UN Resolution on Sea Dumped Chemical Munitions
CWC Side Event Program
NATO REPORT:
Environmental Impact of Munition and Propellant Disposal
Marine Technology Society Journal
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Landmark statement from the OPCW issued following the THIRD REVIEW CONFERENCE OF THE STATES PARTIES OF THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC).  Among the positive outcomes resulting from the recent Conference is a landmark decision regarding sea-dumped chemical weapons (referenced in the Final Document), which states: 128. The Third Review Conference noted the United Nations General Assembly resolution “Cooperative measures to assess and increase awareness of environmental effects related to waste originating from chemical munitions dumped at sea”, adopted at its 65th session by consensus, and invited States Parties to support voluntary sharing of information, raising awareness and cooperation on this issue. The attached language is a major achievement since it opens, for the first time in the OPCW's history, the possibility to cooperate on sea-dumped chemical weapons by supporting voluntary sharing of information, raising awareness and cooperation on this issue. It is time to consider the measures to implement these important provisions. This decision assists in using the OPCW as a platform for cooperation on these issues between the governments, international organisations, the relevant industries, academia and NGO's. Click here to read more about this landmark statementWe invite you to participate in a July 2013 Side Event in The Hague to join a voluntary platform of cooperation aimed at reducing the environmental impact of sea dumped chemical weapons and the negative economic consequences on our human health and marine resources in accordance with the United Nations (UN) Resolutions on Sea Dumped Chemical Weapons. The Resolution introduced by the Government of Lithuania in November 2010 was adopted unanimously by the UN General Assembly in December 2010. If you are a scientist, technologist, UXO service provider, end-user, government official, or buyer, you need to attend this event. We want to see and understand your technologies and approaches to SDWs. This is your opportunity to showcase services for research, detection, investigation, handling, recovery, and environmentally-friendly safe disposal at the OPCW’s Headquarters for 190 States (Countries) Parties including NATO and United Nations. Click here to register |
Mission Statement
The International Dialogue on Underwater Munitions (IDUM) is a non-governmental organization/Society founded in 2004 by Mr. Terrence P. Long following his appearance at a Canadian Senate Hearing with the Senate Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. The IDUM's mission is to promote the creation of an internationally binding treaty on all classes (biological, chemical, conventional, and radiological) of underwater munitions. This treaty would encourage countries to collaborate on underwater munitions policy, research, science, and responses including environmentally-friendly remediation in affected regions. The IDUM is an internationally recognized body where all stakeholders (diplomats, government departments including external affairs, environmental protection and fishery departments, industry, fishermen, salvage divers, oil and gas, militaries and others) can come together in an open and transparent forum to discuss underwater munitions, seek solutions, and promote international teamwork on their issues related to underwater munitions. The IDUM promotes constructive engagement with all stakeholders rather than disengagement so that we may learn from one another's situation and determine how we can best respond in the future with everyone's considerations. What we have learned is that off-the-shelf-technology, developed by the oil and gas industry and military's unmanned systems programs, does exist to address underwater munitions sites. And there is a "Need to clean" based on the potential human health and environmental impact on our health care systems and fish stocks. Underwater munitions in some form or another will continue to pollute the marine environment over time. It’s just a question of "When". Underwater Munitions are "Point Source Emitters of Pollution". In most cases, remove the source and you remove the problem.
Chairman's Message
"The IDUM is collaborating with international leaders and organizations to better understand the socio-economic impact on both human health and
environment from years of decaying underwater munitions. The organization is facilitating this through international diplomacy via national and
international programs, dialogues, conferences, workshops, committees, senate hearings, and international commissions. Most notable
are the international efforts of the Government of Lithuania that resulted in the unanimous passing of the
United Nations Resolution on Sea Dumped Chemical Weapons
in December 2010 at the United Nations. Internationally, we must organize and continue our work together to collect, process, and provide information
on underwater munitions to the Secretary General of the United Nations in 2013. Any tangible approach would require a multilateral response from
all stakeholders including institutional capacity-building and the creation of an International Donor Trust Fund."
 Terrance P. Long CPSM. SSM. CD.
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 Ambassador Vaidotas Verba
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 Dr. Andrzej Jagusiewicz
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Speakers from 4TH IDUM
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