Author(s):
Site Admin <webmaster2@icbl.org> .
Friday 27 February 2009
USCBL Calls for Policy Review
Leaders from 67 U.S. organizations sent a letter to President Obama in February, asking him to reconsider U.S. opposition to the global treaties prohibiting antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions. The groups called on the President to launch a balanced policy review within the next six months of the past administration’s decision to stand outside both treaties. The signers asked that this review give equal weight to the humanitarian and diplomatic interests of the United States, and not just to U.S. military interests.
In addition, USCBL campaigners delivered nearly 9,000 petitions to the Pentagon. The petitions, signed by people across the country, objected to U.S. nonparticipation in the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Germany: Don’t Let a Small Group Make All the Difference
Action Group Landmine.de joined forces with the well-known German advertising agency Jung von Matt to develop an advert about the countries that have joined the Mine Ban Treaty and Convention on Cluster Munitions, and those that haven’t. The awareness-raising campaign aims at pressuring the German government to promote universalization of both treaties more actively. The campaign is supported by national media and will be disseminated throughout the country. It is complemented by a call to action whereby the general public is invited to send emails to the embassies in Germany of those states that remain outside the treaties.
Iraqi Handicapped Society Meets with U.N. Special Envoy
On 19 January, mine survivors from the Iraqi Handicapped Society met with U.N. Secretary-General special representative in Iraq, Staffan de Mistura. They discussed how the needs and rights of survivors and other persons with disabilities can be best addressed, and how to ensure Iraq will sign and ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions as soon as possible. Mr. de Mistura pledged to keep cooperating with the disabled persons organizations in Iraq, and indicated that since Iraq is not a user of cluster munitions, there should be no major obstacle for joining the CCM.
Nepal: March Draws Attention to the Plight of Survivors
In January, the Ban Landmines Campaign of Nepal (NCBL) organized a rally in the Chitwan district of Southern Nepal, as part of a series of activities to raise awareness about the needs and rights of mine victims. Over 300 people including survivors and school children joined a march that generated excellent local media coverage. A workshop aimed at sharing experiences on the economic integration of victims was also organized.
On 20 January, NCBL held an orientation session for mine risk education facilitators. UNICEF and ICRC representatives facilitated the training session. The next stages of the mine risk education program will target over 50,000 civilians in 10 districts.
Christmas Bombs in Poland
The President and Prime Minister of Poland were presented with rather surprising Christmas gifts by the Polish Red Cross. Small round leaflets in the shape of the BLU-63 cluster bomblets were distributed as Christmas tree decorations, which in Poland are called Christmas bombs! They were also delivered to all members of Parliament as well as the Foreign Minister and Minister of Defense.
The leaflet’s message was short but very clear: “This is not a Christmas bomb, it is the cluster bomb that keeps on injuring and killing hundreds of people every year all around the world. Because of that, many children won’t be able to decorate a Christmas tree this year. On 3 December half of the world’s countries are coming to Oslo to sign the new treaty banning the use and production of cluster munitions. Why is Poland not present among them?“
Indian Campaign Calls on Non-State Armed Groups in North East India to Cease the Use of Landmines
The Indian Campaign to Ban Landmines was invited to address a meeting of the Borok people in Tripura, North East India, where non-state armed groups are active and using landmines.
Kok Borok speaking people are based in Tripura, Assam, Manipur states in North East India as well as parts of Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal.
More than 30,000 Borok people attended the conference, which also saw the participation of some non-state armed groups.
This provided the opportunity for the Indian CBL to inform participants about mine ban-related activities in India and worldwide, and to appeal to the non-state armed groups to cease the use of landmines on humanitarian grounds. This call was echoed by other dignitaries addressing the meeting.
Cambodia: ICBL Ambassador Tun Channareth Engages with Survivors
As part of the Cambodia Campaign activities celebrating the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the Mine Ban Treaty, ICBL Ambassador Tun Channareth conducted a seminar in Siem Reap for 16 survivors. Besides some information on the Second Review Conference and the new Convention on Cluster Munitions, survivors debated the following questions:
- What makes life in their village happy?
- What would make it happier?
- What can they do themselves to change the situation?
- What do they want to say to village and government leaders?
- What do they want to advocate for at the Second Review Conference?
Angola: Mine Risk Education Activities in Huila Province
Throughout 2008, Angolan NGO Clube de Jovens carried out Mine Risk Education activities in Huila province. Activities included the training of 219 children as “Mini-instructors” to spread and multiply MRE messages in their schools and communities; the training of 146 teachers who were encouraged to include MRE in the school curriculum; the creation of 12 focal groups to communicate MRE messages in community meetings. Clube de Jovens staff also visited eight affected communities in high and medium risk areas to identify problems related to landmines and ERW and discuss possible solutions with the communities.
