Author(s):
Site Admin <webmaster2@icbl.org> .
Monday 27 June 2011
On 4 April, the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, ICBL launched the “Push for Progress by Phnom Penh“ action. The goal of the action is to remind governments about commitments made under the “Cartagena Action Plan 2010-2014: Ending the Suffering Caused by Anti-Personnel Mines” (CAP) adopted at the Second Review Conference of the treaty in 2009 in Colombia.
By adopting the CAP, states have committed to undertake 67 concrete actions in: universalizing the convention, destroying stockpiled mines, clearing mined areas, assisting victims, providing cooperation and assistance, and other actions in the period 2010-2014 to enhance the implementation and universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty (MBT).
Recently, the MBT has been faced with major challenges on stockpile destruction, mine clearance, victim assistance, and the continuing standstill on universalization. The CAP was designed to guide states’ efforts to address these challenges in a timely and effective manner.
The 11th Meeting of States Parties (11MSP), in November 2011 in Phnom Penh, will be a good opportunity to take stock of the progress made so far in implementing the CAP and the MBT. In Phnom Penh, states will be expected to report on what they have done so far “to translate this action plan into sustainable progress” and on how they plan to fully implement the CAP by the end of 2014, when the Third Review Conference of the MBT will take place.
The ICBL calls on states to Push for Progress by Phnom Penh, in four key areas:
- mine clearance
- victim assistance
- resources, cooperation and assistance
- ban and disarmament(including: stockpiledestruction, mines retained for training, transparency reports, compliance, national legislation, universalization)
Specifically, ICBL is asking governments to identify concrete CAP actions that are most urgent and relevant to their country, as well as realistically achievable by the 11MSP and to work hard throughout the year to meet their goals and report on their achievements in Phnom Penh at the 11MSP.
Push for Progress Launch Around the World
Cambodia: National Launch of the Road to 11MSP
Denise Coghlan from the Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions addressed workshop participants. Other panelists included the Mine Ban Treaty's Implementation Support Unit, the UNDP, the Cambodian Mine Action Authority and the ICRC. Photo: Stephane De Greef
4 April celebrations in Siem Reap included a ceremony and performance by dancers with disabilities organized by the Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions
The ICBL and the Cambodian Campaign to Ban Landmines took part in a national workshop on mine action hosted by H.E. Prak Sokhonn, the President Designate of the 11th Meeting of States Parties (11MSP) in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on 4 April. The government, UN, and civil society representatives gathered to launch the road to the 11MSP, to be held in Cambodia in November this year. Cambodia has been heavily affected by landmines and is considered the cradle of the mine ban movement by hosting a pivotal conference on landmines in 1995.
Turkey: Public Event at Istanbul’s Park
On 4 April, the Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey and other organizations organized a public event in Istanbul's Taksim Gezi Park. The Initiative called on Turkey to fulfill its obligations under the Mine Ban Treaty by fully implementing the Cartagena Action Plan. Other event sponsors included the Turkish Medical Association, Disabled People Association of Turkey, Social Democracy Foundation, Society for Forensic Medicine Specialists, Global Peace and Justice Coalition and Say Halt to Racism and Nationalism Initiative. The event drew extensive media attention.
Italy: Conference “The protection of civil populations: from Humanitarian Disarmament to Development”
Participants at “The Protection of Civil Populations From Humanitarian Disarmament to Development
To mark the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, Campagna Italiana Contro le Mine (Itcbl) organized, in cooperation with UNMAS, a conference on “The protection of civil populations: from Humanitarian Disarmament to Development”. The conference was held under the High Patronage of the Italian Republic Presidency, and the patronage of Senate and the Chamber of Deputy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Region of Lazio, as well as the Province and the City or Rome. Speakers at the conference included Mr. Alberto Cairo (ICRC Afghanistan), Mr. Andrea Cavallari (Head Office, Directorate General for the multilateral political cooperation and human rights), Miss Ginevra Cucinotta (UNMAS) and Ms. Falvia Taggiasco (Roots of Peace). The conference was accompanied by the photo exhibition “Enduring Fears” by Charlotte Oestervang.
Syria: Condemning the use of Indiscriminate Weapons in Libya
On the occasion of the International Mine Awareness and Mine Action Day, The Arab Network for Research on Landmine and Explosive Remnants of War (ANROLM) issued a regional press release about the current explosive remnants of war crises in Libya. ANROLM condemned the use of indiscriminate weapons, including mines and cluster munitions in Libya, and called on the UN, specialized international and regional organizations as well as Libyan organizations to establish a risk education program. It also called on Libya and other states not party in the region to join both the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The event was widely covered by national media.
Israel: Raising Awareness and Pushing for Quality Mine Action
A UN observation post on the Golan Heights, the most densely mined area in Israel
On the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action and following adoption of the Landmine Bill by Israel in March this year, the Mine-Free Israel Coalition issued a press release warning that methods currently applied to remove landmines in Israel and territories under its control are not consistent with the International Mine Action Standards. It explained that methods recently applied included detonations causing damage to adjacent structures and use of bulldozers to move contaminated land from one area to another. Together with the UN, observers stationed along the Israeli, Syrian and Lebanese borders on the Golan Heights, the Coalition distributed mine awareness materials in Arabic, Hebrew and English to local residents living in one of the most densely mined regions in the Middle East.
