Landmine Update #9

The Landmine Update is the International Campaign to Ban Landmines’ quarterly newsletter. To date, 130 countries have ratified the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, and an additional 16 have signed it. The most recent accessions are Afghanistan (11 September), Comoros (19 September) and Central African Republic (8 November), while recent ratifications include Cameroon (19 September) and Gambia (23 September).

The Fourth Meeting of States Parties (4MSP) to the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition on the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and On Their Destruction, was held in Geneva, Switzerland from 16-20 September. The 4MSP was the most widely attended Meeting of States Parties to date, with participation by 131 countries. This included the most States Parties (94) and non-States Parties (37) yet. The non-States Parties attending included 11 signatories and 26 non-signatories. The ICBL participated as an official observer delegation, as did the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), United Nations agencies, the European Commission, and the Organization of American States. In total, more than 700 individuals attended the 4MSP. The level of participation and the clear acceptance even by many non-States Parties of the desirability of and need for a comprehensive global ban were strong indicators of the growing international norm against antipersonnel mines. In November, the ICBL published its report on the Fourth Meeting of States Parties. For more information please visit: http://www.icbl.org/4msp or contact: banemnowSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

Landmine Monitor and ICBL Regional meetings for the new cycle for preparation of the fifth Landmine Monitor report began in October, and were held in Baku, Azerbaijan and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. See Azerbaijan and Ethiopia. Additional regional meetings for Europe and MENA will be held in February 2003 in Geneva, Switzerland during the Intersessional Standing Committee Meetings (also see Landmine Monitor). For more information please contact: lmSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org or visit http://www.icbl.org/lm/research

3 December marked the fifth anniversary of the opening for signature of the Mine Ban Treaty. The ICBL issued a press release on this historic date (http://www.icbl.org/news/2002/263.php), hailing successes achieved to date and calling on states and armed rebel groups to embrace the emerging international norm that rejects mine use. Events were held worldwide and included a series of events in Ottawa, Canada, the city that hosted the 1997 Ottawa Conference where the Treaty was opened for signature. See Canada. For more information please contact: banemnowSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

Other landmine-related events were also held worldwide and this update is a summary of some of them. Below are reports on activities country-by-country, followed by a section on international and virtual activities.

Afghanistan - Acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 11 September. For more information please contact: afghanSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

Angola - Seven people were killed and six injured on 29 November when a Medecins san Frontiers (MSF) vehicle drove over an anti-tank mine, near the city of Mavinga. For more information see: http://www.msf.org/countries/page.cfm?articleid=20AC7B4D-CBEA-44BE-B72F5AD83640990C

Australia - Photographer John Rodsted organized an eleven-day speaking tour through Canberra and Tasmania in October. The tour included public meetings, school visits and meetings with NGOs, where Rodsted spoke about he impact of landmines and unexploded ordnance in Afghanistan and his recent work there. The ICBL - Australia Network held its Annual General Meeting and National Meetings in November in Adelaide. In December, “Life After Injury,” a rehabilitation manual for mine survivors and their families written by Liz Hobbs, Sue McDonough & Ann O'Callaghan, was released in Adelaide. In November, “Songlines Against Landmines,” a backyard concert organized by the Canberra Band “The View From Here,” raised funds to purchase a metal detector. Also in November, the proprietors of the "Tin Cat Cafe" in suburban Kent Town in Adelaide, with the support of their clients, local business people and Network supporters, arranged a special function to benefit the Campaign. With the help of a well-run and highly successful charity auction and some very generous donors, $5110 was raised for the Campaign. For more information please contact: ppakpoySPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERchariot.net.au or hintonSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERsenet.com.au

The film “Bombies” was shown on 5 October in Hobart, Tasmania as part of a fundraiser for the Mines Victims and Clearance (MIVAC) Trust. The event included an introduction by Tony Foster, Mayor of the City of Brighton and was followed by a panel discussion on MIVAC’s work. For more information contact: ahorslerSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERsouthcom.com.au “Keeping the Peace: Stories of Australian Peacekeepers,” a traveling art exhibition, opened 27 October in Port Pirrie. The exhibition examines Australia’s participation in global peacekeeping over the last 54 years. Contact: travelling.exhibitionsSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERawm.gov.au The ICBL Australian Network held an event during Austcare’s Refugee Week from 5-13 October.

Armenia - “Banning antipersonnel landmines: Cooperation and Capacity Building,” a conference organized by the governments of Armenia and Canada and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), was held from 1-2 October in Yerevan. The conference explored the landmine situation in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and the practical implications of accession to the Mine Ban Treaty. Participating governments included Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Canada, Cyprus, France and Russia. Representatives from the permanent missions of the European Community, Britain, Germany and Italy attended the opening ceremony. Representatives from the Slovenian International Trust Fund (ITF), UNMAS, GICHD, ICRC, VVAF and Halo Trust also attended the conference. ICBL campaigners and researchers from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia and Abkhazia participated in the event and called on Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty. They issued a joint press statement at the opening of the conference (http://www.icbl.org/news/2002/232.php). For more information please contact: jemmaSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERarminco.com or allison.clementSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERdfait-maeci.gc.ca

Azerbaijan - On 24 September, Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Landmines (AzCBL) coordinator Hafiz Safikhanov conducted a press conference regarding his participation in the 4MSP. On 8 October held a press conference to discuss the results of “Banning Antipersonnel Landmines: Cooperation and Capacity Building,” a conference held 1-2 October in Yerevan, Armenia. Journalists were provided with detailed information about the seminar and the absence of the Government of Azerbaijan at the seminar was highlighted. The AzCBL held a meeting with the Director of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) on 15 October to discuss the upcoming Landmine Monitor Meeting, 4MSP and Yerevan conference. On 18 November the AzCBL met with Tahir Kerimli, chairperson of the “Vahdet” party, the only party in the Southern Caucasian region which has made a statement regarding joining the Mine Ban Treaty. Mr. Kerimli said his party would raise this issue with the Azerbaijan government as soon as possible and will also address the landmines issue at a meeting of the “Union of Azerbaijan Forces.” For more information please contact: safihanovSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERbox.az

