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Full-Text Articles in Defense and Security Studies

An Overview Of Mozambique’S Mine-Free District Process, Antonio Belchior Vaz Martíns, Hans Risser Apr 2016

An Overview Of Mozambique’S Mine-Free District Process, Antonio Belchior Vaz Martíns, Hans Risser

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In the 1990s, Mozambique ranked among countries such as Afghanistan, Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, and Iraq as one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world. At the time, experts estimated that clearing all landmines in Mozambique would take 50 to 100 years. Landmines were widely used by all sides during the conflicts that ravaged Mozambique from the mid-1960s until 1992. These nuisance minefields usually consisted of small numbers of mines in seemingly random or undefined areas mostly around paths, wells and rural infrastructure. Large-pattern minefields tended to be the exception rather than the norm in Mozambique. Given the …


Endnotes Issue 20.1, Cisr Journal Apr 2016

Endnotes Issue 20.1, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction 20.1 Endnotes


From The Director, Cisr Journal Apr 2016

From The Director, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Welcome to our 20th edition of The Journal! This is an exciting year for us as we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery (CISR) as well as The Journal. Since our founding in 1996, CISR’s mission, programs and publications have continuously evolved with the ever-changing face of mine action, reflecting the training, informational and program needs of the field. As mine action is absorbed into the broader scope of conventional weapons destruction, CISR and The Journal are prepared to be the information leader for this community of practice. With great anticipation we begin this …


Explosive Hazards In The Aftermath Of Natural Disasters: Lessons Learned, Nicole Neitzey, Paula S. Daly Apr 2016

Explosive Hazards In The Aftermath Of Natural Disasters: Lessons Learned, Nicole Neitzey, Paula S. Daly

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Natural disasters have posed problems for demining operations in the past; the heavy flooding in Bosnia and Herzegovina was one recent example of many. Over the past 20 years, natural disasters have impacted countries affected by landmines or other explosive remnants of war (ERW), causing renewed danger. Despite reoccurring in recent years, these events continue catching the international CWD community by surprise, while experience and lessons learned from previous disasters in one country must be relearned in other regions.


The Mine-Action Process In Iraqi Kurdistan, Jamal Jalal Hussein Jul 2007

The Mine-Action Process In Iraqi Kurdistan, Jamal Jalal Hussein

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency has been working to clear Kurdistan of landmines and unexploded ordnance that were placed by the former Iraqi government over the past 40 years and the Iranian Army during the Iran-Iraq War from 1980–1988. The Agency is overcoming many challenges and has cleared a vast number of minefields so the land can be handed back to the owners. Casualties from explosive remnants of war are extremely high but a new mine-risk-education program will inform people who live in dangerous areas how to minimize the threat of explosive remnants of war.


Serbia And Montenegro, Country Profile Jul 2007

Serbia And Montenegro, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro has faced many political and social difficulties since the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. On 18 September 2003, the then-unified country of Serbia and Montenegro acceded to the Ottawa Convention, becoming a State Party on 1 March 2004. In June 2006, Montenegro declared independence from Serbia. Montenegro subsequently acceded to the Convention as a separate country; Serbia remained bound by the original agreement. Both Serbia and Montenegro are party to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, having assumed the obligation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Though a ratification bill was …


Unsung Hero: Vanja Jokic Raznjevic, Cisr Journal Jul 2007

Unsung Hero: Vanja Jokic Raznjevic, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

As a single mother, Vanja Raznjevic felt that she had no other choice than to apply for a demining position with Norwegian People’s Aid. “I needed a job,” says Raznjevic, “and this job seemed really normal for me because I spent time [in Croatia] during the war and became accustomed to danger.”


Humanitarian Landmine Action In China And The Role Of The Ngo, Zhai Dequan Nov 2006

Humanitarian Landmine Action In China And The Role Of The Ngo, Zhai Dequan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Though China is not a State Party to the Ottawa Convention, the country has long been involved in humanitarian efforts to alleviate the landmine problem. Nationally, China has launched mine clearance campaigns, and has become a State Party to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. Two organizations have also been established to alleviate the landmine problem. Internationally, China has sponsored several mine-clearance workshops, and has promoted international partnerships to work toward mine clearance.


Book Review: Angola—The Hope Of A People, Cisr Journal Nov 2006

Book Review: Angola—The Hope Of A People, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Brazilian photographers Vinicius Souza and Maria Eugênia Sá provide a glimpse of hope through their camera lenses in Angola—The Hope of a People. After many years of tumultuous civil war, these 48 powerful black-and-white and color images capture both the “new face of Angola” and the hope of the people to create a new identity.


