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This Action Plan summarizes priorities and activities of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) in 2012. ICBL members have been consulted and their input is included in the action plan. The plan details campaign priorities on universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty (MBT) in 2012, describes how we will work, and includes a calendar of key global dates and major activities in 2012.
• A total ban on the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of antipersonnel mines; • Accelerated clearance and destruction of all emplaced landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW); • Fulfillment of the rights and needs of all landmine and ERW victims; and • Universal adherence to the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty and its full implementation by all.
2012 is a landmark year for the movement to eradicate landmines. It will mark 15 years since the adoption of the MBT, and 13 years since the treaty entered into force. 2012 will also mark the 20th anniversary of the founding of the ICBL (1992).
The major milestone of the year will occur in December 2012, when the Twelfth Meeting of States Parties (12MSP) to the MBT will be held in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting will convene exactly 15 years to the day (3 December 1997) that the treaty was officially opened for signature in Ottawa, marking the first time a grass roots campaign had succeeded in banning a weapon that had been in widespread use.
Throughout the year the ICBL’s focus will remain on ensuring continued implementation of the MBT and the Cartagena Action Plan. We will also work hard to address compliance challenges involving landmine use allegations, missed stockpile destruction deadlines, lack of or slow progress in clearing land and assisting survivors in many affected countries. Universalization will also remain a priority, especially in the light of the alarming level of new mine use in 2011 and of political changes in the Middle East that may create new opportunities for engagement on the treaty. We will also continue to focus on the ongoing US policy review. Other developments in other states not party could require more attention by the ICBL.
October 2012 will mark 20 years since the creation of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, founded by six concerned NGOs in New York in 1992. Throughout the year, the ICBL will use this anniversary to bring the landmine problem, the treaty and its achievements, as well as the success of this unique global movement back into public attention. We want to highlight that although much has been achieved in the past several years, much more still needs to be done to bring a full stop to the devastation caused by landmines. In its anniversary year the ICBL will challenge the international community to reinvigorate its commitment to reaching a mine-free world, and to put into action the means to achieving this aim within years, not decades. In addition, we want this anniversary to celebrate the power of civil society as a driving force to make a real difference in the world, and promote the model of partnership between NGOs, governments and international organizations as the most effective catalyst for change. We want our anniversary to be a call to action - for civil society, governments and partners – to work diligently together to make our shared achievable goal – a world without mines – a reality.
As of December 2011, a total of 158 countries had joined the MBT, while an additional two states have signed but not yet ratified (Marshall Islands and Poland). Two states joined the treaty in 2011 - Tuvalu and South Sudan. A total of 38 countries remain outside the MBT.
Accession/Ratification
During 2012, the ICBL and its national campaigns will continue to challenge every country in the world to join the MBT. In particular, the ICBL will continue to focus on:
• The last EU member state outside of the MBT - Poland to keep its promise to join the MBT in 2012. • Libya, where the new regime has shown concerns over mine use and contamination in 2011, and seems to be willing to engage in dialogue on the MBT. • Somalia to keep its promise to join the MBT in the coming months . • States from Asia and the Pacific such as the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Tonga, building on the momentum created by the 11MSP and the Cambodian Presidency of the treaty in 2012. • Lao PDR and Lebanon, both States Parties to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, to take a decision to accede to the treaty. • Gulf states such as Bahrain, Oman, and the UAE to reengage on the issue and join the treaty without delay.• The US landmine policy review to press for a decision to join the MBT.
Promoting the norm
In 2012, the ICBL will continue to work to ensure all states adhere to the prohibition on antipersonnel mines and take steps to support the MBT, such as adopting a national moratorium on use or endorsing the annual UN General Assembly Resolution. We will strongly condemn any use of antipersonnel mines by any actor. In 2012, the ICBL and its member organizations will continue to encourage all non-state armed groups (NSAG) to ban the use of antipersonnel landmines.
In 2012, the ICBL will continue to promote the full implementation of the MBT and Cartagena Action Plan. The ICBL will prioritize its campaign efforts to encourage States Parties to the MBT to step up mine clearance, to increase tailored assistance to landmine survivors, to destroy all stockpiles and to increase resources for mine action and victim assistance.
