On February 8th, The Japanese government will organize the official destruction ceremony and the last Japanese stockpile anti-personnel landmines (APM) will be destroyed.
On this occasion, Association for Aid and Relief(AAR), Japan and Shin-Asahi town, where most of the stockpile destruction was conducted, will co-host “Ban Landmines, All-Japan Children’s Summit” on February 8th and 9th, 2003.
200 primary and secondary schools children from all over Japan participate in the Summit to discuss about what they can do to make a difference in solving the landmine problems in the world. Two survivors from Afghanistan, Mr.Nadir Shah, 16- year-old, UXO survivor from Wardak, and Ms.Mursil, 10- year-old landmine survivor from Parwan join the Japanese children to appeal lamdmine situation in Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will attend the official destruction ceremony and the opening ceremony of the Children’s Summit.
At the Plenary Session of the first day, after hearing two afghan children’s report on their lives, participants report their activities to ban landmines and share their experiences of their campaign. At the second day, after group discussion of what they can do to make a difference, 20 representatives of the participants will meet at Town Assembly Hall to prepare for the declaration of the Summit, which will be adopted at the closing ceremony. On the second day, workshops and lectures will be provided by AAR staff and Dr. Kuniko Inoguchi, Ambassador of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament.
Japan is a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty since its entry into force. One million anti-personnel landmines were stockpiled and the destruction of landmines was commenced on January 17, 2000, at Shin Asahi town, Shiga prefecture by then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi. Japan retains 15000 APMs for the training purpose.
