Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

Bosnia And Herzegovina: Itf Enhancing Human Security Perspective 20 Years After The Conflict, Gregor Sancanin

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

ITF Enhancing Human Security has worked in Southeast Europe’s post-conflict countries since 1998. In states affected by the break-up of Yugoslavia such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, ITF works to support the country’s fulfillment of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC).

Public, Private, And Civil Sector Partnerships Bolster Humanitarian Demining Efforts, Bob Ebberson, Wendy Hart

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Schonstedt Instrument Company is a small manufacturing company located in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, about 70 miles (112 km) from Washington, D.C. Schonstedt makes instruments that locate underground objects. These include pipe, cable, and magnetic locators that find and trace underground utilities and ferrous metals such as boundary markers used by surveyors. Magnetic locators have proven to be successful in locating unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). In looking for ways to grow this market, Schonstedt recognized an opportunity to support humanitarian demining throughout the world. Determining that the sale of a pipe and …

Improvised Explosive Devices (Ied): A Humanitarian Mine Action Perspective, Robert Keeley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Readers of this Journal need no schooling in the acceleration of the use of improvised explosive devices (IED) over the last 20 years. However, what has become obvious in the last few years is the degree to which the spheres of counter-IED (C-IED) and humanitarian mine action (HMA) now overlap. Danish Demining Group (DDG), for example, recently calculated that an estimated 67 percent of the countries where DDG is present also have an IED problem. In countries such as Afghanistan, IEDs are now the major cause of explosive-related casualties among the general population, the very constituents nongovernment organizations (NGO) and …

The Early Years Of Demining In Bosnia And Herzegovina: Transfer To National Ownership, Ian Mansfield

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

After the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords on 14 December 1995, the newly formed Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina requested that the United Nations set up and manage a mine clearance program. However, it soon became clear that the government should take responsibility and ownership of the program.

The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina took place between April 1992 and October 1995. While the causes of the war and what happened are extremely complicated, Bosnian Serbs encircled Sarajevo and imposed a blockade, while ‘ethnic cleansing’ operations were undertaken by all sides in towns and villages throughout …

Rbm And Theories Of Change, Russell Gasser

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

“Give me your money; I’m busy doing things” is not the most convincing fundraising appeal. Instead, “Look at the difference our program has made to the lives of the people that were helped” is far more likely to get a positive response. The overall purpose of mine action is to improve people’s lives and livelihoods, to reduce casualties, and increase compliance with political commitments like the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC). Although this is widely known, standard reporting excessively includes information on how many people received risk education, how many square meters of land were cleared, or how many people …

Emerging Patterns Of Erw Injuries In Laos, Stacey Pizzino, Colette Mcinerney, Jo Durham

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The year 2016 marks the beginning of a new era for international development, with the adoption of seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that will drive global development efforts until 2030. In post-conflict countries, humanitarian mine action will be an important enabler in achieving a number of SDGs, including goal 3: “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” Of particular relevance is target 3.9 of the SDGs, which specifies the need to reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from soil pollution and contamination. At present this relates primarily to indoor and outdoor air pollution. However, since …

The Role Of Research In Mine Action: A Response To Gasser, Ian Mclean, Rebecca Sargisson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Some years ago, a businessman came to me and said that he would like to start commercially farming lobsters, something that had not been attempted at the time. His key question was, “How long will the development research take?”

“I would think two to four years before a scaling-up exercise to make it commercially viable,” I answered.

Looking genuinely surprised he replied, “Really! I was thinking it should take about two weeks.”

This anecdote portrays a problem that emerges in almost every area of human enterprise. Those-who-do want and need to do right now. Those-who-create need time to design, build, …

Implementing International Obligations To Clear Mines, Stuart Maslen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Each State Party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) that knows or suspects it has areas under its jurisdiction or control that contain anti-personnel (AP) mines has a clear deadline to locate and destroy those mines. According to Article 5(1), upon becoming party to the APMBC, a State must complete clearance within ten years, unless the deadline is pushed back in an agreement from the other States Parties at an annual meeting or five-yearly review conference.

Mobile Data Collection: Interoperability Through New Architecture, Elizabeth Vinek, Sulaiman Mukahhal, Olivier Cottray

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Information management (IM) requires close collaboration between all parties in a mine action program and cannot be carried out in isolation. Effective IM involves tools as well as organizational processes that clearly define how different parties interact and function with IM. Without adequately defining processes through National Mine Action Standards (NMAS) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), even the most advanced and fit-for-purpose IM tools will lack the foundation to be effective.

Linking Mine Action And Development: Local-Level Benefits And Challenges, Russell Gasser

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In many post-conflict regions, landmines and explosive remnants of war remain, limiting recovery and development even after mine-clearance projects are completed. A number of mine-clearance organizations are starting to promote “linking mine action and development” as a better alternative to a separate and uncoordinated approach.

Ieds: A Major Threat For A Struggling Society, Pablo Esteban Parra Gallego

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The use of improvised explosive devices by guerrillas, drug cartels and paramilitary groups has threatened Colombian society for the past 30 years. This article examines the types of IEDs found in Colombia, and the extent and history of its IED problem. Also outlined are the Colombian government’s efforts to counter IEDs, and possible solutions to the challenges ahead, such as enhanced intelligence and community security.

