Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities, Unmas

Global CWD Repository

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol (A/RES/61/106) was adopted on 13 December 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and was opened for signature on 30 March 2007 and entered into force on 3 May 2008. It is the first comprehensive human rights treaty of the 21st century and is the first human rights convention to be open for signature by regional integration organizations.

The Convention has particular significance for mine action as it details the rights of survivors of mines and ERW. While the Convention does not identify new rights, …

Closing The Circle, Eddie Banks, Rob Shahmir

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The authors present a critique of the International Mine Action Standards currently in use. After highlighting gaps in IMAS related to assessment and survey, an improved aspect of mine-action planning methodology is presented, which includes a prioritization component using a socioeconomic approach. The result is LIRA: landmine impact combined with a new measurement of risk assessment. This updated model can contribute to improved safety, quality and productivity of landmine action through more effective strategic planning tools.

The Mine Action Express… Or The Wreck Of The ‘09, Dennis Barlow

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The author discusses current challenges relating to an effective global mine action strategy; he considers approaches and policies that could enhance or impede demining efforts worldwide. There are many emerging concepts to consider in order to improve mine action, such as mainstreaming, risk management and national ownership. The author discusses potential future plans of action the community must undertake regarding these issues in order to deal effectively with landmines and explosive remnants of war.

Successful Implementation Of Protocol V, Kerry Brinkert

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Protocol V of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons recently entered into force, and the author hopes lessons learned from the operations of the Ottawa Convention can be applied to this Protocol.

Book Review: Commentaries On Arms Control Treaties, Vol. 1, The Convention On The Prohibition Of The Use, Stockpiling, Production, And Transfer Of Anti-Personnel Mines And On Their Destruction, J. Peter Pham

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Demining programs have evolved considerably since the first program for humanitarian demining, the Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan, began in 1988. Likewise, the legal bases for dealing with the problem of landmines have developed substantially from the minimalist 1980 Protocol II to the Convention on the Prohibition or Restriction on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects, which entered into force in 1983, to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (also known as the …

Master Thesis: Evaluation Of Embeddedness Of Humanitarian Mine Action Programs Funded By The Netherlands, For The Period 1996–2004, Michiel Van Bokhorst

Global CWD Repository

This research describes the evaluation of the HMA programs that are funded by the Netherlands for the period 1996–2004, specifically on their embeddedness into a broader development strategy. Embeddedness is defined as the extent in which other humanitarian objectives and programs are attached, combined or integrated with HMA programs. Embeddedness has increasingly attracted attention, because landmines and ERW are a direct threat to individuals and communities, but also indirectly by being a barrier for short-term emergency interventions and long-term development efforts. Nevertheless the Netherlands does not directly mention embeddedness of HMA in neither its HMA policy paper nor its 2003 …

7th Meeting Of The States Parties To The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (2006), Apmbc

Global CWD Repository

7th Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention held in Geneva, Switzerland from 18-22 September 2006,

Armed Non-State Actors: The Main Users Of The “Poor Man’S Weapon”, Anki Sjöberg

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This report, which builds on the 2004 Geneva Call initial analysis, provides a comprehensive mapping of the use, acquisition, production, transfer and stockpiling of landmines by armed non-state actors through a presentation of individual group profiles and a global analysis. The report records global occurrences of antipersonnel and anti-vehicle mine planting by NSAs during 2003–2005, whether activated by victims, vehicles or at a distance using command detonation.

A Rose By Any Other Name: The Interrelationship Of Landmines And Other Explosive Remnants Of War, Richmond H. Dugger Iii

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The author explores the vast diversification in landmine etymology, condemning efforts that sought to provide more information but only complicated an already difficult process. Dugger continues with a historical perspective on the progression of language and processes used to address problems posed by landmines and other explosive remnants of war.

An Alternative Perspective On Landmines And Vulnerable Populations, Shelby Weitzel

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

By offering a different view on the International Campaign to Ban Landmines’ dominant message concerning mine action, this article presents an argument for possible alternatives. The author brings up such points as a lack of discussion and an acceptance of facts without proper checking of research. In addition, suggestions of constructive use of landmines in the defense of vulnerable populations are made to refute the idea of a necessary worldwide ban.

A Primer On Explosive Remnants Of War, Daniele Ressler

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This primer reviews the legal and functional understandings regarding explosive remnants of war, particularly after the adoption of Protocol V in the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. It examines the tensions between the legal definition of ERW and the reality on the ground, and recommends clarifying the terms that bind post-conflict clearance efforts to ensure the greatest effectiveness of those campaigns

Understanding The Ottawa Convention’S Obligations To Landmine Victims, Kerry Brinkert

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Ottawa Convention is unique for a number of reasons, not the least of which being that the Convention has linked obligations concerning the use of a weapon with a requirement that Convention signatories assist a victim wounded by that weapon. When the Convention was adopted in September 1997, this aspect, while lauded by diplomats and activists, was certain to be a challenge to implement. The real work began once the Convention entered into force and states had to act on this responsibility. This article discusses in particular the Convention’s victim assistance obligations.