Clearance (Art. 5)
In 2012, the ICBL will continue working to ensure that affected States Parties accelerate clearance of contaminated areas. We will focus on:
• States that should request an extension of their clearance deadlines in 2012: Afghanistan, Angola, Rep. of Congo and Cyprus to ensure they submit timely and quality extension requests for a minimum number of years. • States with completion deadlines in 2012: Denmark, Guinea-Bissau, Jordan and Uganda to ensure they meet their deadlines. • States that have identified and/or declared suspected or confirmed mine contamination after their Article 5 deadline has passed: Germany, Hungary, Mali, and Niger as of December 2011, to foster thorough discussion among States Parties on how to address such cases with the aim of adopting a decision on a new procedure at the 12MSP. • States Parties where there is a suspicion or confirmation of contamination that has not been formally acknowledged under Article 5 (Djibouti, Greece, Mali, Moldova, Montenegro, Namibia, Niger, and the Philippines) for them to formally declare whether they have Article 5 obligations. • States Parties that have received extensions to monitor they are on track to meeting the goals they set out in their extension requests.
Stockpile destruction (Art. 4)
• In 2012, the ICBL will continue to work with States Parties and international actors to try and overcome the compliance challenges faced by the three States Parties that have failed to meet their deadlines for stockpile destruction: Belarus, Greece, and Ukraine. Greece still has a large amount and will need pressure to complete destruction quickly. Belarus and Ukraine will need to provide a clear deadline for when they will finish destroying all their stockpiles. • The ICBL will also work with new States Parties that have stockpiles, such as Finland, or with States Parties that discover stockpiles, such as FYR Macedonia and Guinea-Bissau to ensure the stockpiles are destroyed as soon as possible.
Victim assistance (Art. 6.3)
The ICBL will continue to push States Parties to fully implement the 2009 Cartagena Action Plan as a way to help make a real difference in the lives of survivors. ICBL-CMC Victim Assistance Focal Points and other members will seek to ensure that the Cartagena Action Plan and national plans are implemented on the ground by advocating for implementation and working with governments.
The ICBL will focus on states with a significant number of survivors by encouraging them to:
• Designate victim assistance focal points: Angola, Mozambique, South Sudan, Turkey and Vietnam. • Create or improve functional coordination mechanisms: Angola, Lao PDR, South Sudan and Turkey. • Promote physical accessibility by developing/adapting building codes and physical accessibility guidelines: Afghanistan, Burundi, Ethiopia, Iraq, Sudan and Tajikistan. • Make services available and accessible in rural and remote areas: Afghanistan, Cambodia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Thailand and Senegal. • Increase gender-sensitive aspects of assistance: Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sudan and Uganda.• Join the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Afghanistan, Angola, Chad, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq and Tajikistan.
Cooperation and assistance (Art. 6)
In 2012, the ICBL will work with the Standing Committee on Resources, Cooperation and Assistance to ensure that states actively participate in discussions, including by sharing experiences, raising concerns, and proposing ideas on how to address challenges related to resource mobilization and utilization. In particular the ICBL will work to:
• Raise awareness among donor states on the need to maintain funding at sufficient levels for clearance, victim assistance, and stockpile destruction. • Raise awareness among affected states on ways and means to increase their national contributions.• Raise awareness among UN agencies on efficiencies related to funding transiting via the UN and ratio between coordination/operations.
Transparency reporting (Art. 7)
In 2012, the ICBL will work to improve the level of compliance by States Parties with the treaty's Article 7 requirement to submit annual national transparency reports. In particular, the ICBL will work to:
• Ensure that high-quality, detailed reports are submitted on time, including by providing technical assistance to the Article 7 Contact Group Coordinator Belgium to develop concrete proposals for the 12MSP in order to improve the quality of reporting. • Encourage Equatorial Guinea to submit its initial transparency report, which is twelve years overdue.• Encourage voluntary reports from states that have not yet joined the MBT.
An ICBL Action Alert on transparency reporting will be circulated to all campaigners ahead of the 30 April 2012 deadline.
National legislation (Art. 9)
In 2012, the ICBL and its national members will work to ensure that 7 of the 13 States Parties (Afghanistan , Rep. of Congo, Kuwait, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tajikistan and Thailand) in the process of developing national legislation as required by Article 9 of the MBT finish as soon as possible. The ICBL and its national members will engage with the above States Parties, in cooperation with the ICRC.
Mines retained for training (Art. 3)
In 2012, the ICBL will continue to urge States Parties to report on mines retained for training, especially the 12 States Parties that are not believed to have consumed any mines since the treaty entered into force for them (Angola, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo). We will continue to press States Parties that retain significant numbers of mines (over 5,000) for training to reduce or completely destroy them (Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, as well as Finland that should become a State Party in 2012 and plans to retain a large number of mines).
Risk education
• The ICBL will encourage the following 11 States Parties to take further action to decrease the number of casualties: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Colombia, DR Congo, Croatia, Iraq, Sudan, Tajikistan and Thailand.• Through risk education activities, ICBL members will also continue to raise awareness of the MBT and advocate directly and indirectly for its universalization and implementation especially in states not party.
