Campaign News

Former Foes Meet at Volleyball Tournament

Some 100 players from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia gathered for the 11th Princess Diana Memorial sitting volleyball tournament, held on 12 September 2009 in Brcko. Organized by Landmine Survivors Initiatives in partnership with the Sitting Volleyball Club Brcko, and with the support from the Brcko District, the event was aimed at promoting the rights, talents and capacities of persons with disabilities as well as the role of sports in rehabilitation and integration.

Many players emphasized the opportunity to meet and exchange experiences with their colleagues from opposite sides of the conflict, as the most valuable aspect of this competition. This is especially the case for clubs from Croatia and Serbia whose only chance to meet and compete with each other is to participate in tournaments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “If we, ex-soldiers who suffered injuries during the war on different sides, managed to recover and overcome barriers and be together, then others should follow our example,” said a participant. Landmine Survivors Initiatives strives to organize a tournament in a new community each year, with local partners.

More information: Ramiz Becirovic, rbecirovic@landminesurvivors.org

Afghanistan: Meeting with President Karzai

The Advocacy Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities met with President Hamid Karzai in August 2009 to discuss the ratification of the National Disability Law, the signature and ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the ratification of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. President Karzai committed to following through the ratification processes and announced the allocation of 1.5% of the national income to disability issues in Afghanistan. This represents the first time that the government of Afghanistan allocates a certain amount of the national income to the socio-economic inclusion of persons with disabilities. The Advocacy Committee brings together 13 organizations of persons with disabilities. With the number of survivors estimated at 52,000 to 60,000 by Landmine Monitor, Afghanistan is among the states that have the responsibility to provide assistance to the largest number of survivors.
More information: Suliman Aminy, Afghan Landmine Survivors’ Organization, afghan.lso@gmail.com or Mohammad Shohab Hakimi, Afghan Campaign to Ban Landmines, mdcafghan@hotmail.com

Nepal: $500,000 for Mine Action

The Nepal Campaign to Ban Landmines tirelessly lobbied their government representatives during the summer to urge them to allocate a budget for mine action. During one of the meetings, the Minister of Peace and Reconstruction, Mr. Rakam Chemjong, committed to activate the work of the National Mine Action Steering Committee. The government announced it would contribute US$ 500,000 for the fiscal year 2009/2010. This represented the first time that the Nepal government pledged national support for mine action. “The budgeted amount is below our expectations, but this is a breakthrough and we will work hard to ensure Nepal enhances its contribution in the years to come,” said Purna Shova Chitrakar, of the Nepal Campaign to Ban Landmines. International funding for mine action in Nepal represented US$1 million in 2008. Nepal has yet to join the Mine Ban Treaty and is affected by landmines, almost all antipersonnel, and by explosive remnants of war.
More information: Purna Shova Chitrakar, ncbl@mail.com.np

Iraq: Raising Awareness at the High Level

Throughout the year, the Iraqi Association of the Disabled and the Kurdistan Organization for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (KORD) lobbied their government, NGOs and other stakeholders in Iraq to raise awareness and motivate action on victim assistance and disability issues. After consulting survivors, NGOs and government representatives during a conference on disabilities in May 2009, KORD presented their recommendations for accessibility and socio-economic inclusion to the President of Iraqi Kurdistan and Members of Parliament.

The Iraqi Association of the Disabled met with Prime Minister Noori al-Maliki and with the new head of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq Ad Melkert, to garner support for disability rights. According to a report by UNICEF/UNDP, a considerable number of victims of landmines and explosive remnants of war suffer from deprivation of their basic rights across Iraq.

More information: Moaffak Alkhafaji, Iraqi Association of the Disabled, moaffak61@yahoo.com and Sardar Sidiq Abdulkarim, Kurdistan Organization for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, kordiraq@yahoo.com

New Advocacy Kit on Gender and Mine Action

The Swiss Campaign to Ban Landmines launched an advocacy kit on gender and mine action in September 2009. The tool aims at empowering local women’s grassroots organizations wishing to advocate for gender mainstreaming in mine action in seven countries: Colombia, Croatia, Lebanon, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Yemen. The Swiss campaign indicated that research shows local women’s grassroots organizations hold vital information about women, girls, boys and men in mine-affected communities. Their involvement in the planning and implementation of mine action strategies (should it relate to mine clearance, mine risk education or victim assistance) at the local and international level can only bring benefits for those living with the scourge of landmines and for the international mine action community in general. The advocacy kit is available in seven languages: Arabic, Croatian, English, French, Sinhala, Spanish and Tamil. Copies are available at www.scbl-gender.ch or info@scbl-gender.ch.
Women, girls, boys and men have different at-risk behavior and exposures in relation to landmines. Photo: Clube de Jovens

Shoe Pyramids Recall that “Victims Cannot Wait”

Handicap International organized pyramids of shoes in 32 cities throughout France on 26 September 2009, for the 15th year in a row. Under the slogan Victims Cannot Wait, the event was the climax of mobilization work in France this year, especially as France had ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions the day before. Fantastic media coverage, live artists, clearance demonstrations, exhibitions on mine risk education, sporting events and many other activities made it a great celebration but also an incredible tool for raising awareness.

