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Social and Behavioral Sciences

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2009

Journal

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Unmas And Gender Mainstreaming In Mine Action, Aaron J. Buckley, Akiko Ikeda Nov 2009

Unmas And Gender Mainstreaming In Mine Action, Aaron J. Buckley, Akiko Ikeda

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In order to further the development of proper protection from and response to landmines and explosive remnants of war in conflict and post-conflict countries, the United Nations Mine Action Service and the International Mine Action Standards Review Board are taking the necessary steps to ensure gender perspectives become an integral part of national mine-action plans. This article briefly describes the evolution of gender mainstreaming in mine action and how UNMAS has addressed the issue.


Blast Testing Of Visors Used For Humanitarian Demining, Charlene Fawcett Nov 2009

Blast Testing Of Visors Used For Humanitarian Demining, Charlene Fawcett

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article discusses experimental results from blast testing of Security Devices Ltd. polycarbonate visors used by humanitarian deminers. Visors used in the blast testing fell into one of three categories: new visors, manually scratched visors, and scratched and heat-gun-repaired visors. Results show that the visors in all three categories failed to meet the draft international standard for blast testing relevant at the time, that further research is required to establish pressure profiles for the standard charge size being tested, and that the proposed heat- treatment method does appear to degrade the blast resistance of the visor used in the test.


The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 13.2 (2009), Cisr Journal Aug 2009

The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 13.2 (2009), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Annual Issue: Land Cancellation and Release


Endnotes Issue 13.2, Cisr Journal Aug 2009

Endnotes Issue 13.2, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Endnotes Issue 13.2


Could Local Agricultural Machines Make A Country ‘Impact Free’ By 2010?, Emanuela Cepolina, Matteo Zoppi Aug 2009

Could Local Agricultural Machines Make A Country ‘Impact Free’ By 2010?, Emanuela Cepolina, Matteo Zoppi

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Many countries affected by landmines are also facing food crises, underscoring the necessity of cost-effective mine removal. Converting agricultural machines already available in many mine-affected countries for use on mine-action projects saves not only time but also money by speeding up the removal process and turning the land back into an agricultural resource.


A Conversation About Land Cancellation And Release With H. Murphey “Murf” Mccloy, John Stevens Aug 2009

A Conversation About Land Cancellation And Release With H. Murphey “Murf” Mccloy, John Stevens

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Land Cancellation and Release in mine action is looked at by many experts as the next logical step to the safe and time-effective return of mined areas. This interview examines the benefits of the land-release method and addresses its criticisms.


Survey And Land Release: Lessons From Recent Country Experience, Charles Downs Aug 2009

Survey And Land Release: Lessons From Recent Country Experience, Charles Downs

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Suspected Hazardous Areas bring fear to local communities and hinder socioeconomic development, but in most cases the majority of the land contains no mines at all. Survey for land release may put an end to this fear, and it allows for an accelerated solution to the landmine problem.


Land-Release Policies And Human-Security Complexities, Kjell Bjork Aug 2009

Land-Release Policies And Human-Security Complexities, Kjell Bjork

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article reviews the need for transparency and community participation in the land-release process. Participation is a fundamental part of post-war reconstruction, and the author argues that combining reconstruction with transparent participation will contribute to the quality, accountability and national ownership of the land-release process.


Gender And Land Release: The Responsibility Of The Mine-Action Community, Marie Nilsson, Virginie Rozes, Juliane Garcia Aug 2009

Gender And Land Release: The Responsibility Of The Mine-Action Community, Marie Nilsson, Virginie Rozes, Juliane Garcia

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In many countries, men are considered the sole landowners, leaving women with few property rights. Yet women are disproportionately affected when men are killed or injured by landmines, as they can be left with few resources after such tragedies.


Making Land Release In Mozambique Operational, Antonio Belchior, Charles Downs Aug 2009

Making Land Release In Mozambique Operational, Antonio Belchior, Charles Downs

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mozambique’s national program for land release has cleared many Suspected Hazardous Areas in the past eight years, but the Instituto Nacional de Desminagem (National Demining Institute) aims to make the program even more effective. In March 2009, IND collaborated with the Survey Action Center to host a workshop at which land release terminology and concepts were discussed, hoping that improved survey methodologies would lead to a more efficient land-release process. The workshop resulted in the creation of national land-release draft elements and criteria that will help to develop practical land-release standards in the near future.


Clearing Areas Right; Clearing The Right Areas, Håvard Bach Aug 2009

Clearing Areas Right; Clearing The Right Areas, Håvard Bach

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Although land release is a widely used term, its definition is not universally understood. There are various approaches to mine clearance with different survey steps taken before conditions of safe land release are met, and some techniques are more efficient than others. This article examines ways of improving land-release methodology to more effectively define and ultimately resolve the landmine problem.