Global outreach
At the global level, the ICBL will continue to engage with states on a regular basis through their missions in Geneva, as well as at diplomatic fora such as the Coordinating Committee, intersessional meetings and the 12MSP, as well as on the margins of the CCW meetings in Geneva, the annual UN General Assembly (UNGA) First Committee in New York, and other opportunities.
In cooperation with national campaigners, the ICBL Diplomatic Advisor and staff may undertake advocacy missions to some selected countries (e.g. Angola, Colombia, Greece, Iraq, Libya, Nepal, Oman, Senegal, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey and/or others depending on the needs and feasibility).
Regional outreach
ICBL will continue to use the advantage of relevant regional events to promote implementation and universalization of the MBT. We will focus in particular on regions with low adherence to the treaty such as Asia and the Pacific and the Middle East. The Cambodian Presidency over the treaty should be of advantage to promoting the ban and the treaty in Asia. Palau may consider holding a regional event for states in the Pacific. Recent political changes in the Middle East may create new opportunities for universalization of the MBT, especially with the new government in Libya.
There may be other opportunities to enhance universalization and implementation of the treaty at regional level, such as workshops, seminars and roundtables planned by various ICBL members, ICRC, states, and the Implementation Support Unit in frame of the EU decision, that all pend final confirmations.
In-country outreach
At the national level, ICBL campaigners, including Victim Assistance Focal Points, will continue to undertake an array of activities according to their needs and priorities. Campaigning activities include regular contact with national authorities, national workshops, parliamentary engagement, grassroots mobilization, and media outreach.
Youth outreach
Mines Action Canada (MAC) and other ICBL members will continue to engage with youth in support of the campaign to ban landmines. In 2012, MAC interns will be deployed to Cambodia, Colombia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia. MAC’s Youth to Youth Network’s initiative “taking the next step for survivors” will be focusing on drawing attention to VA by engaging youths in enhancing assistance to survivors through promoting increased understanding about the needs and rights of landmines and cluster munition survivors in 2012. Several ICBL members in states not party including in Georgia, Nepal and Pakistan have been engaging youth in campaigning against landmines in the past and they will continue to do so in 2012 and beyond.
Gender Work
Campaigners, including those in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Colombia, Croatia, DR Congo, Iraq, Nepal, Sudan and Uganda, are working to promote gender aspects of mine action. ICBL will continue to promote the integration of gender is all aspects of mine action. Gender equality and non-discrimination are integrated into the work of the ICBL and many member organizations have gender dimensions to their ongoing activities. The Gender and Mine Action Program (GMAP), an ICBL member in Switzerland, will provide practical guidance for the mainstreaming of gender considerations into campaigning activities on request. In 2012 the GMAP is planning to go to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Colombia, Iraq, and Nepal to provide training on gender to relevant mine action and victim assistance stakeholders.
Media and communications
In 2012 the ICBL will work to improve links with the media and to provide them with recent, relevant and interesting stories to illustrate that landmines continue to blight the lives of thousands of people around the world. In doing this the media will be encouraged to promote the MBT, to highlight its successes and challenges - globally and at a national level – and to celebrate the achievements of civil society’s partnership with states, particularly as part of the ICBL’s 20th anniversary celebrations. Specifically, the ICBL will:
• Further develop existing media contacts, maintaining regular contact with journalists especially interested in the issue, ensuring they are kept engaged and updated; • Seek significant global media coverage related to the 20th anniversary, including pitching for a documentary to be made about the campaign and coordinating media coverage around the main treaty and campaign events, and the anniversary itself: October 2012; • Promote the ICBL as the one of the key global resources for journalists to find detailed information on landmines, their impact, interview opportunities with key campaigners and survivors, high quality images to illustrate the campaign and the issue and moving footage for use in broadcasts or on websites; • Publicize the ongoing work of the treaty and the campaign in the run up to and during the intersessionals and the 12MSP, including seeking media coverage on the 15th anniversary of signature of the MBT; • Seek high profile supporters and widespread coverage at national levels of global actions throughout the year, especially the “Lend Your Leg” campaign and provide support to national campaigns on media outreach work. The ICBL will use the following communications tools to promote and support the ICBL’s campaigning work at global and national levels, our 20th anniversary, and to increase awareness about the landmine issue and about the treaty’s aims: • ICBL website: with a dedicated section on the 20th anniversary including access to downloadable advocacy and campaigning tools, such as leaflet templates, a suite of specially designed logos and a guide on how to use them, testimonials, slideshows and access to videos and other visual aids for campaigners to use for their work at national level in the ICBL anniversary year; • ICBL social media networks: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, You Tube, LinkedIn. The ICBL will regularly communicate with global members, partners and supporters, as well as the general public, encouraging them to interact with the campaign via these networks and promoting the campaign’s key aims and messages in our 20th anniversary year; • Series of ICBL publications relating to the campaign in general and to the 20th anniversary specifically, promoting the campaign’s work and key aims.
