Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Profile: The Canadian Landmine Foundation, Nicole Kreger

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Through projects ranging from advocacy to fundraising to clearance, the Canadian Landmine Foundation (CLF) has made many significant contributions to worldwide mine action efforts. This article highlights some of their recent work, focusing on their achievements in the Balkans.

True Stories From Mine Victims In Northern Albania, Aurora Bushati

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Mine and Weapon Victims Association (MVA) has worked to keep the population of 39 border villages in northern Albania informed about mine threats. MVA has also helped victims rehabilitate and reintegrate into society. Izet Ademi and Lumturi Muhadri are among those working successfully with the MVA.

Mine Awareness In Iraq, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Following the U.S.-led war in Iraq, several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are saving lives by doing what they can to raise awareness about the country’s serious landmine/UXO problem.

Ccmat Update, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article includes excerpts from the Canadian Center for Mine Action (CCMAT) Newsletter intended as a means of keeping the public up to date on CCMAT programs.

Bosnia And Herzegovina Mine Problem: Priority Setting, Darvin Lisica

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With so many tasks to complete and limited resources with which to complete them, the importance of priority setting to mine action cannot be overstated. The author describes how priority setting relates to mine action in Bosnia and Herzegovina and suggests how to go about setting such priorities.

Demining In Bihac With 5 Korpusa Of The Bosnian Army, Peter Hindy

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Despite the end to years of brutal fighting in Bosnia, landmines left behind from the war still threaten the safety of local populations. The following article gives a firsthand account of a former Canadian soldier’s demining experience in Bosnia alongside the Bosnian army.

Uidma In Bosnia And Herzegovina, With Possibilities For Wider Use, Almir Budalica

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre (BHMAC) recognized the need for and developed a new model of the Unique Identifier of Mine Action (UIDMA). The author outlines the new model and its benefits in identifying aspects of mine action.

Demining Law In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Marija Alilovic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In February 2002, a unique state-level Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Center (BHMAC) structure was created. The adopted law created a legal framework for demining operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following is an overview of the BHMAC structure and operations.

Mine Problem In The Region Of Southeastern Europe: The Itf And Seemacc, Damir Gorseta, Eva Veeble, Sabina Beber

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

SE Europe is one of the most mine-affected regions in the world. This article examines the extent of the mine and UXO problem in each of the mine-affected countries in SE Europe, as well as discusses the steps being taken by various organizations in order to solve the mine-related problems in the region.

Mine Victim Assistance As A Part Of Strengthening The Health Sector In Azerbaijan, Rauf Mamedov, Aziz Aliyev

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In July 1998, following consultation with its UN partners, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), acting in its capacity as a focal point for all mine-related activities within the UN system, offered to field a multidisciplinary inter-agency mission to assess the requirement for further UN assistance in Azerbaijan. The mission found a serious dearth of recorded data concerning mine/UXO casualties. Even agencies dealing directly with mine victims, such as hospitals and prosthetic centers, have no mechanisms to disaggregate data on mine/UXO victims from other war-related injuries.

Mine Action In Bosnia’S Special District: A Case Study, Matthew Bolton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Brčko Municipality, located in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), was a fierce battleground during the war from 1992 to 1995. Because of the Brčko district’s unique, strategic and symbolic significance to all sides of the conflict, it was the only issue left unresolved by the Dayton Peace Accords that ended the war in December 1995, which had divided the country into two decentralized semi-autonomous “entities”: the Republika Srpska (populated mostly by Serbs) and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (populated mostly by Bosniaks and Croats).

Kosovo After The Unmacc And Beyond, Steven E. Saunders

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Over the past few years, the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Centre (UNMACC) has transferred mine action responsibilities to national organizations within Kosovo. The following article discusses how a number of different agencies within Kosovo are working together in various capacities to address mine action issues.

Mine Action Clearance Operations Set To Begin In Tajikistan, Kevin Dansereau, Ian Clarke

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in conjunction with the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) signed an agreement in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, at the end of May that will begin the first internationally-supported mine action program in Tajikistan. The following article provides a brief discussion of the landmine situation in Tajikistan and the goals of the new mine action project.

Hierarchic Approach To Mine Action In Croatia, Nenad Mladineo, Snjezana Knezic, Damir Gorseta

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Republic of Croatia is one of the 10 most mine-contaminated countries in the world. There are almost 750,000 mines on 1,630 sq km of mine-suspected areas. About 170 sq km are actual minefields, while the rest of the area is contaminated with individual explosive ordnance. Mine-affected areas that have not been used for years, pose a huge economic problem and obstruct infrastructure development, reconstruction, and return of displaced persons to their normal lives. They also pose a significant safety problem. In particular, any activities carried out in mine-contaminated areas significantly threaten human lives and material assets. It is estimated …

Azerbaijan Mine Action Program: The Information Leverage, Aziz Aliyev

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The effective and steady working partnership between the Information Department of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) has enabled the development of the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA). The following article outlines the relationship between ANAMA and GICHD and their joint success.

Nato-Sponsored Project Reduces Massive Mine Stockpile Across Eastern Ukraine, Kevin Dansereau

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Ukraine recently destroyed 400,000 landmines in its effort to reduce the millions of landmines stockpiled within its boundaries. The following article discusses the destruction project, which began in 2002 and was sponsored by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as part of the Partnership for Peace Program (PfP) and involved Ukrainians destroying and recycling mines into children’s toys.

