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All European Union now on board -- the United States a lone hold out among NATO states
On 27 December at the United Nations in New York, Poland became the 161st nation to join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. "We warmly welcome Poland as a full member of the mine ban community. This ratification shows that all countries can and should renounce antipersonnel landmines forever. We hope other countries will now follow in Poland's footsteps, particularly the US." said Kasia Derlicka, ICBL Director.
During a recent ICBL mission to the country, Aung San Suu Kyi gave the organisation a video statement calling on all combatants in Burma to "cease the way of mines".
The ICBL strongly condemns the reported use of antipersonnel mines by the Libyan Armed Forces in recent fighting with rebels in eastern Libya. On 28 March, over 50 antipersonnel and antivehicle mines were discovered near power pylons outside the town of Ajdabiya by electrical technicians. A Human Rights Watch investigation reported that the mines had recently been laid. The Libyan Armed Forces controlled the area from 17–27 March.
Geneva, 16 March 2011 -- The landmine hazard in Israel will remain until all mined areas are cleared and the government bans any new use of mines, said the Nobel Peace Prize laureate International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) today. The Knesset adopted on 14 March 2011 legislation that plans for Israel's "non-operational" mined areas to be cleared, while "operational" mined areas will be kept. The ICBL welcomes this legislation as a first step, but notes that any landmine is a potential threat for civilians, be it in an operational minefield or not.
In March and April 2011, ICBL campaigners are contacting U.S. embassies in 60 countries/areas around the world to request meetings to talk about the ongoing U.S. policy review on landmines and to urge the U.S. Administration to join the Mine Ban Treaty without delay. The ICBL's global action on the United States complements ongoing domestic advocacy efforts of the United States Campaign to Ban Landmines.
Geneva, 1 March 2011 - Civil society groups worldwide are calling on the United States to ban antipersonnel landmines immediately, said the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) today, as the Mine Ban Treaty turned twelve. Campaign members will meet today and throughout the month with U.S. representatives in dozens of countries to urge the U.S. to join the Mine Ban Treaty. "It is absurd that the U.S. continues to cling to a weapon that is so horrific that only a country like Myanmar still uses it," said Sylvie Brigot, Executive Director of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
In a recent TEDWomen talk, ICBL Ambassador Jody Williams recalled that in the ICBL, it is collective action that made change possible. "One of the things that made this campaign work is that we grew from 2 NGOs to thousands in 90 countries, working together in common cause to ban landmines… It was the actions together of all of us that brought about that change. In my view what we need today is people getting up and taking action…" she said. Find out here how you can take action now for a mine-free world!
On 25 October 2010 as Disarmament Week opened, the ICBL addressed the United Nations' First Committee on Disarmament and International Security. Zach Hudson from the United States Campaign to Ban Landmines called on all states to ensure the landmine issue remains high on the disarmament agenda: "We as civil society, governments, and international organizations, can and have made a big difference," he said. "Our work is not done yet, but it is a finite problem that can be resolved."
The Convention on Cluster Munitions took effect on 1 August 2010. "Our experience in over a decade of Mine Ban Treaty implementation shows that the hard work must start right now if states are to overcome the major humanitarian challenge posed by cluster munitions," said Nobel Peace Laureate and ICBL Ambassador Jody Williams.
On 14 May 2010, the Sessions Court in Kupwara District, Jammu and Kashmir, directed the government of India to pay Rs 1.2 million (US$26,199) to Gulzar Mir, a double amputee who lost his legs to an Indian Army laid antipersonnel mine in 2002 while grazing livestock near his home village. It is not known yet if the state will appeal the judgement.
A letter signed by 68 U.S. senators, asking the administration to join the Mine Ban Treaty, was delivered to President Obama on 18 May 2010. The fact that there are 68 signatories is especially important given that accession to the treaty must be ratified by a two-thirds majority in the Senate. "Congress adds its voice to that of the American people in calling on our government to join our NATO allies—and all of the nations that have joined this treaty—and eliminate the use of landmines once and for all,” said Zach Hudson, Coordinator of the United States Campaign to Ban Landmines.
This week a letter asking the administration to join the Mine Ban Treaty will be delivered to President Obama by 68 Senators — signifying a key two-thirds Senate majority. “The fact that there are 68 signatories on the Senate letter is especially important given that accession to the treaty must be ratified by a two-thirds majority in the Senate,” said Zach Hudson, the coordinator of the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines (USCBL). "The strong support these letters received demonstrates that Congress stands with our NATO allies, and with Americans around the country, in calling for the U.S. to join the Mine Ban Treaty.”
Campaigners worldwide are stepping up pressure on governments to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions in the final 100 days before it becomes binding international law, the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) said as it launched a countdown to 1 August 2010, when the treaty enters into force.
Funding for mine clearance and victim assistance programs is essential, but is not enough to truly eradicate antipersonnel mines, said the Nobel Peace Laureate International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), on the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (4 April).
In March and April, ICBL campaigners held meetings in U.S. embassies throughout the world to urge the U.S. Administration to join the Mine Ban Treaty without delay. In the U.S., leaders of 65 organizations delivered a letter to President Obama calling on the U.S. to join the treaty. You will find here a complete report on this global action.
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