Focus on the Middle East and North Africa

2. UNIVERSALISATION: Focus on the Middle East and North Africa

Looking at the map of Mine Ban Treaty membership 10 years after its signature, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) still appears sadly empty. The region has only seven States Parties, while it accounts for more than one quarter of the 40 states still outside the treaty (11). However, the upcoming 8th Meeting of States Parties in Jordan – the first ever to be hosted in this part of the world – has brought renewed focus on the region and fostered numerous activities to promote universalization.

Over the summer, we saw some of the fruits of years of efforts in the region, with Kuwait and Iraq joining the treaty in less than one month. These two accessions are particularly significant, and not only because they happened in the region with the lowest rates of adherence to the treaty. Iraq is one of the most heavily mine-affected countries on earth and the treaty will provide a framework for the enormous task of addressing the consequences of years of conflict and mine use. Kuwait’s accession will hopefully set an example for other countries in the Gulf area – especially Gulf Cooperation Council members Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. These countries have no real reasons not to join the treaty, which on the other hand offers them the opportunity to play a leadership role regionally and internationally.

Left to right: Mohammed Al-Sharif,UNDP Assistant Resident Representative in Bahrain, Hon. Ghanim Fadhul Al Buainain, First Vice Speaker of Bahrain's Council of Representatives, and Ayman Sorour, ICBL. Photo: B.

As I write this article I am returning from an advocacy mission to Oman and Bahrain which has left me optimistic that, with a little international support and encouragement, these countries will soon be joining the treaty.

In Bahrain, the Parliament is taking a very proactive role, urging the government to submit a draft accession law as soon as possible and to establish a trust fund to provide humanitarian assistance, including to mine-affected countries.

Small advances can also be seen elsewhere in the region. Despite the country’s political difficulties, the Lebanese council of ministers has recently discussed the issue of accession. Morocco submitted a voluntary transparency report for the first time in 2006 and has been voting in favour of the annual UNGA resolution on universalization of the treaty. Unfortunately, progress remains slow in many countries in the area, for which accession is closely connected to intricate geo-political issues or historical animosity and unresolved controversies with neighbors. We were recently worried by a vehement attack on the treaty by Libyan leader Muhammar Ghaddafi, who defended the right of “weak countries” to use antipersonnel mines for defence, and called on States Parties to withdraw from the treaty.

This however remains an isolated voice while more countries move – albeit at different paces – towards the treaty and de facto respectits provisions. Even states that have not joined yet – and therefore would not need to justify themselves – feel the need to strongly deny claims that they use landmines. This was the case when Israel faced accusations of laying new landmines during the summer 2006 conflict in Lebanon. To me, this is just yet another demonstration of the strength of the moral stigma created by the treaty around the use of these weapons.

Having waited 10 years, MENA states are already very late in doing the right thing and joining the treaty. Time is ticking by and it is crucial that, to stop forever the use of these indiscriminate weapons and to address the suffering which they have already caused in the region, they take the courageous step of acceding without delay. Before it is too late.

Ayman Sorour, Protection/ICBL