Land Cancellation And Release, Parvis Mavlonkulov Aug 2009

Land Cancellation And Release, Parvis Mavlonkulov

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Initial surveying and resurveying of areas contaminated with mines are imperative processes in the Land Cancellation and Release process in Tajikistan, where estimates indicate thousands of acres of Suspected Hazardous Areas. It is necessary to re-survey contaminated areas to ensure accurate results. Even with limited funds, the Tajikistan Mine Action Centre has made great efforts to release the land and promote mine-risk education, victim assistance, and capacity building.


Reflections From The Field: Lao Pdr, Surveys And Land Release, Stephen Pritchard Aug 2009

Reflections From The Field: Lao Pdr, Surveys And Land Release, Stephen Pritchard

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With an example and a discussion of Norwegian People’s Aid’s work with UXO Lao in Lao PDR, the author explains how choosing the right tasks and performing the tasks correctly can allow land to be released safely and confidently.


Is It Time For New Terminology In Land Release And Technical Survey?, Robert Keeley Aug 2009

Is It Time For New Terminology In Land Release And Technical Survey?, Robert Keeley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Overlapping terminology has contributed to confusion in the demining process and stunted the development of Technical Survey as a potentially effective concept. This article points out places where ambiguity exists and suggests ways that the terminology can be clarified.


Sa/Lw And The Arms Trade Treaty, Cisr Journal Jul 2009

Sa/Lw And The Arms Trade Treaty, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Despite the efforts of governments, nongovernmental organizations, and disarmament and human rights activists worldwide, the global arms trade continues to exacerbate the situation caused by conventional weapons and, in particular, small arms/light weapons. Proliferation of SA/LW not only fuels conflict, but also disrupts development in war-ravaged regions. The following article provides an overview of SA/LW-control issues and remediation efforts. It also considers the progress of the international movement in support of an arms-trade treaty.


Identifying Synergies Between Mine Action And Small Arms/Light Weapons, Eric Filippino Jul 2009

Identifying Synergies Between Mine Action And Small Arms/Light Weapons, Eric Filippino

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Over the last few years, there has been considerable discussion around linking small arms/light weapons with mine action, although, to date, there has been little concrete exchange between the sectors at an operational level. Accordingly, the U.S. Department of State commissioned the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining to look at areas of possible synergy, resulting in the study Identifying Synergies Between Mine Action and Small Arms/Light Weapons.


Clearing The Falkland-Malvinas Islands, Robert Keeley Jul 2009

Clearing The Falkland-Malvinas Islands, Robert Keeley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Under pressure from nations around the world and in compliance with Article 5 of the Ottawa Convention, the United Kingdom has committed to demining the Falkland-Malvinas Islands despite the potential cost of demining in arelatively mine-safe area.


Latin Victims Are Invisible To The International Media, Vinicius Souza, Maria Eugênia Sá Jul 2009

Latin Victims Are Invisible To The International Media, Vinicius Souza, Maria Eugênia Sá

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Colombia continues to be the country with the highest number of new anti-personnel landmine victims in the world, with 10 other countries on the American continents having problems with mines as well. This situation, however, seems not to exist for the international news media. Even specialized publications seldom show a picture or publish an article about Central or South America; consequently, most people still believe that the landmine problem is confined exclusively to Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.


Sustainability In World Education’S Uxo Education And Awareness Program In Lao Pdr, Barbara Lewis, Sarah Bruinooge Jul 2009

Sustainability In World Education’S Uxo Education And Awareness Program In Lao Pdr, Barbara Lewis, Sarah Bruinooge

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

World Education’s work in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, one of the most heavily bombed countries in the world, offers an example of effective implementation of unexploded-ordnance-risk awareness at all levels. This article explores World Education’s work with the government of Lao PDR in achieving higher levels of UXO-risk awareness.


Mag Involvement With Sa/Lw, Steve Priestley Jul 2009

Mag Involvement With Sa/Lw, Steve Priestley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In less than 20 years, Mines Advisory Group, involved in the identification and destruction of small arms/light weapons, has made a real impact. Maintaining technical support at hand-in points, offering capacity-building training and conducting assessments of stockpile management are just a few of the services MAG provides.


