States Parties 161 States Not Party 36
On Thursday, 21 September 2006, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) held a panel discussion on the challenges faced by the Americas in relation to the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty.
The American continent is home to seven mine affected states [1] and four countries with a great need of victim assistance [2]. Yet, as international attention increasingly turns away from the region, affected countries are forced to confront these issues on their own.
Speakers at ICBL event on the Americas. Geneva, 21 September 2006.Photograph by Sarah Simoneau.
The discussion panel was chaired by Ms. Maria Josep Parés of Moviment per la Pau and included speeches by Ms. Andrea Kahmann of the Brazilian Campaign to Ban Landmines, Mr. Jesús Martínez of Landmine Survivors Network – El Salvador, Mr. Stuart Maslen of Landmine Monitor, and Mr. Camilo Serna of the Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines. Most speakers presented in Spanish with simultaneous translation in English.
Ms. Andrea Kahmann provided an overview of the current situation the region. She mentioned that the United States and Cuba were the only countries in the Americas that had not yet joined the Mine Ban Convention. Ms. Kahmann ended her presentation by reminding those present that only once a mine is destroyed can it no longer claim victims.
The event continued with a presentation by Mr. Jesús Martínez who spoke of the need for more victim assistance in the Americas. He deplored the fact that donor countries often overlook Latin American countries, or focus only on Colombia and Nicaragua. In reality, many other countries are in need of assistance. Mr. Martínez stressed that victim assistance is a question of human rights. He added that the time has come for States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty to go from words to reality, to adopt the same discourse as landmine survivors and to provide adequate assistance to victims.
Mr. Stuart Maslen of Landmine Monitor emphasized that the biggest challenge faced presently by the Americas was the clearing of all mines as per Article 5 of the Treaty. He mentioned that the first deadlines were less than three years away. While certain countries have made significant progress regarding clearance (e.g. Costa Rica, Guatemala and Suriname have already completed their obligations), it will be difficult for others to meet their 2009-2010 deadlines. Mr. Maslen also expressed concern regarding Colombia, for it had the highest total number of mine and ERW victims in the world in 2005.
The concluding remarks were made by Mr. Camilo Serna of the Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines. He aptly stated that a renewed focus on the Americas was greatly needed, not only by donors, but also by the concerned countries themselves. This, he added, was the only way to ensure that the region was not overlooked.
An interesting discussion followed the presentations with interventions from delegates of certain Latin American countries and other international organizations. While attendance may have indicated that the region is indeed at risk of being forgotten, the quality of the debate demonstrated that, for a few at least, the issue remains crucial.
To view the written text of the speech given by Mr. Jesús Martínez, please click here: English, Spanish.
[1] Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, Venezuela.
[2] Colombia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Peru
