LSN Bosnia Conference
this is a summary of the Bosnia conference from LSN
==== CONFERENCE SUMMARY
The first National Conference of Landmine Survivors and Other Persons with
Disability was hosted by Landmine Survivors Network on August 8-9, 1998 in
Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). This unprecedented conference was
attended by over a hundred people working or living within the country, and
over half the participants were landmine survivors from different regions
and ethnic backgrounds coming together for the first time to share their
common concerns in a struggle against landmines. An estimated one million
landmines are scattered in over 30,000 marked and unmarked minefields
throughout the country.
OBJECTIVES
The conference objectives, achieved with overwhelming success, were to:
· facilitate collaboration among different ethnic groups and disability
groups;
· provide awareness about landmines and services available for the disabled;
· provide a forum for individuals to discuss their needs and share
information;
· commemorate the one-year anniversary of Princess Diana's visit to Bosnia.
A conference report outlining specific recommendations for future action
will be distributed in September.
MAIN EVENTS
The conference agenda included three main events spread over two days:
Panel Presentations
Panel presentations made by twenty-one different panelists (six
expatriates, four individuals from the Republic of Srpska and eleven
individuals from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina) focused on the
landmine situation in Bosnia, human rights/advocacy for the disabled,
physical rehabilitation services, sports for the disabled and general
support services available in Bosnia.
Tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales
A moving tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, was made through a slide show
reviewing her trip to Bosnia with LSN in early August 1997. Landmine
survivors spoke passionately about the memories of her time with them in
their homes. An exhibition sitting volleyball match was held between
Bosnia's National Team (placing third in the recent World Championships)
and the Tuzla team - also visited by Diana.
Working Groups
The final day of the conference was dedicated to four working groups of
approximately twelve survivors from different locations in the country and
different ethnic backgrounds. The working groups were also attended by up
to eight observers (guests and panelists). Each group discussed the panel
presentations of the previous day and then developed recommendations for
future action.
HIGHLIGHTS
The highlights of the conference included:
· Opening address by the Mayor of Tuzla who has personally committed to
projects to increase wheelchair accessibility in and around public
buildings and spaces.
· A special message from Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, Patron of
Landmine Survivors Network, was read to conference participants to help
launch conference deliberations.
· Over a hundred participants from all regions of BiH, representing all
walks of life, including over 50 survivors from Republic Srpska (13) and
Federation (38), 20 expert panelists and nearly 25 guests from
international organizations, embassies, donor organizations and disability
groups.
· A powerfully moving and personal tribute to Diana, including slide show
and testimony by landmine survivors, shared by all conference participants.
· A lively sitting volleyball exhibition match, the first opportunity for
many individuals to witness this increasingly popular and growing sport
(the World Championship will take place in Sarajevo in 1999, and Bosnia
hopes to bring home a medal from the Para-Olympic Games in Australia in 2000).
· Formal and informal gatherings of survivors and individuals of different
ethnic and regional backgrounds where the mood was one of genuine
camaraderie and people coming together to discuss their shared experiences,
hopes and goals for the future.
· Survivors and other conference participants examined and approved of the
Bill of Rights for Landmine Survivors (proposed by Queen Noor at the July
1998 Jordan conference on landmine injury).
· The Ministers of Sport from the Republic of Srpska and the Federation of
BiH held lengthy, constructive discussions on the potential for cooperation
on sports initiatives to help reintegrate persons with disabilities. (This
was the first serious dialogue on such issues between the RS and Federation
in nearly seven years.)
· Both the Federation and Republic of Srpska sent representatives from
their respective Ministries of Health, yet more evidence of the
effectiveness of LSN's conference to pull people together to address
constructively how best to alleviate the suffering inflicted by an
estimated million landmines scattered across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
RECOMMENDATIONS
General recommendations stemming from the conference included:
· requests for additional workshops and seminars to address specific topics
in depth (prosthetics, sports, mine awareness, employment) in Republic of
Srpska and Federation;
· employing landmine survivors to conduct mine awareness throughout Bosnia;
· greater attention given to improving access to quality prosthetic
services, particularly in Republic of Srpska;
· increased advocacy and attention paid to the rights of the disabled in
Bosnia.
(In September, an Action Agenda will be published together with the final
conference report.)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
LSN's conference was covered by National television, radio and press as
well as interviews by Reuters, Associated Press agencies and television,
with stories run throughout the weekend.
Funding for this unprecedented conference was provided by Sarajevo Trust
Fund, United States Institute of Peace and Open Society Institute.
USAID-Office of Transition Initiatives and AAR Japan have also provided
core support for LSN in Bosnia.
Landmine Survivors Network is grateful to these donors, participants,
guests and panelists who attended the conference and to all those committed
individuals who extended energy and support to ensure success.
For more information, please contact Landmine Survivors Network:
BOSNIA
Plamenko Priganica
Head, LSN-BiH
Tuzla
+387 75 251 401 phone/fax
e-mail: LSNBiH-at-hotmail-com
UNITED STATES
Susan Eitel
LSN Project Coordinator
700 Thirteenth Street, NW, #950
Washington, DC 20005
202-661-3537 phone
202-661-3529 fax
e-mail: LSN-at-landminesurvivors-org
INTERNET: www.landminesurvivors.org
