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ICAO - 35th Session of the General Assembly

•  A high level ministerial conference on Aviation Security which was held at ICAO headquarters on 19th and 20th February 2002. This was attended by 700 participants from 153 contracting states and 25 observers. The conference endorsed a global strategy for strengthening aviation security world wide and adopted Recommendations and a Declaration on security;
• The adoption of the ICAO Aviation Security Plan of Action in June 2002 and calls for continued contributions and implementation of the plan of action;
• The launch of the ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP) with the first ICAO aviation security audit taking place in November 2002.

• Links with other organisations including the UN Counter Terrorism Committee (UNCTC) and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE);
• The adoption of a global harmonised blue print for the integration of biometric identification information into passports and other MRTDs - on the grounds that this will lead to a smoother passage of travellers through airport controls, heightened aviation security and added protection against identity theft. A website has been established in connection with this, in order to disseminate ICAO Technical Reports and guidance materials on biometrics;
• Also in relation to the preceding point, the emphasis on biometrics has led to the recommended adoption of a new 'Recommended Practice' for States to incorporate biometrics into their travel documents and a policy recommendation that ICAO will assist states to implement these provisions;
•  Appendix B reveals an increase in the number of states contributing funds for aviation security, which has risen to 53 states.

• The ICAO published the 2nd edition of Machine Readable Travel Documents, Part 3 (Document 9303) in February 2002. 'The many new specifications include the addition of other data storage technologies, such as bar codes or integrated circuits' in order to supplement existing technologies and accommodate 'encoded biometric images for identity confirmation';
• In February 2003, the 5th edition of Document 9303, Part 1 on "Machine Readable Passports" was published. This document advises states and organizations on the security standards which can be incorporated into an MRTD including countactless ICs in machine readable passports for the purpose of accommodating biometric images.
• The 3rd edition of Part 2 of Document 9303 on "Machine Readable Visas" is expected in 2004 which will include specifications that allow for the incorporation of identification features;
• The global, harmonised blueprint on the integration of biometrics into MRTDs is briefly mentioned and describes the face as the primary biometric and fingerprints and iris scans as secondary, in addition to a contactless IC as a mode of storage;
• Development of recommended practices by the Lyon/Roma Group of the G8, which includes experts from the TAG/MRTD on enhancement of security of the handling and issuance processes for machine readable and other passports. ICAO will publish these as guidance material and promote their implementation;
• Recommendations by the 'Facilitation Division' that States incorporate biometric data in travel documents;
• Support from other international organisations is also listed including support from the OAS for action on the quality of travel documents and support from the EC for adopting the use of biometrics for visas and residence permits for third country nationals having followed the ICAO blueprint. Again this latter point needs to be emphasised on the basis that visas and residence permits are immigration issues and therefore it is not appropriate that the EC is using guidelines issued by a civil aviation organisation to apply to its immigration policies. The OSCE, UN and ILO are also mentioned for supporting ICAO actions.

• LACAC point out that in some instances, the costs of implementing security systems in some American airports varies between US $85 million and US $194 million.
• Paragraph 1.5 reveals that at the ICAO High Level Ministerial Conference on Aviation Security in February 2002 concern was expressed regarding the cost burden of implementing Annex 17 measures and recommendations on developing countries and the actual existing threats.
• LACAC draws attention to Resolution 33-1 which states that security measures with more sophisticated systems should be established only at international airports 'commensurate to the level of threat identified by each state'. LACAC recommends if a state requests specific needs over and above this standard, the additional costs should be met by the requesting state or its airline operators.
• LACAC proposes the Assembly establish alternative security systems, compatible with the level of threat of each state, taking into consideration economic and financial limitation and non-refundable credit lines for developing countries, 'aiming to avoid that excessive demands for implementation of security measures may turn into hindrances for the growth of air transport in the region'.

• Primarily, that, in light of legislative assurances that facilitation of ICAO policies would entail minimum interference and delay with passengers and crew as enshrined in the Chicago and Montreal Conventions, 'excessive upgrading of aviation security measures' represents a potential conflict with these fundamental principles.
• Secondly, 'ethnic, religions and racist profiling with regard to aviation security could run counter to the aims and objectives of ICAO, and conflicts with Article 44 of the Chicago Convention' which urges non-discrimination and requires full respect of the rights of contracting states to invest in airlines and meet the needs of peoples of the world. ACAC urges that screening of passengers should not be conducted on a selective basis.

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