News Briefs, News Brief Nov 2006

News Briefs, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

News Briefs


Issue 10.2 Endnotes, Cisr Journal Nov 2006

Issue 10.2 Endnotes, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Issue 10.2 Endnotes


Angola, Country Profile Aug 2006

Angola, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.


Egypt, Country Profile Aug 2006

Egypt, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Egypt is one of the most heavily mined nations in the world, with estimates ranging from 16.7 to 22 million landmines/pieces of unexploded ordnance, or an estimated one-tenth of the world’s 200 million landmines. Seventeen million landmines and pieces of UXO are estimated to be located in the Western Desert, a result of intense fighting during World War II between Allied and Axis forces at the El- Alamein perimeter. Approximately five million additional landmines were spread across the Sinai Peninsula and Red Sea coasts, largely from the Arabian-Israeli conflicts of 1956, 1957 and 1973. The Egyptian military estimates 19.7 million …


Tied Campaigns: Cluster Munitions, Explosive Remnants Of War And Anti-Personnel Landmines, Robin Collins Aug 2006

Tied Campaigns: Cluster Munitions, Explosive Remnants Of War And Anti-Personnel Landmines, Robin Collins

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The cluster munitions campaign, following the precedent of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, is beginning to make an impact on state views of banning or restricting cluster munitions. This article examines the history behind the fight to ban or restrict cluster munitions and its ties to the ICBL. The author also discusses the most recent developments in the process to ban or restrict cluster bombs.


Jordan, Country Profile Feb 2006

Jordan, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.


Letter From The Editor, Lois Carter Fay Feb 2006

Letter From The Editor, Lois Carter Fay

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.


Book Reviews, Cisr Journal Feb 2006

Book Reviews, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Book Review: Vanna’s Dance, Maria Almudevar-van Santen


Claiming The Future, Bounpheng Sisavath Feb 2006

Claiming The Future, Bounpheng Sisavath

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme (UXO Lao) has established a regional office and field offices in nine heavily impacted provinces in Laos. In 2003, the government announced a national strategic plan to deal with the UXO problem, introducing major reforms in the sector and defining clear objectives for clearance operations. UXO Lao productivity has greatly increased since then and is on track to more than double its annual output by the end of 2008.


Mine Action And Development, Earl Turcotte Feb 2006

Mine Action And Development, Earl Turcotte

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The author explains why he thinks the international mine action and broader development communities are moving in the right direction by mainstreaming mine action into development programs where the degree of landmine contamination warrants.


Unsung Hero: Chris North, Cisr Journal Feb 2006

Unsung Hero: Chris North, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In many of his colleagues’ eyes, Chris North is someone who is determined to fight for mine action and make changes, whether those changes are through managing projects or expressive poetry. His unwavering dedication to mine action makes North a hero in his field.


Suriname Demining Mission, Juan Carlos Ruan Feb 2006

Suriname Demining Mission, Juan Carlos Ruan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

After achieving independence in 1975, the Republic of Suriname experienced periods of intense political and economic instability. In 1986, a guerrilla war broke out in the eastern region of the country. For the next six years, the armed forces of Suriname were involved in a conflict with five insurgency groups, during which time an estimated 1,000 anti-personnel mines were employed. Following the signing of a peace treaty in 1992, the Organization of American States participated in demining operations supported by the governments of Holland, Guyana and Brazil. All mines were destroyed, with the excep-tion of one minefield sown by the …


Afghanistan, Country Profile Feb 2006

Afghanistan, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.


Burma (Myanmar), Country Profile Feb 2006

Burma (Myanmar), Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.


Cambodia, Country Profile Feb 2006

Cambodia, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.


Vietnam, Country Profile Feb 2006

Vietnam, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.


Laos, Country Profile Feb 2006

Laos, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.


Demining In Iran, Eddie Banks Feb 2006

Demining In Iran, Eddie Banks

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The United Nations classification of mine-affected countries names the Islamic Republic of Iran as one of the world’s most affected countries. Historically Iran has been called the “cradle of civilization,” and it contains a number of important historical sites, including the ancient city of Persepolis (or Takht-e-Jamshid), which was destroyed by Alexander the Great in 322 B.C.


Iran, Country Profile Feb 2006

Iran, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.


An Operator’S Perspective On Ottawa’S Article 5, Per Nergaard Feb 2006

An Operator’S Perspective On Ottawa’S Article 5, Per Nergaard

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Cost-effectiveness in the traditional sense of the word has many aspects and can be displayed in many ways. Several practical examples have been presented at various occasions involving issues like coordination, toolboxes, complementarities of methods, technologies, etc. I will attempt not to prod any further into that here.


Assisting Landmine Accident Survivors In The Thai-Burmese Border Region, Imbert Matthee Feb 2006

Assisting Landmine Accident Survivors In The Thai-Burmese Border Region, Imbert Matthee

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.