Author(s):
Site Admin <webmaster2@icbl.org> .
Saturday 07 June 2008
Between 28 November and 9 December Mines Action Canada coordinated a series of events celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the signing of the Ottawa Treaty.
Events included:
Speaking Tour: Internationally renowned members of the global mine ban movement held speaking engagements in Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto, reaching a total of almost 1600 people.
Walk Without Fear: Despite temperatures of -20°C, 90 people participated in the Walk which started at the Human Rights Monument with
ICBL ambassador and landmine survivor Tun Channareth speaks to the media during the Walk Without Fear Event. Photo: MAC
speeches from MAC and ICBL Youth Ambassador and landmine survivor Song Kosal, and presentation of a petition on cluster munitions to MP Paul Dewar. The Walk culminated with a “reception” of hot chocolate donated by local coffee shop Bridgehead and a mine clearance display by CIDC and soldiers from a local battalion in front of the site of the signing of the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997.
Film Gala and Silent Auction: The Film Gala featured a series of five films highlighting the timeline of the movement against victim-activated weapons, interspersed with addresses from five prominent ICBL members. The Film Gala was complemented by a silent auction to raise funds for MAC. Items for the auction were donated by over 25 Ottawa-area businesses.
Diplomatic Leaders Forum and Reception: Ottawa-based representatives from leading countries in the mine ban movement were invited to the Diplomatic Leaders Forum and Reception. Ambassador Jean Lint of Belgium co-hosted this event. The Forum focused on ensuring the obligations of the Ottawa Treaty are met fully and effectively, and featured presentations by Satnam Singh, ICBL Diplomatic Advisor, and Kerry Brinkert, Manager of the Implementation Support Unit of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD). Cornelio Sommaruga, President of the Council of Foundation for GICHD, and Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and ICBL Ambassador also made remarks at the Forum, and a statement was delivered by Earl Turcotte, Director of the Mine Action and Small Arms Team of Foreign Affairs Canada.
Press Conference: Paul Hannon, Executive Director of MAC, Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and ICBL Ambassador, Lloyd Axworthy, President of the University of Winnipeg and former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Tun Channareth, Cambodian landmine survivor and ICBL Ambassador, spoke at the press conference. The panel reflected on the successes and challenges in realizing the goals of the Ottawa Treaty over the past ten years, what remains to be done, and what they expect of Canada in the future.
GlobalTown Hall: The theme of the GlobalTown Hall was How can civil society better leverage its power to change policies and strengthen norms to effectively address humanitarian concerns? The event, which comprised a panel discussion and seven group discussions addressing various aspects of civil society’s role in humanitarian issues, was attended by 150 people representing a broad cross section of civil society.
Lunch for MP Champions: The luncheon was an opportunity to recognize the work of MPs who have been strong champions of the Mine Ban Treaty and movement on cluster munitions, and to build on government – civil society collaboration on the Mine Ban Treaty to achieve a comprehensive ban on cluster bombs. A total of 13 MPs and staff attended the lunch with guests of honour Jody Williams, Song Kosal, Tun Channareth, Satnam Singh, and Sylvie Brigot.
In addition to these key events, MAC participated in and/or promoted a public talk organized by the Nobel Women’s Initiative and Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action featuring Jody Williams entitled World of Women: A Nobel Peace Laureate Reflects on Canada’s Place in the World; the dinner-reception hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on December 3rd; and Handicap International’s Linking Mine Action to Development Programming symposium.
The 10th Anniversary generated a significant amount of media attention: over 80 media hits across the country over the course of the week, many of which featured one or more of the twenty ICBL international representatives.
- Nancy Ingram, Mines Action Canada