A War Far From Over: Iraq’S Landmine Struggle, Nicole Kreger

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With the end of major hostilities, there comes an urgent need for UXO/ mine clearance teams to start tackling their arduous task. A number of countries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have begun to take on this responsibility, hoping to eliminate fear and restore a sense of security to the newly freed Iraqi people.

Summary Of Mag Achievements In Iraq, March–May 2003, Sean Sutton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article highlights the demining efforts and accomplishments of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Iraq during recent months.

Oil-For-Food Programme In Iraq, Ian Steele

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Oil-for-Food Programme was established in April 1995 as a temporary measure to ease the unintended consequences of UN sanctions on Iraq’s civilian population. The first Iraqi oil sold under the programme to pay for humanitarian supplies was exported in December 1996, and the first shipments of food arrived in March 1997. The Oil-for-Food Programme now covers 24 sectors of need. It has prevented the further degradation of public services and infrastructure and has made a significant difference in the humanitarian situation nationwide.

Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) provides operational assistance to mine action programmes and operators, conducts research, and provides support to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (MBC).

Eudem2: Overview And Some Early Findings, Karin De Bruyn, Mike Barais, Claudio Bruschini, Jerzy Wtorek

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

After the overwhelmingly positive feedback and encouragement in response to the EUDEM1 project, work on EUDEM2 has begun. This article describes the second version of the EUDEM study and some of its initial results.

They Started With A Temple: Jahds In Thailand, Paddy Blagden

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Japanese Alliance for Humanitarian Demining Support (JAHDS), better known for its research and development of Ground Penetrating Radar (Mine Eye), recently became involved in mine clearance. In the process of testing mine clearance equipment, JAHDS cleared an area around an ancient Khmer temple.

Logistics-Explosives-Safety, Rolf Oechslin, Jørgen Schneider

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Cost, safety, and compliance with international regulations are among the most important factors with respect to shipping explosives. The following article gives detailed insight into the transport and storage of explosives necessary for destroying mines and UXO.

Mine Free Planet: A Sri Lankan Vision, Michael Pickering

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

One organisation is determined to make a difference in the lives of thousands living in mine-affected areas of Sri Lanka. Conservative estimates reveal the humanitarian demining work to be carried out in Sri Lanka will take between 10 and 15 years. Although an official figure is yet to be confirmed, a recent report suggests an estimated 900,000 mines have been laid in Jaffna and Killinochchi districts alone. This does not include UXO and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The Progress Of Mozambique’S Accelerated Demining Programme, Florencio Chongo

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In order to help make Mozambique a safer place, the Accelerated Demining Program (ADP) has expanded its capabilities with the addition of more mine detection dogs (MDDs) and a new mechanical clearance device.

U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Programs In The Balkans And Caucasus, Whitney Tolliver

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since the establishment of the Republic of Slovenia’s International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF) in 1998, the United States has provided more than $52 million (U.S.) in humanitarian demining assistance to the countries in southeast Europe. This includes the recent expansion of funding assistance to countries in the Caucasus region. Together, the United States, the ITF, the mine-affected countries in the region and an impressive number of donors have demonstrated the success of regional cooperation.

Ddg Initiates Mre In Ingushetia And Chechnya, Michaëla Bock Pedersen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Danish Demining Group (DDG) aims to educate internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mine Risk Education (MRE) through public institutions, food distribution points, traffic junctions, services at mosques and school programs.

Taming The Minefields, Davor Druzijanic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Demining is a dangerous, labor-intensive and costly process. An underlying precept of successful demining operation is a perfect safety record. The question is, how can a perfect safety record be achieved while the overall cost of the demining operation be reduced at the same time? It is not an easy or simple task, but with a good tool box and a skilled management team this can be accomplished.

The Humpty Dumpty Institute Forges Innovative Public-Private Partnerships For Landmine Clearance In The Caucasus, Daniela Kempf, William Rouhana

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) is a New York-based, non-profit organization dedicated to establishing effective and innovative public-private partnerships to ameliorate the global landmine crisis. The Institute has ongoing partnerships with a variety of public and private organizations. Together, these partnerships have raised over $1.5 million (U.S.) for landmine detection and clearance operations in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Mozambique, Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Eritrea. To date, HDI’s programs have focused on clearance and subsequent economic re-development in partnership with the U.S. State Department (DOS), the International Trust Fund (ITF), the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI), the New …

From Puppets To Empowerment: The Bosnia And Herzegovina Genesis Project, Dijana Pejic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Genesis Project is a local, non-governmental, non-profit, humanitarian organization established in June 1996 in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The main project objectives are the following:

• Interactive education of children through live puppet show performances representing diverse educational topics (mine risk education (MRE), children’s rights, prevention of all sorts of addictions, etc.).

• Education of children and youth about healthy lifestyles.

• Community strengthening with the purpose of informing the public on freedom of speech, democracy and fundamental human rights.

• Assistance to war-traumatized children and their families.

• Development and support through various coexistence initiatives throughout BiH.

• Building of …

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