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Regional Goals

The ICBL General Meeting adopted the following regional goals and actions for the period leading up to the 2004 Review Conference:

Africa

  • Ratification of Mine Ban Treaty by Burundi, Ethiopia and Sudan.
  • Adopt implementation legislation in Benin, Cameroon, Djibouti, Kenya, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Republic of Congo, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.
  • Get initial Article 7 transparency reports submitted by Angola, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Guinea, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
  • Halt mine use by Burundi and Sudan (by government? and rebels) and connect to the peace processes.
  • Complete stockpile destruction in Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania.
  • Strengthen progress on stockpile destruction in Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, and Nigeria.
  • Mine-free Djibouti
  • Complete landmine impact surveys in Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somaliland.
  • Sustain mine action with sufficient funding in Angola, Chad, Djibouti, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda and Sudan, as well as Somaliland.
  • Enhance humanitarian mine clearance and MRE in Burundi, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
  • Reduce the number of new mine/UXO casualties in Angola (287 new casualties in 2002), Burundi (114), Chad (200), DR Congo (32), Eritrea (78), Ethiopia (67), Guinea-Bissau (33), Mozambique (47), Senegal (56), Somalia (53), Sudan (68) and Uganda.
  • No or fewer new mine casualties in Kenya, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
  • Develop, or implement a plan of action to address the needs of mine survivors, or more generally to improve rehabilitation services for all persons with disabilities, in all mine-affected countries.
  • Engage more Non-state Actors and highlight the importance of this work

Action:

  • Support the Kenyan Campaign in its preparation to host the forthcoming Review Conference and suggests the following for a successful meeting:
  • Approach the AU Secretariat to guarantee its concrete input.
  • Encourage support for full participation in sub regional forthcoming initiatives such as: the Burkina Faso Meeting for Western Africa (ECOWAS), IGAD, SADC and the Angola Preparatory Meeting scheduled for May 2004.

Americas

  • Encourage Haiti’s ratification.
  • Urge statements of ban support by Cuba and the US.
  • Halt mine use by NSAs in Colombia by all parties to the conflict.
  • Adopt implementation legislation in Argentina, Chile, El Salvador, Mexico, Perú and Venezuela.
  • Encourage Guyana, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname to submit their initial Article 7 reports.
  • End mine production by Cuba and the United States.
  • Complete stockpile destruction in Colombia, Suriname and Uruguay. Confirm Venezuela’s stockpile destruction (1 October 2003 deadline).
  • Encourage a decrease in the number of mines retained by Brazil (16,545) and Chile (6,245).
  • Initiate humanitarian mine clearance in Chile, Colombia and the Falklands/Malvinas.
  • Sustain mine clearance programs with sufficient funding in Ecuador, Nicaragua and Perú.
  • Complete humanitarian mine clearance in Guatemala and Honduras.
  • Reduce the number of new mine/UXO casualties in Colombia (530 mine/UXO casualties in 2002), Nicaragua (15) and Perú (19) through appropriate mine risk education programs.
  • Encourage the inclusion of sustained and appropriate survivor assistance programs in National mine action plans and urge the inclusion of a strong regional declaration on survivors’ needs and state responsibilities at the relevant regional fora.
  • Urge the application and adherence to existing national disability legislation.

Action:

