3MSP Intervention by Landmine Monitor and ICBL Working Group on Victim Assistance

(Tuesday 25 September 2001 Managua, Nicaragua)

Intervention to the Informal Session On Victim Assistance And Mine Awareness
by Landmine Monitor and the ICBL Working Group on Victim Assitance
Third Meeting of States Parties
Managua, Nicaragua
18-21 September 2001

Thank you Madame Co-Chair

We commend the proposal of Canada and Honduras to address the deficiencies in the data on landmine survivors and the availability of assistance to meet their needs and encourage all States to support this initiative.

In the experience of the Landmine Monitor the collection of comprehensive data on landmine survivors and victim assistance is challenging to say the least. Some of the basic information required by the Standing Committee on victim assistance is already available within the relevant sections of the Landmine Monitor Report 2001.

Both the Landmine Monitor and the ICBL Working Group on Victim Assistance would welcome the opportunity to work with the Standing Committee, in a spirit of cooperation, to clarify the scope of the landmine problem as it relates to survivors – individuals, their families and their communities - and the availability of assistance.

We also take this opportunity to remind delegates that while it is true that currently we do not have precise figures we do know that many landmine victims die because of a lack of medical care. We do know that in too many countries victim assistance is inadequate to meet the needs of survivors. We do know that even though the number of new casualties is decreasing each year the number of survivors continues to grow. And we do know that one of the obstacles to providing adequate assistance to landmine survivors, and other persons with disabilities, is a lack of resources.

We urge the Standing Committee to continue to look for ways of encouraging States Parties in a position to do so to meet their obligations under Article 6.3 of the Mine Ban Treaty to provide adequate resources which will assist mine-affected states to build local capacity to address the needs of landmine victims. This, after all, is as much a part of the Treaty as the obligation to destroy stockpiles and clear minefields.

Thank you Madame Co-Chair