Author(s):
Kjell Knudsen <webmaster@icbl.org> .
Wednesday 13 October 2004
(13 October 2004) The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) will urge world leaders to build on their successes in tackling the antipersonnel landmine plague when the historic Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World opens next month.
Swiss and Kenyan cyclist on a bike-a-thon earlier this year, organised to publicise the Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World. Credit: Jackie Hansen.
The Nairobi Summit is the first review conference of the convention which prohibits all use, production, trade and stockpiling of antipersonnel mines and the biggest milestone since its birth in Ottawa on 3 December 1997. The conference runs from 29 November to 3 December at the United Nations Gigiri convention centre in Kenya’s capital and on the world’s most mine-affected continent.
“The Summit will be a success if it produces a bold, practical action plan, plus financial pledges and political commitments to make this happen,” said ICBL coordinator Liz Bernstein. “With our goal of a mine-free world now within reach, states needs to show some staying power!” she added.
Some 200 campaigners, landmine survivors, deminers and others in ICBL will participate in the Summit alongside several hundred representatives from governments and international organisations. In addition to the Mine Ban Treaty’s 143 member states that will be represented there, a number of non-members are expected to send observers.
The United Nations will convene the Summit and State Parties have designated Austrian Ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch as the Summit President and Kenyan Ambassador Esther Tolle the Secretary-General.
Highlights
- 28 November:Summit opening by President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya;
- 29 November: opening address by Jody Williams, joint 1997 Nobel Peace Prize winner with the ICBL;
- 1 December: Nobel laureate panel discussion, including the 2003 Iranian winner, Shirin Ebadi. This will be one of several colourful side events organised by the campaign throughout the week.
- 2 and 3 December: addresses by Heads of State and Cabinet Ministers, amongst others key decision makers and closing address by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Contacts and more information
- Sue Wixley (ICBL press officer) - email: media@icbl.org, tel: + 387 33 764 481/+387 61 347 305
- More: www.icbl.org/nairobisummit
- Media accreditation is required to attend the Nairobi Summit. Please contact Stephanie Power at the State Parties’ Implementation Support Unit. Email: s.power@gichd.ch, tel: +41 22 906 1656.