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Site Admin <webmaster2@icbl.org> .
Saturday 07 June 2008
GOOD NEWS: DISABILITY RIGHTS CONVENTION ENTERS INTO FORCE!
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities entered into force on 3 May 2008, 30 days after the deposit of the 20th ratification (by Ecuador). The Convention — which seeks to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of fundamental rights by all people with disabilities — was the result of a close partnership between governments and civil society organizations. The ICBL hailed the Convention as a powerful tool to complement victim assistance provisions contained in the Mine Ban Treaty and urged all countries to join it without delay.
JORDANPASSES MINE BAN LEGISLATION
Jordan’s Antipersonnel Mine Ban Law entered into force on 1 April 2008. As required under Article 9 of the Mine Ban Treaty, the legislation imposes penal sanctions on the activities prohibited by the treaty. The law also clarifies the rules under which mine action is carried out in the country.
USA HALTS EXPORT OF CLUSTER MUNITIONS FOR 2008 AND EXTENDS ANTIPERSONNEL MINE MORATORIUM
In December 2007, the US Congress effectively banned the export of cluster munitions in 2008. Language contained in the Omnibus Appropriations Act prohibits any arms export license or the provision of any military aid for cluster munitions during financial year 2008 unless the weapons have a 99% or higher tested reliability rate—meaning that use of the weapons would not result in a deadly minefield of dud cluster submunitions. In addition, the bill would require the importer to sign a statement before export could take place, agreeing that they will not use cluster munitions in civilian areas. The Act also extends a ban on export of antipersonnel mines that began in 1992 and was set to expire next year. The moratorium is now in place through 2014. The USA is one of the 39 countries still outside the Mine Ban Treaty.
THREE COUNTRIES MISS STOCKPILE DESTRUCTION DEADLINES
The three States Parties with 1 March 2008 stockpile destruction deadlines – Belarus , Greece, and Turkey – failed to destroy their large stocks in time. Since there is no possibility for an extension, these countries are now in violation of the treaty. This is the first time that State Parties with millions of mines still in stocks have missed their deadline and they currently have no projected end dates in sight.