ICBL members from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region of the former Soviet Union met in Baku from 7-9 November 2002 to discuss their research for Landmine Monitor Report 2003. Seven researchers participated in the Baku meeting for the following countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Ukraine. The Abkhazia, Armenia and Chechnya researchers did not attend. Events included a field visit to Horadiz in Fizuli region, where the ICBL met with the Chief Administrator of Fizuli region, Nabi Mukhrarov, to discuss the socio-economic impact of the weapon on local communities. The regional ANAMA office hosted the ICBL field visit. The group met with the regional director, Tariel Gakhramanov, and Shahin Ibrahimov, director of the non-governmental demining organization Relief Azerbaijan. The participants visited a Relief Azerbaijan/ANAMA mine clearance operation on a hillside by a village being rebuilt for returning IDPs. The group also met with the deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Araz Azimov. They urged Azerbaijan to join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, and also outlined steps the country could take to show its support for the antipersonnel mine ban. The Landmine Monitor/ICBL meeting took place on Saturday 9 November. The participants agreed to accept the generous invitation made by IPPNW- Kyrgyzstan to meet next in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in early November 2003. For more information please contact: safihanovSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERbox.az or lmSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org. See also http://www.icbl.org/lm/research

Belarus – On the eve of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) meeting in mid-October, an appeal sent by the Belarus CBL urging EAPC to assist Belarus in stockpile destruction. The ICBL also sent an open letter in support of the Belarus CBL appeal. Contact: izagSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERuser.unibel.by

Belgium - From 30 September- 2 October Handicap International - Belgium (HI-B) participated in “Ending the Tragedy of Landmines Through Innovation and Cooperation,” a Rotary International conference held in Seattle, Washington, USA. See United States. On 16 October, HI-B and Landmine Monitor briefed the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) on the landmine situation in all EAPC countries and how the EAPC can contribute to achieving the goals of the Mine Ban Treaty. The briefing was held at NATO headquarters in Brussels and was chaired by NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson. All 46 EAPC members attended and observers included military officials, members of country delegations and NATO personnel. Landmine Monitor presented the 2002 Landmine Monitor Report and David Collins, Director of Defence Planning and Operations at NATO delivered a speech summarizing NATO-PfP mine action activities. Twenty-one states issued official statements after the presentations. For more information please visit http://www.icbl.org/news/2002/238.php or contact: stan.brabantSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERhandicap.be

The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the “Brussels Seminar on Article 7 in Central Africa,” held 12-13 November at the Palais d’Egmont. The seminar aimed to raise awareness among African countries of the importance of the Mine Ban Treaty and Article 7 reporting. Ambassador Lint of Belgium chaired the event and Louis Michel, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice-Prime Minister, addressed the opening session. Participants included representatives from Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania. Several donor countries also attended the seminar, as well as the European Commission, ICRC, UNMAS, and the ICBL. For more information please contact: jean.lintSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERties.itu.int

To celebrate the International Day of the Disabled Person on 3 December, HI-B held internal workshops on disability. For more information please contact: koen.baetensSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERhandicap.be.

Brazil - To celebrate Brazilian Independence Day on 7 September, SERPAJ youth members collected Youth Against War Treaty signatures in Porto Alegre. From 6-16 October Youth Against War Treaty signatures were collected at the Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul. The Brazilian Campaign to Ban Landmines held a series of meeting to plan actions for the World Social Forum, being held January 2003 in Porto Alegre. The Brazilian campaign participated in a CARITAS meeting of Lusophone countries, held in November in Salvador, Bahia. In addition, two Brazilian campaign members participated in “Transformaciones,” an ICBL youth seminar held in November in Santiago, Chile. For more information please contact: gvieira7SPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERterra.com.br

Cambodia - The 8th ASEAN Summit and ASEAN- India Summit were held 4-5 November in Phnom Penh. The Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines (CCBL) distributed a leaflet to all ASEAN Summit participants and placed an ad in Cambodia Daily’s supplement for the Summit. The CCBL issued a press statement calling on all ASEAN countries to become States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty before the Fifth Meeting of States Parties in Bangkok in September 2003. For more information please visit: http://www.aseansec.org and contact: cambanSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERbigpond.com.kh Youth Against War materials were distributed at the inaugural chapter of the World Conference on Religion and Peace, held in November in Phnom Penh. From 26 November- 8 December. In December, ICBL Youth Ambassador Song Kosal, ICBL Ambassador Tun Channareth and CCBL member Sok Eng joined representatives from other national campaigns in the “Youth Against War” speaking tour across Canada and participated in the symposium “Without Reservation” (see Canada). For more information please contact: jrscamSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERforum.org.kh

Cameroon - Ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 19 September. The Cameroon CBL was very active in lobbying the government of Cameroon for the instrument of ratification to be deposited with the UN secretariat. A strategic meeting was held in Yaoundé as a follow-up of the 4MSP to identify new priorities for the campaign. For more information, contact: ntiechemSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERyahoo.fr The International Club for Peace Research (ICPR) is actively preparing the 2003 reports for Cameroon, Gabon and Central African Republic. A team of researchers will be deployed by mid January in the targeted countries for information and data collection. For more information, contact: valebossoSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERhotmail.com Youth Against War (YAW) initiative was lunched by the CCBL on 13 September 2002 at the occasion of the LM 2002 release event hosted by the British Council of Yaoundé and sponsored by the ICPR/CCBL with the support of the LM and ICBL. 25 youths from various backgrounds were selected and designated Peace Messengers to collect signatures. The project is ongoing and youth events have been organized in various schools since the start of the new school year. For more information please contact: mjonascirpSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERhotmail.com

Canada - Mines Action Canada (MAC) celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Mine Ban Treaty signing in Ottawa with a series of events in Ottawa and throughout the country. From 24-25 November MAC and the Association for Aid and Relief Japan (AAR) hosted “Not Mines, But Flowers...” an exhibition featuring Ikebana floral arrangements by Japanese Ikenobo masters and members of the Ottawa Centennial Chapter 120 of Ikebana International; Giovanni Diffidenti’s “The Perfect Soldier” photography exhibition; original paintings from the Japanese best-selling picture book, “Not mines, but Flowers;” education displays on the landmine issue and the contributions of Canada and Japan; and, a public workshop with Ikenobo masters on how to create Ikebana arrangements.

From 26 November- 8 December ICBL Youth Ambassador Song Kosal, ICBL Ambassador Tun Channareth and representatives from national campaigns in Cambodia, India, Pakistan and Uganda participated in the “Youth Against War” speaking tour, traveling across Canada educating the public and media about the landmine situation in India and Pakistan.

