News

Current Job Opening at the ICBL

The ICBL announces job openings for the position of Advocacy Director.

Olympic Solidarity against Landmines

"If we can have peace for 16 days [the duration of the Winter Olympics] then maybe, just maybe, we can have it forever" - so goes the slogan for the Turin 2006 Olympic Truce, a revival of the ancient Greek tradition to halt all conflicts during the Olympic Games to allow athletes and spectators to travel to Olympia. See Olympic solidarity at work for a mine-free world on Trebevic Hill, home to some of the Sarajevo 1984 Olympic competitions.

Ukraine ratified the Mine Ban Treaty

On 27 December 2005, Ukraine deposited its instrument of ratification of the Mine Ban Treaty with the Secretary General of the United Nations. The treaty will enter into force for Ukraine on 1 June 2006. Ukraine’s ratification is an important step for the universalisation of the treaty, both internationally and in the region.

Roundtable Discussions in DRC on the Status of the Mine Ban Convention

On 6 and 7 December 2005, a roundtable discussion was held in Kinshasa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on the implementation of the Ottawa Convention in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

NOBEL PEACE LAUREATES URGE EGYPT TO JOIN GLOBAL TREATY BANNING ANTIPERSONNEL MINES, Call for More Support for Mine Clearance and Victim Assistance

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) called on the Egyptian government to join the 1997 treaty banning antipersonnel mines. “Egypt appears to be getting more serious about addressing the landmine issue, but needs to take some concrete steps to help alleviate the problem,”

From Geneva to Zagreb : 1000+ km for the fight against landmines Cyclist Armin Köhli meets bold challenge

Armin Köhli, champion cyclist whose lower legs have been amputated, arrived in Zagreb on 30 November having cycled a distance of more than 1000 km over the course of seven days. After leaving Geneva on 24 November, Armin Köhli crossed the southern part of Switzerland, Northern Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, cycling at a rate of about 160 km a day in weather conditions that were particularly challenging, facing snow, rain and wind.

A Unique Approach to Mine Risk Reduction: Azerbaijan’s “Safe Play Areas”

Fifteen new “Safe Play Areas” opened in the past month in some of Azerbaijan’s most mine-affected communities to provide a mine-free place for children to play safely and to promote mine risk reduction messages.

Geneva Call organises humanitarian training for members of an armed opposition group in Southern Philippines

From 12 to 17 November 2005, a team of humanitarian and human rights experts travelled to the region of Sultan Kudarat Maguindanao in the Philippines to conduct a week-long training for 65 military and political officers of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The training was organised by Geneva Call at the request of the leadership of the MILF, an armed group that adhered to the international ban on anti-personnel mines in 2000 when it signed Geneva Call’s Deed of Commitment.

6MSP Update #5: Ban Issues and Wrap-Up, 1 December (PM) and 2 December (AM)

International Cooperation and Assistance, General Status and Operation (Art. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9)

ICBL final press release: PROGRESS ON MINE CLEARANCE AND STOCKPILE DESTRUCTION CITED AT GLOBAL MEETING-But States recognize bigger challenges ahead

The Sixth Meeting of States Parties, in Zagreb, Croatia, was the first opportunity for the world’s mine action community to assess whether any real progress has been made since the 2004 Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World.

At the opening of the meeting, the ICBL, represented by over 180 delegates from 63 countries, clearly stated its expectations for outcomes of the 6MSP. Expectations and assessment of outcomes included...

6MSP Update#4: Victim Assistance, 30 November (PM), 1 December (AM)

Read the ICBL report on the subject of Victim Assistance, discussed on the afternoon of 30 November and on the morning of 1 December.

6MSP Update #3: Mine Clearance, 29 November (PM), 30 November (AM)

Read the ICBL report on the subject of Mine Clearance, discussed on the afternoon of Tuesday 29 November and on the morning of Wednesday 30 November.

6MSP Daily Update #2: General exchange of views, Universalization, Stockpile destruction, Mine action and clearing mined areas, 29 November 2005

Read the ICBL report of the second day of the 6th Meeting of States Parties

6MSP Daily Update #1: Official Opening, General exchange of views, 28 November 2005

Read the ICBL report of the first day of the 6th Meeting of States Parties.

Report on pre-MSP ICBL meetings – 26 and 27 November 2005

During the week-end before the beginning of the 6th MSP, the ICBL organized several events in order to set the course for the upcoming meeting, exchange ideas and orient campaigners. Below is a report of each of the three events.