  • Haiti - Continue and follow-up with Mines Action Canada’s actions urging ratification via embassies in countries and directly to the capital.
  • Cuba- The United Nations Association of the USA (US Campaign member) will send letters and meet with representatives from the Cuban Mission to the UN in New York to encourage Cuba to vote in favor of the UN General Assembly Resolution on mines in October.
  • United States - Educate and encourage Presidential candidates to support the mine ban. Support the US Campaign to Ban Landmines’ education campaign to counteract the US government’s arguments that smart mines and stockpiles of smart mines are acceptable.
  • Urge non-use of mines by all parties to the ongoing conflict in Colombia at the Americas Regional ICBL and LM meeting, being held from 26-30 January 2004 in Bogota, Colombia.
  • Continue bilateral discussions with the governments of Argentina, Chile, El Salvador, Mexico, Perú and Venezuela to encourage the enactment of Article 9 domestic legislation by the Review Conference. Use Intersessional Standing Committee meetings (ISC meetings) and regional forums to follow-up with these governments in person. Hold a meeting of these governments at the February ISC meetings to assess progress made to date in enacting legislation and help to troubleshoot problem areas.
  • Send letters to Guyana, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname on the 1 March treaty entry-into-force deadline encouraging these countries to submit their initial Article 7 reports.
  • Send letters to Guyana in advance of their Article 7 report deadline urging complete information on quantities of stockpiled antipersonnel mines.
  • Lobby the governments of the US and Cuba in Washington, DC and Geneva and at regional forums and send advocacy letters on key treaty anniversaries encouraging both countries to end mine production.
  • Send a letter to Venezuela requesting information about whether Venezuela completed its stockpiled destruction by the 1 October 2003 deadline.
  • The Campaña Colombiana Contra Minas will urge the Government of Colombia to revise it stockpile destruction program and will pressure the Government of Colombia to initiate humanitarian mine clearance.
  • Encourage the Government of Argentina to support Brazil in reducing the number of mines retained for training.
  • Request and publicize information about the use of mines retained by Brazil and Chile for training.
  • Create an updated fact sheet about the status of implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty in the Americas and circulate at relevant regional and international forums.
  • Hold a meeting in Bogota, Colombia during the Americas Regional ICBL and LM meeting to support the initiation of humanitarian mine clearance in Colombia. Use examples of other countries in conflict where clearance has been undertaken (i.e. Angola, Afghanistan).
  • Hold a workshop on LM 2003 research findings and support civil society involvement in the movement against landmines in the Americas at the Americas Social Forum being held in Quito, Ecuador from 8-13 March 2004.
  • Use the OAS General Assembly meeting and the Americas Regional Mine Action Seminar, being held in Quito, Ecuador from 4-5 June 2004 to lobby governments on all advocacy points and issues of concern.
  • Support strong Mine Ban Treaty language in the final declaration of the VI Americas Ministers of Defense Meeting being held in June 2004 in Quito, Ecuador.
  • Encourage strong wording in the final outcome document for the OAS Hemispheric Security Meeting, being held from 27-28 October 2003 in Mexico City, Mexico.
  • Encourage strong civil society participation and space for an ICBL intervention at the Americas Regional Victim Assistance Meeting, being held from 12-14 November 2003 in Bogota, Colombia.
  • Support the inclusion of Mine Ban Treaty related text in the final outcome document of the OAS Special Summit of the Americas, being held from 12-13 January 2004 in Monterrey, Mexico.
  • Encourage strong Mine Ban Treaty wording in the final declarations of the Iberoamerican Summit and meetings of MERCOSUR, the Andean Community and the Rio Group.

Asia-Pacific

  • Ratification by Brunei, Cook Islands, Indonesia, Vanuatu
  • Accession by Bhutan, Laos, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Tuvalu
  • Statements of ban support by Burma, China, India, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, South Korea and Singapore, Vietnam
  • Adopt implementation legislation in Bangladesh and Philippines
  • Get initial Article 7 reports submitted by Afghanistan, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste
  • Halt mine use by Burma, India, Pakistan, Nepal governments and by NSA in these countries and Indonesia and Philippines
  • End mine production by China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, South Korea, Pakistan, Singapore and Vietnam
  • Complete stockpile destruction in Bangladesh
  • Initiate stockpile destruction in Afghanistan
  • Decrease number of mines retained by Bangladesh (15,000)
  • Complete landmine impact surveys in Afghanistan and Vietnam
  • Secure new funding commitments by Australia, Japan
  • Sustain mine action with sufficient funding in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam
  • Initiate humanitarian mine clearance and MRE in China, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Nepal, South Korea
  • End “atrocity demining” in Burma
  • Reduce the number of new mine/UXO casualties in Afghanistan (1,286 mine/UXO casualties recorded in 2002), Burma (114), Cambodia (834), China, India (523), Laos (99), Nepal (177), Pakistan (111), Sri Lanka (142), Thailand (36), South Korea (15) and Vietnam.
  • No new casualties in the Philippines
  • Develop, or implement a plan of action to address the needs of mine survivors, or more generally to improve rehabilitation services for all persons with disabilities, in all mine-affected countries.

Action

North-East Asia:

  • Round table discussion on different levels
  • Funding: fund raising, coordination
  • Elton John concert and other up-coming events

South Asia:

  • Action before SAARC Summit
  • Lobby governments to participate in RevCon (Pakistan, India priority) and ISC
  • Work with Sri Lanka and LTTE
  • Organise towards AP Landmine Monitor meeting in Kabul 27-30 March
  • Summarise South Asia Landmine monitor reports

Southeast Asia:

  • ASEAN summit 7-8 October
  • Pressure on Singapore and Vietnam on production
  • Maintain dialogue with Laos, Bhutan and others

Action – Pacific:

  • Exhibition
  • Meeting with heads of states
  • Seminar in Vanuatu

Upcoming Events – Asia-Pacific:

  • ASEAN Summit October
  • International day of people with disabilities December 3.
  • SAARC summit
  • APEC meeting October
  • ISC February 2004
  • LM meeting March in Kabul
  • National Seminar in Mongolia June
  • Children summit Japan August
  • Pacific: meeting with heads of states

Europe

  • Ratification by Poland
  • Accession by Estonia, Finland and Latvia
  • Adopt implementation legislation in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia
  • Complete stockpile destruction in Cyprus and Romania
  • Decrease number of mines retained by Sweden (16,015) [and encourage Sweden to declare its actual stocks and use], Lithuania (8,091), Macedonia FYR (4,000)
  • Secure new five-year funding commitments by all major donors
  • Sustain mine action with sufficient funding in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia
  • Complete landmine impact survey in Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Initiate humanitarian mine clearance in Greece, Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro and Turkey.
  • Initiate and sustain MRE in Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Serbia & Montenegro, & Turkey.
  • Initiate mine clearance in Poland, Denmark and the Falklands/Malvinas (UK) [‘military’ mine clearance only (rather than humanitarian) and avoiding competing for scarce humanitarian mine action funds]
  • Reduce the number of new mine/UXO casualties in Bosnia and Herzegovina (72 reported in 2002), Croatia (29), Kosovo (15), and Turkey (40)
  • No new casualties in Albania, Greece, Macedonia FYR, Serbia and Montenegro.
  • Develop, or implement a plan of action to address the needs of mine survivors, or more generally to improve rehabilitation services for all persons with disabilities, in all mine-affected countries.