Mines Action Canada held its’ Annual General Meeting and Members’ Meeting on Explosive Remnants of War on 29 November. MAC released its’ Annual Report at the meeting. On 29 November in Ottawa, MAC opened John Rodsted’s new photo exhibition on landmines in Afghanistan. The exhibition will travel to cities throughout Canada through February 2003. The Youth Mine Action Ambassador Program and the International House at the University of Ottawa hosted “Dance Without Fear: An Evening of International Music and Dance,” held 30 November at the University of Ottawa’s University Center. Donations were collected to support mine action projects. In addition, ICBL and MAC representatives met with Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on 29 November.

From 30 November- 1 December MAC hosted “Without Reservation”- an international symposium addressing the challenges of achieving a mine-free world. ICBL campaigners from 23 countries traveled to Ottawa to participate in the seminar. The Government of Canada, ICRC and UNMAS also participated in the seminar. Symposium findings will be presented to the International Standing Committee meetings in February 2003. For more information please see: http://www.minesactioncanada.org or contact macnancySPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERweb.ca

On 29 November, as part of the anniversary events, the Government of Canada unveiled a plaque in honor of the treaty anniversary and announced that they would provide an additional $72 million (Canadian dollars) to the Canadian Landmine Fund. Foreign Minister Bill Graham, Minister for International Cooperation Susan Whelan, Honourable Lloyd Axworthy, former Foreign Minister and leader of the Ottawa process, and Jody Williams participated in the ceremony. The new funding will be distributed over a period of five years, beginning in April 2003, and will support global mine action activities including mine clearance, victim assistance, mine risk education and stockpile destruction, as well as projects to support Mine Ban Treaty universalization and the development of Canadian-made mine action technologies. For further information please visit: http://www.mines.gc.ca or telephone +1.613.995.1851.

Central African Republic - Acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 8 November.

Chile - The Chilean Campaign to Ban Landmines/ Instituta de Ecología Politica (IEP) held a series of events in Santiago surrounding the V Conference of the Ministers of Defense of Americas, held 18-22 November. IEP organized an internal campaign meeting with representatives from the ICBL and Brazilian and Colombian Campaigns to discuss their Humanitarian Demining Seal Project. On 20 November IEP and Instituto de Estudios Estratégicos y de Seguridad Internacional (IDEESI) held an International Seminar on Humanitarian Mine Action in the Americas at the Universidad La República. The Chilean government, military, journalists, diplomatic community, NGOs and the public were invited to the seminar. Approxmately 50 people participated in the session, chaired by Raul Sohr of IDESSI. The ICBL/ Landmine Monitor presented the major findings of the 2002 Landmine Monitor Report and discussed the landmine situation in the Americas. IEP also organized a meeting with mayors from mine-affected communities in Chile to discuss the issues facing their communities and to form a network of mayors to work together to achieve their common mine action objectives. For more information please contact: iepSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERiep.org

The ICBL and IEP participated in the V Conference of the Ministers of Defense of the Americas, the first time the ICBL has been invited to participate in such a meeting. The ICBL distributed a fact sheet about landmines in the Americas to all meeting participants and issued a press release surrounding the event. Representatives from the ICBL and IEP participated in a session on humanitarian mine clearance on 19 November. Point 20 of the “Santiago Declaration” expresses support for mine action projects in the region and calls on states to fully comply with the Mine Ban Treaty and CCW. For more information please contact: charlieSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org or iepSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERiep.org

The ICBL held “Transformaciones: Trabajando con la juventud por un planeta libre de minas/ Working with Youth for a Mine-free World,” a one-week youth seminar held 16-22 November in Santiago, Chile. The six participants came from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Perú and Uruguay. The objectives of the youth seminar were to increase participants’ knowledge of the landmines issue and the campaign, share experiences with their peers, enhance leadership, organizing and campaigning skills and to create a network of youth campaigners in the Americas. The seminar succeeded in meeting all of these objectives. In addition to attending training sessions, the participants also applied their knowledge by writing a press release, preparing and delivering a presentation to the IEP International Seminar, writing individual action plans, and forming a youth network, including setting up mechanisms to maintain communication. The newly established youth network is currently planning their participation in their first joint initiative, an exhibition and workshops at the World Social Forum, being held 24-28 January 2003 in Port Alegre, Brazil. For more information please contact: jackieSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

Colombia - The Colombian Campaign Against Landmines (CCCM) held a national strategy meeting in Bogota from 15-16 November. The CCCM Coordinator participated in IEP events in Santiago, Chile in November and a youth representative also traveled to Santiago to participate in the Transformaciones youth seminar. See Chile. For more information please contact: cccminasSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERepm.net.co

Comoros - Acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 19 September.

Croatia - A regional landmines conference for Southeastern Europe was held from 22-25 October 2002 in Croatia. The last stockpile destruction in Croatia of over 5,000 mines was held in Knin on October 23, marking the completion of Croatia’s obligation under Article 4 of the AP Mine Ban Treaty, more than 4 months ahead of their deadline on 1 March 2003. The event was attended by 18 countries, ICBL, ICRC, GICHD / ISU, UN agencies and NGOs from the region, including landmine survivors. The regional seminar on lessons learned in Humanitarian Mine Action was held on 24-25 October in the historic and beautiful seaside city of Dubrovnik, with over 100 persons attending including many States, both Parties and not Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, ICBL, mine action NGOs, the ICRC, UN agencies, the GICHD/ISU and foundations. The seminar showed that mine action and victim assistance in the region continue to make progress and the momentum is there to complete this important humanitarian work.For more information please contact: mirko.ivanusicSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERhcr.hr or walkerSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

Czech Republic - The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held its annual summit in Prague from 21-22 November. The ICBL wrote to Heads of Government of all NATO members and partners in the lead-up to the meeting, urging them to support a comprehensive ban on landmines. Disarmament and the Rules of Law were included in the final declaration of the Prague Summit, in the context of preventing weapons of mass destruction to be spread, but no reference was specifically made to landmines. For more information please visit: http://www.nato.int/docu/comm/2002/0211-prague/index.htm or contact: brigotSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

Denmark - The Danish Demining Group (DDG) received a large number of antipersonnel mines from military stores in Somaliland, handed over for destruction during a ceremony 14th November. See Somaliland or www.icbl.org/news/2002/260.php
Contact: infoSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERdanishdemininggroup.com

Djibouti - ASSOVIM sent a letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs SEM Ali Abdi Farah. For more information please contact: elabe_frSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERyahoo.fr