Beyond Weapons Collection: Promoting Safe And Responsible Sa/Lw Management, Nicolas Florquin, Karina Lynge, Klaus Ljørring Pedersen Jul 2009

Beyond Weapons Collection: Promoting Safe And Responsible Sa/Lw Management, Nicolas Florquin, Karina Lynge, Klaus Ljørring Pedersen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

While the traditional focuses of many small-arms/light-weapons programs have been weapons collection and curbing proliferation, some humanitarian organizations—like Geneva Call and Danish Demining Group—advocate a model based on the promotion of safe and responsible weapons management. As illustrated by the experience of DDG with communities in Somaliland and by Geneva Call’s efforts with armed non-state actors, a participatory approach to weapons regulation and management offers promising alternatives to traditional weapons-control initiatives.


Colombia, Country Profile Jul 2009

Colombia, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Colombia, a country overwhelmed by four decades of war, has the highest concentration of contamination from landmines and other explosive remnants of war in the Americas. The conflict, which was and continues to be waged between the Colombian government and various nonstate actors, reached its peak during the early 1990s.The use of improvised explosive devices, anti-personnel landmines and other forms of explosive ordnance has rapidly increased in Colombia since then, due to heavy usage by NSAs such as the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia. In the past, the Colombian government laid landmines around 34 military bases to protect key infrastructure, …


Masg Update, Cisr Journal Jul 2009

Masg Update, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article highlights the recent activities of the Mine Action Support Group, including updates on the United Nations Mine Action Service, the United Nations Development Programme and UNICEF. It is excerpted from the United Nations' newsletter covering the period from November 2008–February 2009.


International Support To Mine Action In Colombia: Mitigating Impact And Protecting Rights, Charles Downs Jul 2009

International Support To Mine Action In Colombia: Mitigating Impact And Protecting Rights, Charles Downs

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Ending the decades-long violence in Colombia is the only way to eliminate all landmines from the country. Until that time, there is a need to mitigate their impact, minimize the number of new victims and assure better assistance to survivors.


The Gradual Process Of Nationalizing Mre In Afghanistan, Samim Hashimi, Mutahar Sha Akhgar Jul 2009

The Gradual Process Of Nationalizing Mre In Afghanistan, Samim Hashimi, Mutahar Sha Akhgar

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Afghanistan, a country torn apart by decades of conflict, is implementing a successful plan for national mine-risk education. Successes, strategies, and at-risk populations are discussed and analyzed in this article.


Falkland/Malvinas Islands, Country Profile Jul 2009

Falkland/Malvinas Islands, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In 1982, the Argentine junta government, faced with recession and declining public support, invaded the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, whose ownership had long been disputed with the United Kingdom. To the surprise of the Argentine generals, the United Kingdom counter-invaded the territory it claimed as the Falkland Islands. By the end of the three-month conflict, the Falkland/Malvinas Islands were again under British control. Ownership of the islands has long been disputed, but since 1833, excluding a brief period during the Falklands War, Britain has been in control. Despite numerous U.N. resolutions directing the United Kingdom and Argentina to seek a peaceful resolution …


First Workshop On Regional Approaches To Stockpile Reduction In Southeast Europe, Daniele Ressler, Dave Diaz, Laurie Freeman Jul 2009

First Workshop On Regional Approaches To Stockpile Reduction In Southeast Europe, Daniele Ressler, Dave Diaz, Laurie Freeman

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Faced with the significant security and humanitarian impacts of stockpiled weapons and munitions, countries and organizations in Southeast Europe met in May to discuss strategies for stockpile reduction. The workshop, held in Croatia, focused on regional approaches to this problem, emphasizing information-sharing and coordination across borders.


Performance Of Flail Hammers, Frédéric Guerne Jul 2009

Performance Of Flail Hammers, Frédéric Guerne

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article discusses the strengths and weaknesses of flail hammer use in the demining field. The author leans on his field experience with the Digger Foundation to analyze types and usage of these tools. In doing so, he aims to give advice on the best methods for using flails to achieve the best results.


Just War Theory And Explosive Remnants Of War, Eric Patterson Jul 2009

Just War Theory And Explosive Remnants Of War, Eric Patterson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For centuries, philosophers and political theorists have pondered the ethical considerations of waging war. Just War theory, expounded upon by contemporary thinkers, addresses three ethical components of war-making: the conditions for going to war, acceptable violence during combat, and the eventual resolution and remediation of conflict. These issues and their overlap with humanitarian demining and small arms/light weapons control are examined below.


Comprehensive Action Against Anti-Personnel Mines: A Regional Initiative To Address Landmine Issues, Carl Case Jul 2009

Comprehensive Action Against Anti-Personnel Mines: A Regional Initiative To Address Landmine Issues, Carl Case

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For more than 18 years, the Organization of American States has had a leading role in the struggle to deal with humanitarian-demining issues in South and Central America. Since the inception of the Acción Integral contra las Minas Antipersonal programs, the OAS has been involved in many aspects of mine action, bringing new hope to the region.