International Campaign to Ban Landmines, 2004 Annual Report

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The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), the Nobel Prize-winning coalition of 1400 NGOs in 90 countries, maintained a high level of activity in 2004 in its continued efforts to eradicate antipersonnel mines. The 2004 Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World – the first Review Conference required by the Mine Ban Treaty – proved to be a powerful motivating force for the ICBL staff and its members. They were able to use it as a target date for numerous advocacy, implementation, compliance and media goals, and in turn, governments, journalists, and the public at large showed heightened interest in the landmines issue in the lead up to this event. Through ICBL’s efforts and the continued good will of States Parties, the Nairobi Summit produced a set of forward-looking documents that will serve as a platform for future ICBL activities.

Although the Nairobi Summit took up much of ICBL’s time in 2004, the Campaign was still able to pursue other critical objectives in tandem with this work. The ICBL continued to take full advantage of the implementation mechanisms established by the treaty, participating in meetings of the Intersessional Standing Committees and the associated Coordinating Committee of co-chairs and co-rapporteurs. The Campaign organized key regional and global events, such as an ambitious set of ICBL/Landmine Monitor meetings. It also took advantage of relevant non-ICBL events to schedule its own activities. Landmine Monitor Report 2004 was released, translated and distributed in dozens of countries.

In addition to representing the ICBL at events worldwide, the small team of ICBL staff issued several action alerts, lobbied and wrote to key decision-makers, maintained regular contact with dozens of governments, regional and international organizations and the Treaty’s Implementation Support Unit, drafted press releases and reached out to the media, engaged in capacity-building activities with campaigners, and continued to coordinate the global coalition’s overall campaigning activities. Several ICBL activities reports, the quarterly Landmine Update, CD ROMs, and other advocacy materials were produced and disseminated in this period, and a new and improved ICBL website was launched. Finally, the ICBL Coordinator skillfully led a campaign-wide transition process, following extensive and comprehensive consultations with members about its activities in the post-2004 period. At its General Meeting in 2003 inBangkok, the ICBL adopted a proposal to review ICBL Goals, Structure and Activities Post-2004, in order to take the ICBL forward into the next phase. At its General Meeting in 2003 inBangkok, the ICBL adopted a proposal to review ICBL Goals, Structure and Activities Post-2004, in order to take the ICBL forward into the next phase.