Ethiopia - From 11-14 December 2002, representatives of the ICBL and its Landmine Monitor research network gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for an Africa-wide meeting to prepare the ICBL’s fifth annual Landmine Monitor Report 2003. 23 participants from 21 African countries met to discuss preparations for the next report. The meeting began on Wednesday 11 December with an opening plenary attended by over two-dozen diplomatic representatives, including representatives of the African Union, as well as members of the Ethiopian mine action community. They reviewed and strategized on the status of the ICBL’s advocacy efforts throughout the African region, by examining universalization, mine use, non-state actors, stockpile destruction, transparency reporting, domestic legislation, mine clearance and survivor assistance issues. On 13 December, the participants took a short flight to Mekelle, capital of the northern Tigray region, and then traveled four hours by bus to the border. At the village of Addis Tesfa, they were greeted by local schoolchildren, including mine survivors, who performed dance, music, and drama using mine risk education messages taught by RaDO. Later in the day, RaDO provided a mine risk education briefing for the participants, many of whom come from mine-affected countries. Further north, the participants drove through the border town of Zala Anbesa, which was destroyed during the 1999-2000 conflict with Eritrea, and visited a mine clearance project conducted by EMAO in the nearby village of Marta.

At the opening of the meeting the ICBL issued a press release calling on African leaders to ensure full and rapid implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. They also held a press conference and invited members of the media on the field trip. For further information contact: radoSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERtelecom.net.et or lmSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org or visit http://www.icbl.org/lm/research

France - Handicap International (HI) held the 8th annual Pyramid of Shoes in Paris, Lyon and 24 other cities in France on 5 October. Citizens were asked to throw a shoe in order to protest against the 49 non-signatory countries’ refusal to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty. Approximately 50,000 people attended the Shoe Pyramid this year and signed the petition for a mine-free world. HI also celebrated its 20th anniversary with events including an internet discussion on landmines from 2-4 October, at http://www2.leprogres.fr/handicap-international. On the 3rd December, the 5th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Convention, HI sent letters to governments and the Executive Summary of the Landmine Monitor in French was sent to all embassies in Paris. Appointments were sought with embassies of targeted non-signatories countries. For more information please contact: kgavandSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERhandicap-international.org

Gambia - Ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 23 September.

Germany - On 3 December, the German Initiative to Ban Landmines (GIBL) issued a press release highlighting the continuing serious humanitarian impact of antipersonnel mines and anti-vehicle landmines and renewed its demand for the expansion of existing international regulations on antipersonnel mines to include anti-vehicle mines. For more information please contact: GIBL.HaakeSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERt-online.de

India - A representative of the Indian Campaign to Ban Landmines participated in the November- December, cross-Canada “Youth Against War” speaking tour, raising awareness with the Canadian public and media about the landmine situation in India and Pakistan. See Canada. For more information please contact: iipdepSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERnagpur.dot.net.in

Italy - The Italian senate passed a motion inviting the Government of Italy to encourage non-state actors to support a total ban on the use of landmines. For more information please contact: ereusseSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERworldcom.ch or coordinamentoSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERcampagnamine.org

Japan - The Association for Aid and Relief Japan (AAR) co-hosted the “Not Mines, But Flowers,” art exhibition in Ottawa, Canada, from 24-25 November. See Canada. From 5-6 October the Japan Campaign to Ban Landmines (JCBL) organized an information booth at the International Cooperation Festival. For more information please contact: kitagawayasuSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERnifty.ne.jp

The Sixth Disabled Peoples' International World Assembly was held in Sapporo from 15-18 October. Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI), an umbrella organisation for disabled people’s organisations with national assemblies in approximately 120 countries, holds a “World Assembly” every four years. The theme of the DPI 6th World Assembly was “Freedom from Barriers: Celebrating Diversity and Rights.” Approximately 3,000 participants attended the Assembly. Landmine Survivors Network sent two representatives – co-founder Ken Rutherford, and Katherine Guernsey. Others active in the field of landmines and victim assistance also attended. Many of the questions asked in the workshop question and answer periods focused on LSN’s experience in the Mine-Ban Treaty development process, as well as its experience addressing the needs of landmine survivors.

In the Sapporo Declaration that issued from the Assembly, DPI came out strongly in favour of a new international human rights convention for people with disabilities. In its Sapporo Platform, DPI also stated that it would look to the experience of landmine survivors as it prepares to participate in the drafting of the convention. For more information on DPI or documents issuing from the Assembly, please visit: http://www.dpi.org. Ken Rutherford’s speeches are also available online at http://www.landminesurvivors.org

The Osaka International Forum on Disability, marking the end of the year of the Asia and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons was held 21-23 October in Osaka. For more information please contact: forumSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERdinf.ne.jp The Japanese translation of the 2001 Landmine Monitor Executive Summary was released in November. For more information please contact: kitagawayasuSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERnifty.ne.jp

Jordan - Cranfield University hosted a Mine Action Middle Manager training seminar in Amman from 20 October- 7 December. For more information please contact: elabe_frSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERyahoo.fr On 16 December, Landmine Survivors Network- MENA, in cooperation with the Red Crescent and the University of Damascus, held two sessions to raise awareness about the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. For more information please contact: MonaSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERLSNmena.org

Kyrgyzstan - The Kyrgyz Association for the UN and IPPNW–Kyrgyz Committee held a “One thousand lunches” event at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University on 25 November to raise funds for the UN Association. On 3 December the campaign held a conference titled “No threat of landmines!” to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Mine Ban Treaty signing. Participants included university students, representatives from the Union of Afghan War Veterans and representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense. The conference explored the landmine situation along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border and challenges in mine clearance and victim assistance. At the end of the conference, participants appealed to Central Asian Governments to sign the Mine Ban Treaty. An exhibition of literature and posters was also held during the conference. For more information please contact: astmaSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERkyrnet.kg

Lebanon - The Summit of Heads of State and Governments of La Francophonie was held 18-20 October in Beirut. The ICBL issued a press statement at the opening of the meeting (http://www.icbl.org/news/2002/237.php). Prior to the meeting the ICBL sent letters (http://www.icbl.org/news/2002/235.php) and a fact sheet on La Francophonie and the Mine Ban Treaty (http://www.icbl.org/resources/document/2002_oct_francophonie.html) to the Foreign Ministers of all member states. For more information please contact: brigotSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

Nepal - On 23 September the Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL) organized a meeting with representatives from Rukum and Rolpa, two of Nepal’s most severely mine-affected districts. The 20 parliamentarians, local government officials, human rights activists and campaign representatives at the meeting discussed the local mine situation and the need to launch mine risk education and victim assistance projects in the area. On 26 September the NCBL held a meeting with representatives from the districts of Nuwakot, Kavre, Sindupalchok, Rasuwa, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Gulmi, Makawanpur and Dailekh to discuss the landmine situation, human rights and peace issues. The meeting discussed non-state actor and government use of mines and found that mines are significantly impacting communities, even when marked, due to the proximity of mines to cattle, houses, schools and farms. Money collected from local communities is being raised to provide a mine survivor from the area with a prosthetic. On 20 October the radio station Sagarmatha broadcast a live interview with campaigners and the Himalayan Times published a summary of the 2002 Landmine Monitor report on Nepal.