Action:

  • Work at national and European level (individually & collectively)
  • Encourage an Europe-wide agreement on a common position on Article 2 and try to get European Parliament resolution(s) on Article 2 (on AVMs with sensitive fuses) and sustained funding
  • Need to maximise the European Presidency handover from Italy to Ireland, as well as follow up on a series of EP initiatives
  • Take full advantage of the Baltic meetings in 04
  • Get Austria, as the president of the Review Conference, to send out demarches re universalisation
  • Donor education
  • Civil society needs to be empowered and strengthened in key countries such as Poland and Bosnia.
  • Key dates e.g. 3 Dec, 1 March, 1 May (enlargement of EU) should be used to raise key issues
  • Events already planned need to be supported and strengthened where necessary

Commonwealth of Independent States

  • Ratification by Ukraine
  • Statement of ban treaty support by Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan
  • Support Belarus implementation efforts
  • Halt mine production by Russia
  • Increase stockpile destruction efforts in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia, especially PFM-1/1S destruction
  • Decrease number of mines retained by Turkmenistan (69,200)
  • Sustain mine action with sufficient funding in Azerbaijan, as well as Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Tajikistan
  • Complete landmine impact survey in Azerbaijan
  • Initiate humanitarian mine clearance and MRE in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, as well as in Chechnya
  • Reduce the number of new mine/UXO casualties in Azerbaijan, Chechnya (5,695), Nagorno-Karabakh (15), Georgia (70), Russia, Tajikistan (9),
  • No new casualties in Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, as well as Abkhazia.
  • Develop, or implement a plan of action to address the needs of mine survivors, or more generally to improve rehabilitation services for all persons with disabilities, in all mine-affected countries.

Action:

  • To hold the International conference “LM in Central Asia and CIS countries: Defining the problem and Identifying Solutions” in November 2-6, 2003 in Bishkek
  • To hold a seminar on Implementation of the Convention in Minsk, Belarus in December 2004
  • To plan and hold the 3rd Conference on LM in CIS in 2005 in Moscow, Russia
  • To recommend extending the format of the April 2004 regional meeting in Dushanbe to also involve CIS countries other than Central Asia.
  • To nominate local mine survivors for participation in Raising the Voices
  • To establish the FSU Youth Movement and assign Youth Ambassador
  • To prepare and hold the FSU Regional Youth meeting in Artek, Ukraine
  • To create Working Groups (on national level) on victim assistance to elaborate a Program for mine victim assistance
  • To create Working Groups (on the national level) on MRE through conducting a MRE workshop for CIS countries, elaborating MRE guidelines.

Middle East

  • Accession by Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE
  • Statement of ban treaty support by Egypt, Iran, Israel, Libya, Syria
  • Adopt implementation legislation in Yemen
  • Complete stockpile destruction in Algeria and Tunisia
  • Decrease number of mines retained by Algeria (15,030)
  • End mine production by Egypt, Iran, and Iraq
  • Sustain mine action with sufficient funding in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Yemen
  • Complete landmine impact survey in Lebanon
  • Initiate humanitarian mine clearance and MRE in Egypt, Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Syria and Tunisia, as well as in Palestine and Western Sahara
  • Reduce the number of new mine/UXO casualties in Iran (32 reported in 2002), Iraq (457 reported in 2002 in northern Iraq), Iran, Lebanon (42)
  • No new casualties in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen
  • Develop, or implement a plan of action to address the needs of mine survivors, or more generally to improve rehabilitation services for all persons with disabilities, in all mine-affected countries.

Action:

  • Identify local partners from the Gulf countries and Gulf Cooperation Council in order to work with them on the accession of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and UAE.
  • Develop Arabic document on ICBL goals in MENA and disseminate it through the Arab league and the African Union.
  • Work with Algeria co-rapporteur at the Intersessional Standing Committee
  • Address donors through the ICBL mine action working group to raise the MENA profile and mobilize resources.
  • Identify focal points and actors in countries where mine action work is not advanced.
  • Work with ICBL to write letters to non-states parties in the MENA region asking for statements about the Mine Ban Treaty and mine action pillars.
  • Encourage and support the workshop to be held in Sharja, UAE on December 8-9 2003 focusing on mine awareness and victims assistance and the following LM/ICBL meeting.