Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

At the World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016, states and other partners  reaffirmed their commitment to humanitarian principles and pledged to put people at the center of humanitarian action.

Our Pledge

In support of the Summit outcomes, and in line with the UN Secretary-General's Agenda for Humanity and Proposed Core Commitments, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines will continue to:

• Mobilize and advocate for the universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty
• Contribute expertise and research data to inform meetings on the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty
• Campaign to mobilize states and global leaders to enhance respect for the ban on antipersonnel mines, a component of international humanitarian law
• Track, collect, and disseminate data on violations of and gaps in compliance with the ban on antipersonnel mines - through our research arm, the Landmine Monitor
• Support and promote the clearance of landmines and explosive remnants of war, as well as education aimed at reducing the risk of injury

 

SUMMIT PREPARATIONS

Pledges by States
During the High-Level Leaders' Roundtable on Upholding the Norms that Safeguard Humanity, states are invited to take actions that will enhance the protection of civilians by strengthening compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights law.

It is an ideal opportunity to announce adhesion to the Mine Ban Treaty. Here is a sample pledge:

• [State] commits to become a party to the Mine Ban Treaty and to promote universal adherence to it.

States can also make communities safer by supporting the clearance of contaminated areas, and by speaking out to condemn the use of landmines.

Other sample pledges are listed in the Roundtable's Proposed Core Commitments.

Landmine Survivors
The Special Session to advance the Inclusion of persons with disabilities into humanitarian action is highly relevant for survivors of landmine explosions who are also persons with disabilities. Handicap International, a member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, is working with other partners on a Chart and Action Plan to make humanitarian action more inclusive over the next three years.

Summit Preparation Highlights
The Report of the UN Secretary-General for the Summit quotes the Landmine Monitor: "In 2014, 80 per cent of recorded landmine and explosive remnant of war casualties were civilian, with an incidence rate of 10 casualties per day."

The Secretary-General urges all states that are not already party to core international humanitarian law instruments to accede to them with urgency, including the Mine Ban Treaty.

The Secretary-General calls on civil society to mobilize and advocate for accession to and implementation of international humanitarian law instruments.