The NCBL organized an interactive program on victim assistance on 25 October. Speakers included youth landmine survivors, former parliamentarians, members of the Upper House of parliament, NGOs, INGOs, businesspeople and the media. The four youth survivors who participated in the event received contributions to their studies and one NGO is working to meet the youth’s medical needs. On 26 October the NCBL held a meeting in Dhading district, focused on the humanitarian effects of non-state actor use of mines. For more information contact: wodesSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERwlink.com.np or ncblSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERmail.com.np

New Zealand - The New Zealand Campaign Against Landmines (CALM) launched its updated website at: http://www.icbl.org/newzealand/ CALM launched the 2002 Landmine Monitor Report on 9 October at the New Zealand parliament. Approximately 100 people participated in the event, including New Zealand Defense Force and government representatives, diplomats, politicians, NGOs and CALM members. On 1 November, CALM met with the Chinese Ambassador in New Zealand, encouraging China to join the Mine Ban Treaty. For more information contact: helen.preslandSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERparadise.net.nz

English-To-Go, an English-language online teaching resource, held what they hope to be the largest English lesson conducted in the world, in a 12 November bid to break the Guinness World record for the largest simultaneous lesson. The results are still being collected so it’s unsure yet if English-To-Go did indeed break the world record. The subject of the online lesson was the landmines issue. For more information please visit: http://www.english-to-go.com/

Norway - The Assistance to Mine-Affected Communities (AMAC) project at the International Peace Research Institute (PRIO) in Oslo, published “Assessing Landmine Impact at the Community Level: A Training Manual.” For more information and to order please contact: amacSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERprio.no

Pakistan - A seminar on the effects of landmines on children was held from 20-30 November in Baluchistan, in celebration of Universal Children’s Day. A representative of the Pakistan Campaign to Ban Landmines participated in the November- December, cross-Canada “Youth Against War” speaking tour, raising awareness with the Canadian public and media about the landmine situation in India and Pakistan. See Canada. For more information please contact: pakistanSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

Peru - A Peruvian landmine survivor participated in the ICBL’s Transformaciones youth seminar, held 16-22 November in Santiago, Chile. See Chile.

Russia - The Adaptive Sports Symposium of the 7th Russian National Congress “People and Health,” was held 25-29 November in St. Petersburg, Russia. The International Institute for Prosthetic Rehabilitation of Landmine Survivors (IPRLS) conducted an amputee hockey game and roundtable discussion at the symposium, in celebration of the 3 December World Day of Persons with Disability and the Night of a Thousand Dinners. For more information please visit: http://www.icbl.org/news/2002/264.php or contact: mpitkinSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERlifespan.org

From 4-5 November, the Moscow office of the ICRC hosted a two-day regional conference on “Landmines and the Explosive Remnants of War” in Moscow for the Commonwealth of Independent States countries. Delegations from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Ukraine attended the meeting. ICBL campaigners from Russia, Armenia and Human Rights Watch (USA) participated in the event. ICRC vice-president Jacques Forster, Peter Herby (ICRC), and Belgian Disarmament Ambassador Jean Lint chaired the various portions of the conference. Topics covered included “the global landmine problem and the evolution of a ban,” “making the Ottawa Convention a reality,” and “explosive remnants of war, the CCW, and the review conference.” Presentations were made by various ICRC regional officers, GICHD, UNMAS, The Swiss Federation for Mine Action, Russian experts and the Governments of Canada, Netherlands, and Tajikistan. The ICBL presented the 2002 Landmine Monitor Report major findings and a regional overview of the landmines issue. Additionally, each state delegation from the region was given ten minutes to present national positions and perspectives. For more information please contact the ICRC Moscow delegation at: moscou.mosSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicrc.org

Somaliland – At a ceremony 14th November a large number of antipersonnel mines from military stores in Somaliland were handed over for destruction to the Danish Demining Group (DDG) in the presence of representatives from the EU, UN and the administration of Somaliland. In total more than 2300 antipersonnel mines of the type P4, M14 and PMN-2 as well as 72 bounding fragmentation mines (PT-MI / M16), 16 antitank mines (TM46 / 56) and two French mines were handed over. For further information please see www.icbl.org/news/2002/260.php and contact: infoSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERdanishdemininggroup.com or ahesaSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERrocketmail.com

South Africa - The SADC Regional Landmines and Demining Conference, hosted by the South African Institute for International Affairs, was held 10-11 October in Johannesburg. For more information please contact: 219neumaSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERcosmos.wits.ac.za

The Anti-Personnel Landmine Bill has been published and will be debated by the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces in early 2003. Mines Action Southern Africa made a formal submission to the Portfolio Committee on Defence in November 2002. For more information please contact: masaSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

Spain - Intermon-Oxfam issued a report, highlighting progress and challenges after five years, as well as presented the book “Vidas Minadas” by Gervasio Sanchez. Survivors from Bosnia, Cambodia and Mozambique, featured in the book, participated in the events. The presentation of the book both in Barcelona and Madrid was very successful. A press kit was distributed and much media coverage was generated. They also met with Members of Parliament from all parties. MPs agreed to promote the debate on funding for mine action in the next Parliamentary sessions, beginning in February. Contact: equintanaSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERintermon.org

The Association for the United Nations Spain (ANUE) invited HM Queen Noor of Jordan to take part in events at the Parliament of Catalonia, where she spoke about her work on the struggle against landmines. On 12 December, Moviment per la Pau and the UNESCO Chair on Human Rights held an event at the Autonomous University of Bacelona. They showed a film and held a debate about the global landmine situation and Spain’s position.

