On Monday, the first full day of meetings at the 12th
Conference of Parties (COP12) to the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES) in Santiago, Chile, delegates wasted no time in
tackling hot-button issues: They agreed to let non-governmental
organizations continue to distribute documents in the
traditional manner, but suspended a decision on secret ballots
pending further study.
Participation of Non-Governmental
Organizations
The Draft Rules of Procedure for COP12 had threatened to
prevent non-governmental organizations, such as The HSUS, from
distributing informational documents to delegates via
delegation mail boxes. Fortunately, several countries
(Argentina, Kenya, Mexico, and Austria) proposed an amendment
allowing organizations to continue to use this distribution
method. The amendment was adopted.
Unfortunately, the same Draft Rules of Procedure also
included a section that allows Parties to kick out a previously
approved organization if one third of the Parties object to the
participation of that organization. The section remained in the
approved document; the Parties did not even discuss the
section. At COP12, delegates have approved the participation of
52 national and 89 international organizations, including The
HSUS and Humane Society International.
Secret Ballots
A recent source of contention at CITES is the use of secret
ballots. Secret ballots allow delegates to vote without being
held accountable to the public or to the government they serve.
This means that delegates, perhaps influenced by certain
individuals or agendas, may vote in a way that does not reflect
their country's true position on an issue.
Prior to 1994, a motion to vote via secret ballot required
the support of a simple majority; thus secret ballots were
rarely used. However, in 1994, pro-trade countries convinced
the Parties to change the rule so that only 11 countries could
force a secret ballot. Since then, many votes have been cast in
secret. At the last CITES meeting, proposals on the trade in
whales, sea turtles, and sharks were decided via secret
ballots.
To rectify this situation at COP12, Chile proposed to
increase the number of countries needed to hold a secret ballot
to one third of the Parties present and voting. Chile's
proposal was supported by the United States and Australia, but
was opposed by a larger number of pro-trade countries,
including South Africa, Namibia, and Cuba.
"It's interesting that these pro-trade countries claim that
secret ballots allow delegates to vote freely, as if being held
accountable for their votes was problematic," notes Dr. Teresa
Telecky, director of the Wildlife Trade Program of The
HSUS.
Denmark, speaking on behalf of the European Union, then
proposed that the CITES Standing Committee take up the issue of
secret ballots before the next COP, and that the committee
report back at the next CITES meeting. This proposal was
adopted. Meanwhile, Telecky adds, we can expect to see a host
of secret ballots on important issues in the coming days.
Elephant Update
The ground continues to shift on the elephant issue. Some of
the African countries that did not attend the African elephant
range states meeting October 29–31 have claimed they did not
receive invitations to the meeting. Others have since voiced
their opposition to the so-called consensus reached in support
of the ivory trade proposals. Other countries such as China—one
of the world's largest consumers of ivory—have come out in
opposition to the ivory trade proposals.
The United States, on the other hand, went out of its way on
Monday to disavow press reports that it opposed the ivory trade
proposals. Hugh Vickery, a spokesman for the U.S. delegation,
reportedly told the press that the United States had not yet
decided whether to oppose or support the proposals from
Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
You Can Help Elephants
By November 8, the Parties to CITES may decide whether to
reopen the international ivory trade. If reopened, the trade
will mean the decimation of African and Asian elephants. So
far, the United States delegation has not publicly opposed the
ivory trade proposals submitted by Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia,
Zambia, and South Africa. Please e-mail Judge Craig Manson,
head of the U.S. delegation, today to let him know that you
want the United States to oppose these proposals. His address
is Craig_Manson@ios.doi.gov.
