Chairperson's Summary: Building a Cooperative Future of Mine Action in South-East Asia

(Thursday 03 April 2003 )
PHNOM PENH REGIONAL SEMINAR
26-28 March 2003
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia

Introduction:

The regional seminar, Building a Cooperative Future for Mine Action in South-East Asia, was held in Phnom Penh, 26-28 March 2003. The purpose of the seminar was to further enhance mine action cooperation and coordination in South East Asia amongst governments, operators and donors. The seminar was organised by the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority and supported by Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway and the United Nations Development Programme.

Representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway, Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the European Commission participated in the seminar, as did representatives from numerous international and non-governmental organisations.

Opening Statements:

Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia, opened the seminar, praising the Convention on the Prohibition on the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction and emphasising the importance of preparations for the Convention’s First Review Conference in 2004. In addition, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance that Cambodia attaches to cooperation with donors, the effectiveness of its national mine action authority and national ownership over its landmine and UXO problems. Her Excellency Dominique Aït-Ouyahia McAdams, UN Resident Representative and Coordinator, assisted the Prime Minister in opening the seminar, reading a statement on behalf of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan which noted his encouragement for ongoing cooperation in the region and the importance that the UN attaches to mine action.

His Excellency Jean Lint of Belgium, President of the Fourth Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention, and, His Excellency Enrique Roman-Morey of the UN Department for Disarmament Affairs, Executive Secretary of the Fourth and Fifth Meetings of the States Parties, made statements highlighting that cooperation was central to the establishment of the Convention and that it continues to play an important role in implementation. It was noted that significant progress is being made towards the achievement of the Convention’s core humanitarian aims: clearing mined land, assisting victims, destroying stockpiled anti-personnel mines and universalising the ban on AP mines. The Convention’s States Parties were encouraged to maximise opportunities to share information on implementation and on means to mobilise resources. Other States were encouraged to join the Convention without delay.

An Overview of the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA):

His Excellency Jean Lint set the scene for an overview of the CMAA by underscoring the importance of national ownership. In this context, it was noted that mine affected States Parties should take advantage of opportunities to communicate the “4Ps” – problems, plans, progress and priorities for assistance.

His Excellency Sam Sotha, CMAA Secretary General and Mine Action Advisor to the Prime Minister, reviewed the history of mine action in Cambodia, the roles and activities of the CMAA, and the CMAA’s long term strategy for mine action in the country, which at its core is intended to strive toward zero victims. It was noted that currently a total of 4,700 personnel are involved in mine clearance in Cambodia, with approximately 3,800 hectares being cleared each year. In addition, it highlighted that while the extent of areas in Cambodia affected by mines and UXO is huge, the humanitarian impact of these areas could be addressed within 10 years.

An Overview of Mine Action in Cambodia:

Ms. Judith Dunne of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), on behalf of UNMAS Director Martin Barber, facilitated a discussion that featured presentations by the four principal actors involved in mine clearance in Cambodia: the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF); the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC); Mines Advisory Group (MAG); and, HALO Trust. Representatives from each organisation noted the commitment of each organisation to addressing CMAA priorities, meeting community needs, undertaking mine action in accordance with international standards and working to continually enhance its contribution.

The panellists shared their views on current needs, including requirements for more modern demining equipment, the development of a mine detector (rather than a metal detector), more mobile explosive ordnance disposal teams, increased community integration, and further productivity improvements. In addition, challenges noted included resource mobilisation and making the best use of limited resources, the mobility of some populations, victim rates that no longer are declining, and trying to meet conflicting development demands.

In response to questions raised, some panellists expressed the view that Cambodia can complete mine clearance in accordance with the Convention’s time-lines as long as support is sustained and capacity continues to increase to an acceptable level.

An Overview of Mine Risk Education and Victim Assistance in Cambodia:

His Excellency Gérard Chesnel of France, Co-Chair of the Convention’s Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, moderated a panel presentation which featured presentations by some of the many organisations involved in mine risk education (MRE) and victim assistance in Cambodia. Panellists included representatives of the Cambodian Red Cross, CMAC, the National Centre for Disabled People and the Disability Action Council. In opening the session, Ambassador Chesnel emphasised the importance of regional cooperation on victim assistance and encouraged States in the region to make full use of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration to communicate the “4Ps” as they relate to caring for victims.