Moviment per la Pau met with the Spanish Rotary Club in October in Barcelona to discuss their “Rotary Campaign for the Automatic Deactivation of Antipersonnel Mines.” The Rotary Club stated that they will continue their campaign to encourage mine producers to make “smart” mines. For more information please contact: movpauSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERsuport.org

Sri Lanka - “Bringing Children Home,” a conference on children in armed conflict hosted by Save the Children, was held 1-3 October in Colombo. For more information please visit: http://www.savethechildren.lk The Geneva Call met with the LTTE delegation to the peace process on 9 December in Bern. The LTTE stated its commitment to a mine-free society and noted they were considering the Geneva Call a mechanism for committing to a mine ban. For more information please contact: kkramerSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERgenevacall.org

In January 2002, as a part of its advocacy events, the Sri Lanka Campaign to Ban Landmines (Inter Religious Peace Foundation - SLCBL) launched a “Citizens Anti-landmines petition” aimed at obtaining 2 million signatures from citizens appealing to the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to accede to the Ottawa Treaty, and calling upon the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to stop using antipersonnel landmines. By November 2002, this initiative had collected over one million signatures and represented a cross section of the Sri Lankan society (including those in the LTTE controlled areas).

The GoSL and the LTTE agreed to receive them from the Sri Lanka Campaign during the “peace talks” on 4th December 2002, and consequently, Ven. Madampagama Assaji Thero, Rev. Freddy de Alwis and Mr. Saliya Edirisinghe, National Coordinator, Secretary and Assistant Secretary, respectively, of the SLCBL, traveled to Oslo to hand over the petition to the GoSL and the LTTE. At the presentation of the petition, Ven. Madampagama Assaji Thero reminded the parties of the overwhelming appeal by the citizens of Sri Lanka to the GoSL to accede to the Ottawa Treaty, and to the LTTE to renounce the use of antipersonnel landmines. In the context of the LTTE renouncing the use of antipersonnel landmines, Ven. Assaji Thero drew attention to the “Deed of Commitment” under the “Geneva Call” process. In reply, the chief negotiators of the GoSL and the LTTE, Minister Peiris and Dr. Anton Balasingham, respectively, explained that they were seriously considering the renunciation of the use of antipersonnel landmines. For further information contact: saliyaedSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERsltnet.lk

Sweden - The Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society (SPAS) held meetings with the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and lobbied on parliamentary bills. For more information please contact: frida.blomSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERsvenska-freds.se

Thailand - On 18 September, the Catholic Club at the Assumption University in Bangkok organized a poster and photo exhibition and a panel with speakers including the TCBL Chairperson, a landmine survivor and professors, who highlighted the ethical, health and legal aspects of landmine problems. For more information please contact: jpthaiSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERasiaaccess.net.th or joraz9876SPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERhotmail.com The National Seminar on Holistic Model of Survivor Assistance (Experience from Chanthaburi Province) was held 17 October in Bangkok. Following up on workshops and simulations in Chanthaburi province, a holistic model for survivor assistance was further defined and commented upon in this seminar. Approximately 80 people, including government officials, NGOs and landmine survivors participated in this event. For more information please contact: ruangsilpSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERksc.th.com “Quarter Minute of Life,” a seminar for 270 Catholic youth leaders and Major seminarians from throughout Thailand, was held 23 October in Pakam District, Buriram Province. The session had been included into the overall one-week annual training program organized for Catholic youth leaders from all over the country during their school vacation. Posters on the landmines issue were exhibited and a landmine survivor from Sakaeo province and TCBL members spoke. Their presentation included a briefing on the current global and national landmines situations and the Youth Against War Treaty. For more information please contact: jpthaiSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERasiaaccess.net.th

The TCBL held “Mines and Me” from 24-27 in Taphraya and Wangnamyen districts, Sa Kaeo Province. Twenty-six university students, in addition to professors, staff from local NGOs and TCBL members participated in this exposure trip for students from two universities to Sa Kaeo province to meet landmine victims in several villages. The aim was for the students to learn about landmines and their impact on peoples’ lives, communities and societies. Students were involved in the “see-judge-act” learning process that included a briefing on global and national mine situation, a visit to the first Humanitarian Mine Action Unit, a 24-hour stay in an affected community, visits to affected families, a personal reflection, a group reflection and a social analysis session. Some concrete actions following the program include the students’ involvement in gathering of signatures in support of the Youth Against War Treaty, and volunteering in future national campaign activities of TCBL, while the youth website www.carefor.org actively backs up the YAW signature gathering. For more information please contact: jpthaiSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERasiaaccess.net.th and joraz9876SPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERhotmail.com In addition, TCBL and ICBL participated in the UNDDA planning mission for the Fifth Meeting of States Parties, to be held in Bangkok in September 2003.

Turkey - The 2002 Landmine Monitor Report on Turkey was translated into Turkish and distributed to NGOs and the media in Turkey. In addition, on 3 December, the campaign issued a press release on the treaty-signing anniversary. For more information please contact: mbalciSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERmayinsizbirturkiye.org

Uganda – Ugandan campaign member and landmine survivor Margaret Arach Orech was named co-chair of the ICBL Working Group on Victim Assistance. Orech participated in a speaking tour in the US and Canada, as well as in the “Without Reservation” symposium on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the treaty signing in Ottawa. Contact: maorech1SPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERyahoo.co.uk

Uruguay - The Government of Uruguay destroyed some of its stockpiled mines on 2 October. For more information please contact: Josefa.SuarezSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERafp.com A youth campaigner participated in the ICBL’s Transformaciones youth seminar, held 16-22 November in Santiago, Chile. See Chile.

United Kingdom - Landmine Action UK (LAUK) held the annual Landmine Action Week from 4-10 November. Focusing on Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), the week built on the work of their previous cluster bomb campaign. Member organizations and supporters distributed tens of thousands of leaflets and organized events throughout the UK such as coffee mornings, street stalls and photographic exhibitions. The week included a focus on schools that have been using the Landmine Action Schools Pack for the citizenship module, raising awareness on landmines and ERW. One of LAUK’s funders, The Co-operative Bank, placed advertisements in all the major broadsheet newspapers supporting the campaign on ERW as well as producing an 8-page supplement in association with The Guardian on ERW and cluster submunitions.

