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Monday 20 August 2007
On 15 August 2007, Iraq acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty, bringing the total number of States Parties to 155, seven of which are in the Middle East and North Africa. By joining the treaty, Iraq has committed to never again use, produce, acquire, or export antipersonnel mines. It has also committed to destroy stockpiled mines in four years and to clear minefields in ten years.
Iraqi officials had been indicating openness towards the Mine Ban Treaty since 2004. On 25 September 2006 the Iraqi Parliament approved by general consent the accession law, which was signed by the President in November of the same year. Since then, ICBL representatives in Iraq and internationally have been in contact with Iraqi authorities to ensure completion of the accession process.
Nine-year old Fanar Zekri Baker from Arbil lost his legs when he set off a landmine while cutting grass. He has now received artificial legs from a ICRC limb-fitting center. Photo: ICRC
“This is a very happy day for Iraq, and especially for the thousands of Iraqi landmine survivors who have suffered the consequences of mine use,” stated Mr. Moaffak Tawfik al-Khafaji, Head of the Iraqi Handicapped Society and Iraq Campaign to Ban Landmines. “We hope this will help prevent new victims and promoteprograms to assist survivors, provide them with the care they need as well as with employment opportunities.”
The treaty will enter into force for Iraq on 1 February 2008. Iraq’s first transparency report – which should include information on mined areas, stockpiles, production facilities, mine action programmes and other matters -- is due by 30 July 2008.The country will then have to destroy all stockpiled antipersonnel mines under its jurisdiction or control by 1 February 2012 and all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control by 1 February 2018. The treaty provides for possible extension of the clearance deadline.
The ICBL views Iraq as a crucial addition to the more than three-quarters of the world’s nations which have embraced the Mine Ban Treaty. Most importantly, it is heavily affected by mines laid during decades of conflict and it has a large number of mine survivors in need of assistance. Iraq is also one of the nations that used mines most extensively in the past, and was a producer and exporter as well. It adds to the number of States Parties from the Middle East region, which has had low adherence compared to other regions. Finally, Iraq’s accession—like that of Colombia—demonstrates that it is possible to be part of the Mine Ban Treaty even while still enduring ongoing conflict, and even when opposition forces use antipersonnel mines or mine-like improvised explosive devices.
Iraq is one of the countries suffering from the worst levels of contamination from landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) in the world. Due to ongoing conflict, the full humanitarian impact of this contamination is largely unknown but it is estimated that there are approximately 300 new mine/ERW casualties per year. These are mainly due to landmines in the northern parts of the country and to ERW in the south.
Disarmed PMN anti-personnel mines that were removed from the road. The surrounding countryside contains tens of thousands. 29 March 2003. ©Steve Priestlet/MAG. http://www.magclearesmines.org
“With Iraq’s accession, other States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty should do their utmost to ensure that Iraq is able to meet all of its new legal obligations, some of which will clearly be challenging,” said Sylvie Brigot, ICBL Executive Director.
Iraq is the second country in the Middle East to become a State Party to the treaty in the past few weeks, following Kuwait’s accession on 30 July. States Parties to the treaty will gather in Jordan, for their 8th annual meeting from 18 to 22 November 2007.
“The growing number of Middle Eastern countries taking the courageous step of banning landmines despite the volatility and tension in the region is very encouraging and we urge other neighbouring countries to join in the efforts to free this part of the world from the threat of landmines,” said Ayman Sorour, member of the ICBL’s Management Committee.
** Read about the landmine situation in Iraq in the Landmine Monitor Report
