Mr. Chair,

Germany aligns with the Statement of the European Union.

Numerous military conflicts and in particular Russia’s unjustifiable and unprovoked, illegal war of aggression against Ukraine are further straining an already challenging security environment with devastating humanitarian consequences.
By contrast, our humanitarian arms control instruments contribute to reducing human suffering and saving civilian lives every day. It is our common duty to uphold the norms established by the international humanitarian arms control architecture and strengthen their implementation. In particular we need to

• Continue to stress the importance of these instruments, strengthen support and adherence to these essential norms and work towards further progress in their universalisation
• Strengthen implementation of these instruments by providing necessary support for e.g. humanitarian mine action and fighting the illicit manufacturing and proliferation of small arms, light weapons and conventional ammunition.

Distinguished delegates,

Building on the conviction that even in war, there must be limits, the Ottawa Convention, the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Arms Trade Treaty, the PoA on SALW and the Global Framework on Ammunition are shared commitments to limit the suffering caused by armed conflict. In 2025 alone, Germany allocated nearly 50 Mio. EUR for risk education, victim assistance, clearance, and explosive ordnance disposal. We congratulate Lao PDR on the successful CCM Review Conference in September this year.

Preventing the illicit trafficking, manufacturing and diversion of small arms, light weapons and conventional ammunition remains a key priority for Germany. Germany supports dedicated project work with a combined volume of 20 Mio. EUR per annum. We look forward to the first Meeting of States on the Global Framework on Ammunition next year and call on member states to actively participate and share national experiences.

Colleagues,

Germany welcomes the consensus on the substantive report of the Group of Governmental Experts of the CCW on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, achieved under the able stewardship of Ambassador Robert in den Bosch of the Netherlands, as an important milestone for humanitarian arms control that underlines that the CCW can deliver.

We stress the importance of ensuring a focused and successful CCW Review Conference in November and advocate for a new mandate for the GGE LAWS within the framework of the CCW. In our view, after agreeing on “elements of an instrument”, the next logical step should be a negotiating mandate to create an instrument based on the consented elements.

I thank you.