Update 3 - Survivor Assistance, 19 & 20 Sept. 2006

The Session started with statements by the Swiss and Afghani co-chairs. They recalled the following context and principles for victim assistance efforts:

• The Maputo Strategy, particularly the principle of non-discrimination among victims and other people with disabilities
• The importance of considering victim assistance within a broader national development strategy
• The need for specific attention to people with disabilities to reach the Millennium Development Goals
• The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to work on victim assistance within a human rights framework

The Co-Chairs also:

• Presented a leaflet on guidelines for pre-hospital care, reminding the importance of decentralisation and low-cost medical facilities within easy reach.
• Discussed the results of a workshop conducted in June with specialists on economic integration from ILO, UNMAS, LSN, ICBL, HI, UNICEF on community-based reintegration, mainstreaming, employment legislation, and self-employment.
• Emphasized the goal of ensuring that existing health care and social services and the policy framework, are adequate for all citizens, including landmine victims.

MAIN POINTS OF DISCUSSION

• The efforts to plan and implement victim assistance with limited financial and technical resources,
• The link of victim assistance with general development plans and poverty-reduction strategies,
• The challenge of achieving sustainable, good-quality, accessible and affordable victim assistance, particularly in rural areas.

ICBL PRESENTATION(S)

Paul Vermeulen, from Handicap International Switzerland, presented the publication “Good practices for the Economic Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Developing Countries”. This publication focuses on access to microcredit for people with disabilities, including landmine victims.

Katleen Maes, Thematic Research Coordinator on Victim Assistance for the Landmine Monitor Report 2006, congratulated the First National Workshop on Victim Assistance which was held in Afghanistan, which led to agreement on a National Action Plan. She stressed the importance of inter-ministerial cooperation, and of holding the governments responsible and accountable. She mentioned some of the main challenges for victim assistance today: services are too expensive, assistance is much focused on medical care, psychological support is stigmatised, socio-economic integration does not meet market demand, and legislation is not implemented.

Tun Channareth, ICBL Ambassador and landmine survivor, first asked the delegates to imagine what they would expect from their States if they themselves were people with disabilities. He then emphasized the importance of socio-economic integration for mine victims, particularly by linking lack of financial means with lack of participation and lack of freedom.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR ICBL

• 18 of the VA24 countries included rehabilitation, health and social services specialists in their delegations; at least 18 landmine survivors participated in the 7MSP
• Most of the countries reported an improvement in inter-ministerial coordination
• Various countries mentioned the importance of gender and age considerations within victim assistance
• Guatemala and Nicaragua affirmed they will start data collection on the situation and needs of mine victims
• Most African countries linked their activities to the African Decade and referred to regional cooperation
• Afghanistan reported organizing its First National Workshop on Victim Assistance, which led to the drafting of a National Action Plan towards 2009. It created a focal point to coordinate VA in order to reduce duplication of efforts
• Uganda highlighted its efforts towards capacity building among local organizations of/for people with disabilities and landmine survivors. The delegation mentioned its efforts to involve them in the planning and decision-making related to victim assistance.
• El Salvadorhighlighted its economic inclusion activities, although these are still limited
• Cambodiawill pass a legislation on disability this year
• Croatiaannounced they had come up with victim assistance SMART objectives

CONCERNS FOR ICBL

• Many States still lack National Action Plans with SMART indicators
• Most of the reports are very general and do not give information on precise projects or on their sustainability
• Many countries mentioned lack of coordination among the various actors (International NGOs, local NGOs, government agencies…), which leads to duplication of services in certain areas, and absence of services in many others.
• International cooperation is still far from enough, there is a lack of long-term commitment from donors
• Various countries affirmed that although medical facilities and physical rehabilitation are available in major cities, this is not the case in rural areas – those that are the most affected by mines. This was mentioned by Burundi , Chad, Ethiopia and Tajikistan
• Colombia: The delegation reported that armed groups are using landmines and hiding them in toys and cooking utensils – this stresses the importance of engaging non-State armed groups and ensuring victim assistance is also available in territories controlled by non-State armed groups.

MORE INFORMATION

ICBL Statement - Survivor Assistance (Delivered by Katleen Maes, Thematic Research Coordinator on Victim Assistance for the Landmine Monitor Report 2006, and Tun Channareth, ICBL Ambassador)

Landmine Monitor Report 2006, Landmine Casualties and Survivor Assistance

ICBL Presentation to the Standing Committee on Survivor Assistance, 9 May 2006