Mid-Term Review Of The Undp Integrated Mine Action Programme (Imap), Gichd

Global CWD Repository

The break-up of Yugoslavia led to the 1992-1995 Bosnian war, which resulted in more than 200,000 deaths, massive displacement, and widespread landmine contamination. There was no clear victor in the conflict, and the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) established a loose confederal structure, with a weak central government (the State), two Entities (the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska or RS) and, within the Federation, ten cantons (each with its own constitution). Because of the danger of renewed conflict, NATO fielded an Implementation Force (IFOR) to enforce the military provisions of the GFAP, while the broader international community …

To Walk The Earth In Safety 6th Edition (Fy2004 And 2005), Us Dos Pm/Wra

Global CWD Repository

This sixth edition of To Walk the Earth in Safety summarizes the accomplishments of the inter-agency U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program for fiscal years 2004 and 2005. In a strict sense, it is a combined annual report for two years on what was then and still is the world’s largest such program. But it is also a chapter in a real-life story that has a beginning, middle, and, we now know because of more than fifteen years of practical experience, an end.

Public safety and regional stability can be endangered by illegally traffi cked small arms and light weapons, abandoned …

Mine Action In Afghanistan: The Way Ahead, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This paper presents the strategy for the Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan (MAPA), as the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is committed to the vision of a country free from landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), where people and communities live in a safe environment conducive to national development, and where landmine and ERW survivors are fully integrated in the society and thus have their rights and needs recognized and fulfilled. The Way Ahead paper provides a vision and establishes end goals for the Afghan mineaction programme that are consistent with Afghanistan’s Ottawa Treaty obligations. Moreover, the strategy paper was …

Building Local Mine Action Capacity In Guinea-Bissau, Tracy Brown

Global CWD Repository

Specifically, the project sought to strengthen local capacity for Mine Action in accordance with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) through budget support, technical assistance and accompaniment to HUMAID. The project was to benefit HUMAID's 77 staff members (deminers, other field staff, administrative and management personnel), and indirectly, the population of Bissau whose livelihoods would improve as a result of the reduced threat from landmines and UXO. In the end, direct beneficiaries also included deminers of LUTCAM, the one other mine clearance NGO in Guinea Bissau whose deminers participated in HI-facilitated technical training, and the staff of the national Mine Action …

Developing Mine Action Legislation - A Guide, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This document is intended to assist governments, mine action professionals and others to develop national legislation to coordinate and regulate “mine action“ in a country affected by landmines and/or unexploded ordnance (UXO). It identifies the principal elements to be included in such a law and the issues which should be considered in its preparation. The information in this document is based upon the conclusions and recommendations of A Study of National Mine Action Legislation

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.

Process Support Provided By The Implementation Support Unit Of The Gichd To States Parties To The Ap Mine Ban Convention That Have Reported The Responsibility For Significant Numbers Of Landmine Survivors, Apmbc

Global CWD Repository

At the First Review Conference of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, it was noted that while not forgetting the responsibilities to landmine victims wherever they may be, a greater emphasis must be placed on improving the quality of life of landmine survivors in the 24 State Parties which have indicated that they hold the responsibility for significant numbers of survivors. Subsequently, the 2004-2005 Co-Chairs of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration sought to maximize the Nairobi Action Plan as a basis for action …

Evaluation Of The Sliri/Landmine Action Socio-Economic Impact And Dangerous Area Surveys And Of Sliri's Organizational Sustainability In The Nuba Mountains, Jim Freedman Consulting

Global CWD Repository

From its inspired beginnings in 2001, the Sudan Landmines Information and Response Initiative (SLIRI) has had the potential to become an influential mine action organization with the capacity to use the mine action platform for engaging Sudan's adversaries in a peacebuilding dialogue. It is the only non-partisan indigenous organization in thecountry. Its first location – or Sector Operations Centre (SOC) as the site offices have been called - and the most innovative has been in the Nuba Mountains, where shortly after the cease-fire in January 2002 SLIRI first introduced two offices working in tandem on either side of the conflict …

Multi-Year Plan (2006-2011) - Sudan, Sudan Mine Action Sector

Global CWD Repository

The purpose of the Multi-Year Plan is to demonstrate the commitments of each partner in the Mine Action Sector in Sudan to implement mine action activities in accordance with the National Strategic Framework and towards meeting national and international obligations, most importantly the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty (the Ottawa Convention). Under Article 5 of the Ottawa Convention, each country must clear all known or suspect minefields within ten years after the Convention came into force in that country: Sudan's deadline for clearance is 2014.

This document presents the sector plan for the Phase 1 starting in January 2009, ending in …