With respect to MRE, panellists illustrated the sophistication and rich experience in Cambodia of efforts aimed at reducing risks taken by populations in affected areas. Ongoing challenges included the need to evaluate the impact of MRE programmes, the need to deliver MRE to newcomers, the need to develop new materials and, most significantly, the need to address the fact that victim rates have levelled out with UXO incidents making up an increasing percentage of total incidents. The value of community-based approaches and the importance of mainstreaming MRE were emphasised.

With respect to victim assistance, it was reported that out of a population of approximately 13 million people, Cambodia has approximately 200,000 persons with disabilities – with about 50,000 of these being landmine / UXO survivors. Panellists indicated that persons with disabilities are the most economically deprived and socially isolated component of the overall population and that the aim of their efforts is to promote choice on the part of persons with disabilities and their participation in social and economic activities.

Field Visit:

Seminar participants were able to see with their own eyes the efforts mentioned by various panellists when they visited the CMAC training centre and Cambodia Trust Prosthetics Centre in Kampong Chhnang Province. CMAC, RCAF, MAG and HALO Trust provided informative demonstrations of all aspects of mine clearance (e.g., technical survey, mine detection, manual demining, the use of dogs, the use of mechanical equipment, etc.) and mine risk education, highlighting specific challenges faced and means taken to overcome them in Cambodia. At the Prosthetics Centre, participants witnessed the personal challenges faced by individual landmine survivors as well as their courage and resilience.

The AP Mine Ban Convention: Implementation Mechanisms and Universalisation Efforts:

Mr. Kerry Brinkert, Manager of the Implementation Support Unit at the GICHD, provided an overview of the Convention’s implementation mechanisms, as well as those mechanisms that have been established by the Convention’s States Parties and those which have emerged on an informal basis. It was pointed out that the existence and form of these mechanisms relates directly to principles that are central to the Convention, including: cooperation, partnership, and State responsibility.

Following his presentation, Mr. Brinkert facilitated a discussion that provided an opportunity for States not Parties to share information in an informal manner on steps that they are taking in a manner consistent with the Convention’s core humanitarian aims. Representatives of several States not Parties took advantage of this opportunity, with some indicating that their States were proceeding with measures leading to formal acceptance of the Convention.

Partnership between Mine Affected Countries, Donors and Operations:

His Excellency Helmut Ohlraun of Germany facilitated a panel discussion that served to highlight donor perspectives on partnership in the region, with representatives of Australia, Canada, Norway and the European Commission participating in the panel. It was emphasised that successful partnerships involve accountability, transparency, trust between all parties, and the involvement of all stakeholders. It was noted that successful partnerships can have the positive effect of supporting ongoing cooperation and that from a donor perspective the question of national ownership is important, with a view to ensuring that support is provided in a manner consistent with priorities set by mine affected States themselves and with a view to ensuring that affected communities benefit. The importance to donors of civil society partners was also emphasised.

Panellists mentioned how the Convention serves as a framework for partnership, a means to work more comprehensively and a catalyst for mobilising resources. Suggestions were made for partnerships that could be undertaken by States not party to the Convention to signal that they are on the path towards eventual acceptance of the Convention In addition, it was noted that the Convention serves as an opportunity to give increased attention to the needs of all persons with disabilities, including landmine survivors.

Some donors stated that they provide support to all pillars of mine action and reiterated their ongoing financial and political commitments to mine action and the implementation of the Convention, both within the region and globally.

Chairperson’s concluding Remarks:

In his closing remarks, His Excellency Sam Sotha expressed his satisfaction with the breadth and quality of participation in the seminar. He indicated his hope that vibrant participation by South East Asian States in mine action cooperation and the implementation of the Convention would continue with a view to ensuring that voices from the region were heard in efforts leading to the Convention’s First Review Conference in 2004.

It was reiterated that South East Asian States should continue to explore means to enhance regional cooperation between neighbouring countries. This regional cooperation could involve further exchanges of experiences related to national planning, surveys, demining, victim assistance and mine risk education.

Finally, the Chairperson expressed his optimism that the States not party to the Convention in the region would continue to take steps towards eventual formal acceptance of the Convention. He encouraged all States in South East Asia to participate in the Convention’s First Review Conference, as well as in other important meetings in advance of the Review Conference (i.e., Fifth Meeting of the States Parties and meetings of the Standing Committees).