation in New York, Geneva and Vienna

HSN Focal Points meetings: initial meeting to review outcome of Bamako Ministerial and highlight objectives of Canadian Chair; additional information-sharing meetings, as needed

Issue-specific meetings, as needed