2006 Landmine Monitor Global Research Meeting

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

2-4 April 2006

Landmine Monitor researchers met in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 2-4 April at the 2006 Landmine Monitor Global Research Meeting, to discuss research findings with the Landmine Monitor Editorial Team, further build capacity in research and mine ban advocacy, and participate in exposure visits to Cambodian mine action field projects. This meeting is an integral part of the Landmine Monitor process as it marks the due date for draft research reports, provides the only face-to-face opportunity for researchers to discuss their research findings with the Editorial Team, and opens the editing phase of the Landmine Monitor Annual Report.

His Excellency Dr. Sam Sotha, Secretary-General of the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA) and Canadian High Commissioner Ambassador Donica Pottie opened the meeting on 2 April. Participants in the opening and closing plenary sessions and welcome reception included Landmine Monitor researchers, ICBL campaigners and staff, ICBL Ambassadors Song Kosal and Tun Channareth, representatives from Cambodian government agencies, local and international NGOs and representatives from the diplomatic community.

Researchers met individually with members of the Editorial Team to discuss their research findings. They also met with Landmine Monitor and ICBL staff about publication strategies for the 2006 report and ICBL advocacy priorities. In addition, researchers participated in training workshops to increase the effectiveness of research and campaigning techniques. These sessions included an orientation for new researchers, ICBL national advocacy strategies, computer skills, methods to conduct research interviews, finding and sourcing information, researching landmines and non-state armed groups, landmine and UXO safety, and the components of mine action.

Roundtable discussions were held on both mine action and victim assistance, and included participants from the Royal Cambodian Government, local and international NGOs, Landmine Monitor researchers, donor countries, and mine action practitioners.

Meeting participants increased their knowledge of mine action in Cambodia and took home ideas to incorporate into their own mine action projects by visiting the Cambodian Mine Action Centre, Cambodian Mine/ UXO Victim Information System, Jesuit Refugee Service's Centre of the Dove, ICRC Prosthetic and Component Factory, Association for Aid and Relief Japan, The Cambodia Trust, and UNICEF. Researchers participated in a volleyball match against a team from the Cambodian National Volleyball League (Disabled) Organization.

Forty-four new and returning researchers, nine campaigners and friends of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), and 17 members of the Editorial Team, in total representing 44 countries, participated in this meeting, the first held since the 2004 Landmine Monitor Global Research Meeting held in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Observers from the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), UNICEF and UNDP took part in the meeting.

Landmine Monitor is grateful to Jesuit Refugee Service Cambodia for hosting the meeting. We would like to extend our appreciation to Sister Denise Coghlan, Ny Nhar, Song Kosal, Tun Channareth, Sok Eng, and our many friends at JRS Cambodia for their tireless work to make this meeting a success. We would also like to thank Loren Persi and Taryn Burul for their diligent and hard work on all aspects of meeting preparation. The meeting took place at the Imperial Garden Villa and Hotel.

Draft research reports are now undergoing rigorous editing by the Editorial Team. Members of the Editorial Team have until 5 June to deliver their edited reports to Final Editor Ian Doucet. Final Editing will be completed by 15 July and the report will go to print at the end of July.

Landmine Monitor is a unique civil society verification initiative by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL). Its eighth report, Landmine Monitor Report 2006, along with an Executive Summary and CD-ROM, will be released globally on 13 September 2006, ahead of the Seventh Meeting of States Parties taking place from 18-22 September 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland.

For more information about Landmine Monitor please visit www.icbl.org/lm or contact lm@icbl.org.

Click here for photos from the Global Research Meeting.