ICBL Treaty Implementation Officer Firoz Ali Alizada was the special guest of the event in Paris, where he shared his personal story as a mine survivor with the media and visitors. 50,000 signatures against cluster munitions were collected, as well as many tons of shoes that will be redistributed to persons in need. More information: Marion Libertucci, mlibertucci@handicap-international.org
Jean-Baptiste Richardier, Handicap International founder, and Eunice Barber, five-time World Championship medalist in heptathlon. Photo: Y. Costeseque for HI.

Campaigner Honored

ICBL campaigner and victim assistance focal point Saleh Al-Dahyani, of the Yemen Association of Landmine Survivors, received the Monitoring of Disability Issues in the Middle East prize for his efforts in raising awareness on disability issues and providing victim assistance. The prize was awarded by the Disability Monitor Initiative Middle East (www.disabilitymonitor-me.org)

Turkey: Progress and Challenges of the Mine Ban Treaty

On 18 October 2009, mine survivors, campaigners and non-governmental organizations gathered in Diyarbakýr, in southeastern Turkey, to review progress and challenges since the Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for the country in 2004. Organised by the Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey, in partnership with the Diyarbakýr Bar Association, the Human Rights Association Diyarbakýr branch and the local Diyarbakýr Agenda 21, this meeting was the first of its kind to be held in mine-affected eastern Turkey.

Speakers noted that an assessment of the entire mine contamination problem is still needed, as well as an announcement of how and when clearance will be done. Survivors shared their personal experiences and explained that some of the difficulties they face include the lack of responsiveness from the government, discrimination at school and by employers, and the very limited services available in remote areas. The conference demonstrated a strong desire on the part of the people in the region to see their government increase its efforts in the areas of victim assistance, mine clearance and stockpile destruction.

More information: Muteber Ogreten, Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey, bilgi@mayinsizbirturkiye.org

Colombia: Mine-Affected Communities Make their Voices Heard

Regional consultation forums took place in six Colombian departments in September 2009, aimed at discussing at the community-level the implementation of the commitments made by Colombia at the First Review Conference in 2004. They brought together members of mine-affected communities, associations of victims, non-governmental organizations and local communities in general. The forums were the result of a collective effort by the GTO14, a group of organizations working to make the voice of civil society heard in the lead-up to the Cartagena Summit. The Ambassador of Norway in Colombia, Ms Vibeke Knudson, participated in one of the forums and reiterated the importance of the Cartagena Summit for Colombia. The conclusions of the consultations on victim assistance, mine risk education, mine clearance and coordination will be presented during the Summit. More information: www.gto14.org

Act, Share, Give

Mines Action Canada has developed an avenue for volunteers and activists from all age groups to act, share and give, as a way to saving lives, improving communities, and cementing the reputation of Canadians as advocates of human rights and social justice.
The annual campaign features resources and suggested actions to engage and mobilize citizens based on monthly themes. One of the aims of the campaign is to ensure Canada ratifies the Convention on Cluster Munitions by the end of 2009 and remains a top five donor to mine action until all major clearance deadlines are met. More information: www.minesactioncanada.org

Algeria: Local Organizations Trained on Risk Education

Mine victims associations and disabled people organizations (DPO) in Algeria participated in a one-week intensive training this fall, aimed at strengthening their capacity to carry mine risk education within the communities where they were already active. An assessment conducted in 2007-2008 had emphasized this need for a community-based approach to risk education, which will now be implemented for the first time in Algeria. The training was organized by Handicap International in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program and the government. Participants also learned about project management and fundraising to support their activities. When implementing their new risk education activities, the victims’ associations and DPO will also work towards a better dissemination of information about assistance available for victims. The Minister of Defense reports that children and nomads are considered to be the most at risk groups in the country.
More information: Youcef Rafai, Solidarity Association for Mine Victims and Persons with Disabilities, ashvm2005@yahoo.fr

Croatia: Steps Towards Better Service Accessibility

On 26-27 October 2009, a seminar entitled Promotion of the Rights of Mine Survivors and Coordination of Social Services and Activities was organized by Mine Aid, the ICBL member in Croatia. It brought together mine survivors, government representatives, non-governmental organizations and governmental agencies providing victim assistance. The meeting aimed at exchanging information on the role of institutions and organizations involved in the protection and implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities, and assessing challenges in service accessibility.

Participants learned about the jurisdiction of the various service providers and defined the next steps towards better cooperation and networking. The lack of information and the major difficulties in accessing services were highlighted. Participants issued a series of recommendations, including the creation of a guide of the existing services and governmental benefits.
More information: Marija Breber, Mine Aid, marijabreber@gmail.com

Georgia: Understanding the Needs of Survivors

Throughout the year the ICBL Georgian Committee has met with survivors and the families of mine and cluster munition victims, through a project supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and Gemeinsam Gegen Landminen Austria (GGL Austria). The visits aim at getting a better understanding of their living conditions and needs in terms of medical care, rehabilitation, psychological support and especially socio-economic inclusion. The collected information will inform future assistance programs of the Georgian Committee. The Committee’s presence in villages also allows for mine risk education and the promotion of safe behaviour, and is an opportunity to recruit and train local campaign members who will then help with monitoring and risk education. Georgia is not party to the Mine Ban Treaty and is affected by mines and explosive remnants of war, including cluster munitions. More information: Maia Buchukuri, icblgc@gmail.com