News

Stockpile Destruction Event and 3rd Mine Ban Treaty Implementation Workshop Held in Belarus, 22-24 May 2006

From 22-24 May, the Belarus Minstry of Foreign Affairs hosted a public stockpile destruction event and the Third International Ottawa Convention Implementation Workshop. Both were well attended by officials from the Belarus government and the international community and showed Belarus' interest in promoting full implementation and universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty.

Nepal: No new use of landmines under new code of conduct offers a glimmer of hope

In the code of conduct agreed at the end of the first round of peace talks on 26 May 2006, the Nepalese government and Maoist groups committed to refrain from new use of landmines: a welcome development in a country where both sides of the internal conflict have been resorting to these indiscriminate weapons.

Ten Years Later, The US Is No Closer to Mine Ban

Ten years on from President Clinton's commitment to pursue a ban on anti-personnel mines, the USA still remains outside the Mine Ban Treaty and is currently considering the development of a new type of landmine. The US Campaign to Ban Landmines calls on citizens to exercise "voters' power" and urge Congress to stop the production of new generation landmines.

ISC06 Update #2: Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, May 10 and 11

The Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies meeting took place on May 10 and 11. The ICBL made a strong statement highlighting countries, with deadlines in 2009 and 2010, that are not on target to meet their obligations under Article 5. The ICBL also made an intervention in response to the co-chairs' discussion paper on fulfilling Article 5, voicing our support for the concept of an expert group to review eventual requests for extensions under Article 5.

ISC06 Update #3: Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction, May 11 and 12

The Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction meeting took place on the afternoon of May 11 and the morning of May 12. The ICBL had a powerpoint presentation on the status of implementation of Article 4.

Expert Response by the ICBL on Progress in the VA 24

The statement our colleagues Jesus and Omara Khan have just made raises some very important questions. But I am going to repeat just one: Can we accept the possibility that we are living in a paper paradise or shall we all do a reality-check? Today, 499 days after the Nairobi Summit, ICBL feels the need to reiterate the message it sent out then: it is time to turn words into deeds!

ICBL Statement on Victim Assistance

My name is Jesus Martinez and I and my colleague Khan are part of a group of landmine survivors participating in these intersessionals through the Raising the Voices programme. We are from all the regions of the world, and have since the Zagreb meeting been monitoring, and where possible, participating in the very important process of the Victim Assistance Questionnaires.

ISC06 Update #1: Standing Committee on Victim Assistance, May 8 and 9

The Survivor assistance Standing Committee Meeting took place over one and a half days on 8 and 9 May 2006. The ICBL had three presentations, two delivered by survivors, and one delivered by Handicap International in their capacity as co-chair of the victims assistance working group. All three presentations provided a reality check on what governments had presented in their Victim Assistance Questionnaires, particularly on the status of survivor assistance in each of the 24 countries that identified themselves as being most in need of survivor assistance.

Brunei becomes 151st State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty!

Brunei Darussalam ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 26 April 2006, bringing the number of States Parties to 151.

Challenges of Universalization in Asia

With ratification by Brunei Darussalam on 24 April 2004, States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty reached a total of 151. Yet, universalization of the mine ban remains a big challenge in Asia, home to almost half of the countries still outside the Treaty. ICBL Diplomatic Advisor, Satnam Singh, gives an overview of the situation.

Landmine Monitor holds research meeting in Cambodia

Landmine Monitor researchers met in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 2-4 April at the 2006 Landmine Monitor Global Research Meeting to discuss research findings.

ICBL New Advocacy Director Has Joined the Team!

On 19 April, Simona Beltrami joined the ICBL team as Advocacy Director. Simona is well known to most of us in the landmine movement as the former Coordinator of the Italian Campaign to Ban Landmines, and a former member of the Advisory Board and Management Comittee of the ICBL.

Landmine Monitor Global Meeting Includes Panels on Victim Assistance and Mine Action in Cambodia

During the Landmine Monitor’s Global Researchers Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2-4 April 2006), the ICBL and local host Jesuit Refugee Services organized lunchtime panels on victim assistance and mine action in Cambodia. The panels brought local experts into the Landmine Monitor meetings, allowing LM researchers and outside participants to learn about the situation in Cambodia and to relate this information to their own research and experience.

Call to Action: Remind States Parties that Article 7 Reports Are Due by 30 April

April 30th is the deadline for States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty to send their annual transparency reports to the UN, as required by Article 7 of the Mine Ban Treaty. It's time to remind States Parties to turn in their reports - and to make them as comprehensive as possible. States not Party to the treaty are also encouraged to submit voluntary reports as a sign of their commitment to the treaty.

Urgent: ICBL Seeks an Administrative Assistant

The ICBL is currently seeking a dynamic, motivated and well organised person to provide administrative and logistical support to the ICBL staff.