In partnership with the Pakistan Campaign to Ban Landmines (PCBL), LAUK organized a meeting at the Houses of Parliament to raise awareness of the landmine situation in Pakistan amongst UK parliamentarians and the Pakistani community. A leaflet was also produced in English and Urdu explaining the issue and describing case studies, provided by the PCBL. LAUK member organization, Handicap International UK, arranged for the cable station, The Community Channel, to devote the week to programs on landmines and ERW. For more information please contact: rosySPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERlandmineaction.org

Adopt-A-Minefield UK re-launched their website at http://www.landmines.org.uk For more information please contact: alageleeSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERlandmines.org.uk

United States - Throughout September and October the US Campaign to Ban Landmines (USCBL) held an online auction, hosted by www.yahoo.com, to raise funds to support campaign activities. For more information please contact: banminesSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERphrusa.org From 30 September- 2 October, Handicap International - Belgium (HI-B) participated in a conference in Seattle, Washington, sponsored by Rotary International. Forty organizations, including The Halo Trust, Mines Advisory Group, GICHD, UNMAS, NADR, Rotarians and others were invited to “Ending the Tragedy of Landmines Through Innovation and Cooperation.” The conference aimed to educate Rotarians about landmines and to facilitate the development of innovative partnerships aimed at pushing solutions for the mine problem. HI-B delivered presentations to all conference participants about the ICBL and Landmine Monitor and also participated in a Rotary meeting on action plans and strategies. For more information please contact: koen.baetensSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERhandicap.be

On 1 October, the United States Campaign to Ban Landmines (USCBL), Roots of Peace and Congresswoman Woolsey’s office sponsored a landmine awareness event on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, including a press conference and an evening wine and cheese reception to highlight demining in Afghanistan, the landmine policy review, the 200 Landmine Monitor Report, and pending Victim Assistance Legislation. For more information please contact: banminesSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERphrusa.org From 6-7 October the ICBL participated in the Hollywood Film Festival Humanitarian Symposium, chaired by Jody Williams and featuring the screening of "Aftermath: The Remnants of War" by Daniel Sekulich. Jody Williams received the Hollywood Humanitarian Award at the Hollywood Move Awards Gala Ceremony. For more information please visit: http://www.hollywoodawards.com/ or contact: banemnowSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

From 18-20 October the ICBL participated in an NGO Strategy Summit organized by WILPF and Reaching Critical Will. For more information please contact: summitSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERreachingcriticalwill.org or brigotSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

The USCBL held national White House call-in days from 3-4 December, urging campaigners to phone the White House and encourage President Bush to not let the US military use antipersonnel landmines in Iraq, and to ban the weapon altogether. A press release was issued on 2 December urging the United States government to not use mines in Iraq. The press release and media outreach generated much interest and coverage by US as well as international media in mid-December after a US daily USA Today ran a front-page story. For more information please contact: banminesSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERphrusa.org or visit http://www.banminesusa.org

International and Virtual:

Action Alerts - In November the ICBL issued an Action Alert on banning landmines in Asia-Pacific. The alert specifically targets India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, encouraging all four countries to join the Mine Ban Treaty. The focus on the Asia-Pacific region is part of the Asia Appeal, which takes up the challenge of universalizing and implementing the Mine Ban Treaty in the lead up to the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Bangkok in September 2003. For more information please visit: http://www.icbl.org/news/2002/250.php or contact: wixleySPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

On the occasion of the 3 December fifth anniversary of the opening for signature of the Mine Ban Treaty events were held worldwide. The ICBL sent letters and a copy of the ICBL’s Fourth Meeting of States Parties Report to all governments on the eve of the anniversary. ICBL issued a press release (http://www.icbl.org/news/2002/263.php), hailing successes achieved to date and calling on states and armed rebel groups to embrace the emerging international norm that rejects mine use. For more information please contact: banemnowSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

Resources - The ICBL completed its decentralization of the ICBL Resource Center in Sana’a, Yemen. Resources are now being distributed by regional and thematic focal points. For more information see http://www.icbl.org/resources/center/ and for a full list of resource contacts please visit: http://www.icbl.org/info/contacts.html#focalpoints After many years of service Dalma Foeldes, ICBL Resource Center Coordinator, has left the ICBL. We would like to thank Dalma for her many years of dedication and commitment to the ICBL and its work in banning landmines. For more information please contact: resourceSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

Virtual - The ICBL held a website design contest in November. The winning entry will become the “new face” of the ICBL website in 2003. For more information please contact: webmasterSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

Youth - The ICBL’s Transformaciones youth seminar was held 16-22 November in Santiago, Chile. See Chile. In addition, the ICBL distributed information and resources to youth campaigners via the youth egroup and the Youth Action Forum website (http://www.icbl.org/youth). Youth campaigners around the world continued collecting signatures for the Youth Against War Treaty. Collected signatures will now be handed over to the governments of India and Pakistan in September 2003. For more information please contact: jackieSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

European Union- On 4 December the European Union announced it will spend $105.2 million US over the next two years to support mine action projects worldwide. For more information please contact: brigotSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

GICHD/ISU- Since the 4MSP, the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) – in a manner consistent with the decisions actions taken by the States Parties at the 4MSP – has worked to encourage mine-affected States Parties to take full advantage of opportunities presented by the Mine Ban Treaty’s implementation mechanisms to share information on their challenges, plans and priorities for assistance. In this regard, on the invitation of various States Parties and organisations, the ISU has conducted outreach at conferences that focused on such regions as Southern Africa and South-eastern Europe. For more information please contact: d.orificiSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERgichd.ch or visit http://www.gichd.ch

Landmine Monitor – In Septemberthe Landmine Monitor Core Group and Research Coordinators met to engage in a training, evaluate the last Landmine Monitor report (2002) and plan for the next one (2003). With input provided by Research Coordinators, the Core Group took decisions on over ninety research proposals and applications submitted for participation in the fifth Landmine Monitor report. To produce Landmine Monitor Report 2003, the Core Group approved a set of regional meetings between November 2002 and January 2003. The first two, in Baku (see Azerbaijan) and Addis Ababa (see Ethiopia) have already taken place and the others are schedule for January and February 2003. A global meeting of researchers is planned for Rome in early April 2003, hosted by the Italian Campaign to Ban Landmines, in cooperation with Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Landmine Monitor Report 2003 is tentatively scheduled for release on Tuesday 9 September 2003, just before the Fifth Meeting of States Parties in Bangkok, Thailand from 15-19 September 2003. In addition, the Landmine Monitor Report 2003 CD Rom was published in October and is now available. For information on the production schedule or any other elements of Landmine Monitor, including ordering information, see http://www.icbl.org/lm or write lmSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