Amending The Ottawa Convention: A Way Forward, Dennis Barlow

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With clearance deadlines for States Parties to the Ottawa Convention approaching or having passed, and available humanitarian aid being spread among an exploding number of worthy activities, should mine-action programs be held to the stringent letter of the Convention? The author posits that, with a simple solution, States Parties can fulfill the spirit of the agreement while eliminating costly, time-consuming and inefficient clearance obligations.

Landmines/Explosive Remnants Of War And The War On Terrorism In The Middle East And North Africa (Mena), Ayman Sorour

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article looks at the relationship between the existing landmine and explosive remnants of war problem in the Middle East and North Africa, and terrorist activities in the area by explaining the scope of the mine/ERW problem in the region; the huge availability of explosives for use in illegal activities, particularly terrorism; and the case of Algeria and Egypt being affected by recent terrorist acts.

Kurdish Landmine Plight Across And Along The Borders, Armin Köhli

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article discusses the intricate global and internal conflicts that plague the Kurdish region with emphasis on the profound impact these conflicts have on mine action in this area of the Middle East.

Buy A Schonstedt, Save A Life, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Schonstedt Instrument Company takes an active role in promoting social responsibility by donating one magnetic locator to the United Nations Mine Action Team for every Tracemaster II or XTpc commercial cable/utilities locator Schonstedt sells. In creating and implementing this initiative, the company helps countries lacking extensive resources increase their demining capabilities.

Unexploded Ordnance Cleanup Costs: Implications Of Alternative Protocols, Book Review

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Unexploded ordnance contamination on American soil? Yes, it’s true. After the closing of several United States’ military bases due to downsizing, it became apparent that unrecovered UXO remained on these properties where personnel were trained to use various weapons. To prevent unwanted accidents, the military must now remove the undetonated bombs, grenades, rockets and other explosives tested on these bases before transferring or selling the land to civilians.

Mine-Action Capacity Development At A Crossroads, Dennis Barlow, Daniele Ressler

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Capacity development is a central part of sustainable mine action. As a concept, capacity development has evolved over time but even now there is not an agreed-upon definition. While the mine action sector has made progress in encouraging the development of national capacity in many countries, there is still much that can be done to promote strong, capable institutions—both within the mineaction field and beyond.

Joint Analysis Of Landmine Impact And Human Development Surveys In Armenia, Aldo Benini, Charles Conley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In Armenia, the UNDP implemented a Landmine Impact Survey as well as a Human Development Survey, although separately from each other. The authors, by linking the two data bodies, demonstrate new findings about mine-affected communities in a poverty-alleviation perspective.

The Human Face Of Eod, Howard M. Thompson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Being a specialist insurance broker to explosive-ordnance-disposal organisations around the world has provided Howard Thompson with the opportunity to be on the sidelines of the humanitarian-demining community. But during a 10-day visit to Cambodia, he was able to experience first-hand the significance of humanitarian demining and clearance. He writes about this experience here.

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.

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.

How Can Economists Contribute To Mine Action?, Dan Marsh

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article reviews the contribution economists can make in the area of humanitarian mine clearance and describes the development of a software package and manual designed to help managers decide which combination of machine and manual methods should be used to clear minefields to the required safety standard at the lowest cost.

Humanitarian Demining As A Precursor To Economic Development, John Lundberg

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Using three specific examples—Mozambique, Eritrea and Iraq—the author shows clearly how demining and development go hand-in-hand. He shows how clearing mines to restore power lines, rail service and agricultural land helps communities become economically viable again.

Mine Free: Not Anytime Soon, Richard Kidd

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mine action is changing. This is not 1997 and what the international community has learned in the past eight years clearly indicates that the path forward is something different from what a literal reading of the Ottawa Convention would suggest. The Landmine Impact Survey process has demonstrated very clearly that only a small portion of the minefields—normally less than 20 percent—account for the vast majority of casualties and lost economic opportunities. The mine action community has a responsibility to profit from this new knowledge and to adjust its approach accordingly.

A Personal Story: How Land Rights Affect Families, Chhun Phal An

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Chhun Pal An’s personal story shows clearly how wars and landmines impoverish people and that much more than simply removing landmines and explosive remnants of war is needed to improve the lives of citizens.

Integrated Mine Action: A Rights-Based Approach In Cambodia, Sally Campbell

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The lives of some of the most impoverished Cambodians are beginning to improve as a result of new governmental programmes and nonprofit assistance that award land, provide training and offer other opportunities. Integrating mine action with other development programmes is building a sustainable economic community in Cambodia.

The Road To Mine Action And Development: The Life-Cycle Perspective Of Mine Action, Ted Paterson, Eric Filippino

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

There are four main steps to completing the life cycle of mine action, and demining is just a small part. Without development, citizens continue to live in poverty and under oppression. The authors outline the four-step life cycle of mine action.

Mine Action And The Millennium Development Goals, Filip Van Der Linden

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.

Environmental Applications In Demining, Ian Mclean

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The author takes a look at the environmental impact of demining and shows how demining not only affects the environment but also bears heavily on development and economics.

Mine Action: Success And Challenges, Sayed Aqa

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since the launch of the first-ever civilian mine action operations in Afghanistan in 1988, significant progress has been made to rid the world of this terrible weapon—a weapon that kills and maims so many and presents a persistent obstacle to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in many countries. Based on the successful advocacy of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and the organization's work with governments, 122 states banned the production, use and stockpiling of landmines by signing the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention in 1997. Today, just eight years later, 144 states have ratified or acceded …