Global actions
In 2012, the ICBL and its members around the world will continue to mark a number of dates (or occasions) related to the MBT and overall mine action to promote the universalization and implementation of the MBT. At the same time the ICBL and its members will use the major events and actions to highlight the achievements of the past 20 years of campaigning and to urge the international community to live up to its obligations to rid the world of landmines and to assist landmine survivors. The ICBL will provide technical and small grants support to increase the impact of worldwide actions by the campaigners.
• 1 March 2012 anniversary of entry into forceThe ICBL will commemorate the 13-year anniversary of the MBT’s entry into force on 1 March 2012 by launching a global “Lend Your Leg” action. Following the successful campaign in Colombia in 2011 where thousands of people including the President rolled-up their pant legs for mine awareness, the ICBL will partner with Fundación Arcangeles on a global month of action. The campaign will be launched on 1 March with an online video and press conference and the momentum will build over a month-long period until people around the world will lend their legs and roll-up their pant legs on 4 April, the International Day for Mine Awareness. National campaigns can use the global attention generated to push for their national-level priorities. For example: joining the treaty (lend your leg to bring the US on board the MBT), clearance (lend your leg to clear the land of mines), victim assistance (lend your leg to support mine victims).
• Countdown to the 12MSP The ICBL will launch a countdown on Friday 2 November to the 12MSP in Geneva (3 – 7 Dec. 2012) to draw attention to the importance of the 12MSP and maximize states’ participation in the 12MSP. The 12MSP will open on the day marking the 15th year since the MBT was opened for signature in Ottawa on 3 December 1997. The countdown will be part of the ICBL’s 20th anniversary activities aimed at enhancing progress on universalization and implementation of the treaty.
• 3rd DecemberInternational Day of Persons With Disabilities (15th anniversary of MBT signature and 4th anniversary of CCM signature): The ICBL-CMC Victim Assistance Focal Points and other members will commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities by organizing a range of activities on this day to raise public awareness about victim assistance, and the rights and needs of survivors and other persons with disabilities.
2012 Global Dates (relevant to the MBT, the CCM and the campaign)
Feb 13-17: Arms Trade Treaty 4th preparatory meeting in NY Feb 27 –March 23: 19th regular Session of Human Rights Council, Geneva March 1: Mine Ban Treaty anniversary (1999 - 13thyear) March 1 – April 4: Global Month of Action “Lend Your Leg” March 8: International Women's Day March 12-16: UN Program of Action on Small Arms experts meeting in NY March: Mine action program directors' meeting in Geneva Apr. 4: International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action March 31 – April 5: 126th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Kampala, Uganda Apr. 16-19: Convention on Cluster Munitions Intersessional meetings in Geneva May 21-25: Mine Ban Treaty intersessional meetings (ISC) in Geneva July 2-27: UN Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty in NY Aug. 27-Sept. 7: UN Program of Action (UNPoA) Review Conference in NY Sept. 6: Launch of Cluster Munition Monitor in Oslo (tbc) Sept. 10-14: Third Meeting of States Parties to the CCM in Oslo, Norway Sept. 21: International Peace Day Sept: Int’l VA (Rehabilitation) Conference, Paris, by HI (tbc) Oct: 20th Anniversary of the ICBL Oct: First Committee (disarmament) of 67th UN General Assembly in NY 2 Nov- 3 Dec: ICBL countdown to 12MSP Nov. 14-16: Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) annual conference, Geneva 29 Nov: Launch of Landmine Monitor in Geneva (tbc) Dec 3-7: 12th Meeting of States Parties to the MBT in Geneva Dec. 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 15th anniversary of the MBT opening for signature and 4th anniversary of the CCM opening for signature. Dec. 10: International Human Rights Day and 15th anniversary of when ICBL received the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize.* The events indicated in bold are directly related to the MBT and the ICBL.
In addition to the list of major global conferences and events, the following national and regional events and advocacy opportunities have been identified.
2012 National and Regional Dates
Oct/Nov: Regional VA workshop, South East Asia, by HI (tbc).Feb/March: Regional Advocacy Workshop, Nepal, by NCBL (tbc)
NOTE: In 2012 the Implementation Support Unit of the MBT might organize some regional/national meetings on various aspects of implementation and universalization of the treaty, in which the ICBL would participate. The dates and locations are not yet known.
NOTE: To download PDF version of the action plan, click on the pdf icon shown at the top right of this page.