Mine Action Support Group - On 14 November, Mine action donors from the capitals gathered together for the annual Reinforced Mine Action Support Group Meeting (RMASG) in New York, USA, in conjunction with the 15 November General Assembly debate on assistance in mine action. The meeting, to which UN agencies and NGOs were also invited, marked the launch of the 2003 Portfolio of Mine-related Projects. The RMASG commenced with the outgoing Chair, Stephane de Loecker of Belgium, welcoming of the incoming Chair of the Mine Action Support Group (MASG) for 2003, Ambassador Harald Braun from Germany. He stated the Germany plans to use its presence in the Security Council during the 2003-2004 biennium to bring added attention to the landmines issue. A warm welcome was also extended to Slovenia as a new member of MASG. Martin Barber of UNMAS gave an overview of progress made in the throughout the year in implementing the five-year mine action strategy. Presentations were given on various aspects of Mine Action in Angola, Sudan and Eritrea. For more information contact: Filip.VanderlindenSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERdiplobel.org

OAS - The organization of American States (OAS) began selling holiday cards designed and produced by the Transitions Foundation of Guatemala. Proceeds raised will support the OAS’s Mine Action Program. For more information please contact: UPDInt7SPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERoas.org

Raising the Voices - Landmine Survivors Network began recruiting applicants for the next cycle of Raising the Voices. As part of this year’s program, survivors from Asia will travel to Geneva for approximately ten days in either February or May 2003 and then participate in the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, being held 15-19 September 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand. Raising the Voices participants also plan and implement projects in their home countries using the leadership and advocacy skills and tools learned in the training sessions. For more information please contact: beckySPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERlandminesurvivors.org

Survey Action Center - The Survey Action Center received start-up funding for the Angola survey from the Government of Germany, senior staff completed training in Ethiopia and started working in Eritrea, and data collection continued in Somalia, where 170 communities were surveyed. The proposal for the Afghanistan survey was signed by the EC and UNDP. The Canadian International Demining Corp (CIDC), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), InterSOS (Italy), and the Santa Barbara Foundation (Germany) joined the Survey Working Group. For more information please contact: sacSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERsac-na.org or visit:
http://sac-na.org/

United Nations - In October, the United Nations First Committee passed its annual resolution on the Mine Ban Treaty. The resolution on the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on their Destruction (Mine Ban Treaty) (document A/C/57/L.36) was approved by a recorded vote of 128 in favor to 0 against, with 20 abstentions. The following countries abstained from voting: Azerbaijan, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Syria, United States and Viet Nam. For more information please contact: walkerSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) - The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) meeting was held from 2 – 13 December 2002 in Geneva and included the Governmental Group of Experts (GGE) meetings on Explosive Remants of War (Chair: Netherlands), as well as anti-vehicle mines (Chair: Bulgaria), the annual Meeting of States Parties of Amended Protocol II (Chair: Switzerland) and a Meeting of States Parties to the CCW (Chair: India). It was attended by many of the 69 States Parties to the Convention, the ICBL, Human Rights Watch, Handicap International (Belgium and France), Landmine Action, Mennonite Central Committee, Mine Action Canada and the Swiss Campaign to Ban Landmines, along with ICRC, GICHD and UN agencies. The most important result to emerge was a negotiating mandate on Explosive Remnants of War and NGOs and the ICBL have called for these negotiations to be completed and result in a legally binding instrument within one year, by the time they meet again in December, 2003. NGOs interested in participating in this work should contact either Landmine Action (UK) (rosySPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERlandmineaction.org) or Mines Action Canada (macelinaSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERweb.ca) and can subscribe to the ICBL Clusters e-group by sending a blank e-mail message to clusters-subscribeSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERyahoogroups.com

UNMAS – A meeting of the Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action at the senior management level was held 6 December. Representatives of 10 UN departments and agencies participated. UNMAS representatives participated in the ICRC conference in Moscow in November on promotion of the Convention (see Russia) as well as the CCW meetings in December (see CCW). UNMAS has selected a Mine Risk Education officer, Sebastian Kasack, to start in February. Contact: mineactionSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERun.org UNMAS is currently developing a UN policy on Victim Assistance. UNMAS also began circulating a brief information letter on landmine survivors and victim assistance to Mine Action Coordination Centres on a quarterly basis. Contact: ikedaSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERun.org

UNICEF - The UNICEF Country office in Bosnia-Herzegovina started a three-year Mine Risk Education program targeting 600,000 between the ages of 5-8 in all pre-schools, primary and secondary schools in the country. In November, UNICEF hired a Technical Advisor to start a six-month project to build the technical capacity of the Government of Burundi, enabling it to implement Mine Risk Education in at-risk provinces. From 14-15 November, the local leaders of the mine ban movement of 14 departments (provinces) of Colombia, met in Bogota, under the auspices of UNICEF, to define a joint action plan for the next two years. UNICEF recently opened 3 counseling centers to provide support to landmine survivors in Guatemala. UNICEF has been requested to provide technical support to the UNDP programme "Support to the National Mine Action Programme in the Islamic Republic of Iran". UNICEF will conduct a workshop to update local partners on the current trends and methodologies in Mine Risk Education, identify new implementing partners and support existing operators to deliver mine risk education campaigns in and around the five provinces. In Nicaragua, Mine Risk Education informative sessions were held in 74 communities and 57 schools in which some 6,601 adults and 7,680 students participated. UNICEF has appointed a Mine Risk Education (MRE) Officer to work closely with the UNMAS Country Technical Advisor in Khartoum, Sudan. Plans are also to place for a Mine Risk Education Officer in Rumbeck.

At the Mine Action Support Group Meeting 14 November Polly Brennan from UNICEF Headquarters in New York reported on UNICEF’s activities in Mine Risk Education, Survivor Assistance and Advocacy in Vietnam, Colombia and Chechnya, a selection of countries from the 26 countries where UNICEF is active in Mine Action (see Mine Action Support Group.) The next day UNICEF invited donors to attend a consultation on the UNICEF Mine Action Strategy, which is currently being finalized. The consultation was extremely productive, generating useful discussion and inputs for the Strategy. Donor countries delegates representing 13 countries and 20 + delegates from UN Agencies and NGOs were present at the meeting. UNICEF is currently consulting other partners and finalizing the Strategy. For more information please contact: landminesSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERunicef.org