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Effects Of Mixed Teams On Land Release, Arianna Calza Bini, Nyske Janssen, Abigail Jones

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Gender and Mine Action Programme (GMAP) investigated the impact of mixed gender teams on land release. Based on the opinion of the respondents, as well as gender baseline assessments conducted by GMAP, the organization found that in most cases mixed teams in the land release process are primarily associated with the employment of women and its effect on the teams. Some mine action managers indicated that mixed teams actually enable better access to information while only a few respondents indicated that more accurate and inclusive information will allow mine action organizations to prioritize tasks where the impact is highest. …

Managing Residual Clearance: Learning From Europe’S Past, Samuel Paunila

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Lessons learned from residual clearance in post-1945 Europe may apply to long-term clearance efforts after more recent conflicts.

Lessons From Lebanon: Rubble Removal And Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Erik Lauritzen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The insight and knowledge gained from rubble removal and explosive ordnance disposal in the Nahr el-Bared Camp, which was destroyed during heavy fighting in Lebanon in 2007, could greatly benefit future reconstruction efforts in war-damaged urban areas.

Applying Ngo Resource-Mobilization Strategies To The Mine Action Community, Dane Sosniecki, Suzanne Fiederlein

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Due to funding concerns, the mine action sector is shifting its approach to resource mobilization and allocation. Emerging funding trends suggest that it would be advantageous for mine action centers and nongovernmental organizations to increase sustainability by seeking financial and technical support from a variety of sources.

Get More Value For Money: The Benefits Of Multiyear Funding, Fabienne Moust, James De La Vingne

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In the experience of the government of the Netherlands, multiyear funding plans increase the efficiency and effectiveness of humanitarian mine action programs for donors, operators and national authorities.

Quality Management Systems In Mine Action Programs, Pascal Simon, Stefan De Coninck

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The United Nations Mine Action Service in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is in the process of implementing a new quality management system (QMS) for mine action in DRC. The QMS was implemented in July 2013 and its progress continues to be carefully monitored each quarter.

Understanding The Use Of Prodders In Mine Detection, Andy Smith

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Can prodding reliably detect mines? Though it may seem obvious to many in humanitarian mine action (HMA) that prodding alone cannot safely and reliably detect mines, recent accidents show that some expatriate newcomers to HMA do not know the risks involved in prodding or that prodding to a depth of 30 cm (12 in) is impossible.

Daniela Jiménez Alcázar, Megan Hinton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Before working in humanitarian demining, Daniela Jiménez Alcázar was involved in demarcation and boundary maintenance between Ecuador and its neighbors, Peru and Colombia.

Anama’S Ahmad Manafov, Dane Sosniecki

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Ahmad Manafov repeatedly uses the word proud to describe his time with the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA).

A Discrimination Method For Landmines And Metal Fragments Using Metal Detectors, Alex M. Kaneko, Edwardo Fukushima, Gen Endo

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

While discrimination methods for distinguishing between real mines and metal fragments would greatly increase the efficiency of demining operations, no practical solution has been implemented yet. A potentially efficient method for the discrimination of metallic targets using metal detectors uses a high-precision robotic manipulator to scan the minefield. Further field research is needed, however, before this method can deploy for operational use.

The U.K. Completes Destruction Of Stockpiled Cluster Munitions, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On 19 December 2013, the U.K. announced that it destroyed its last cluster munition, a Multiple Launch Rocket System M26 basic tactical rocket, at a weapons demilitarization facility in Casalborino, Italy. In doing so, it became the 17th States Party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) to complete its Article 3 obligations on stockpile destruction.

Meeting Pm/Wra’S New Director Col. (Ret.) Stanley L. Brown, Alexandra Berkowitz

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Continuing the funding for conventional weapons destruction programs remains a primary objective for Stan Brown, the new director of the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA). This interview introduces the director, provides a snapshot of his past experience and shares his hopes for the future of humanitarian demining.

The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 18.1 (2014), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Focus on land release issues

Feature: Best Practices of Residual Clearance

Special Report: Declining Donor Funding and Strategies to Attract New Donors

Scalable Technical Survey For Improved Land-Release Rates, Håvard Bach

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) tailors technical survey (TS) to allow for more efficient use of mine action assets and improved land-release rates. Many organizations consider TS an isolated activity and fail to streamline and effectively implement TS as a tool to reduce unnecessary, time-consuming and costly deployment of mine action resources.

Environmentally Responsible Saa Disposal, Ian Biddle

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The need to dispose of small arms ammunition (SAA) for short-term stability and security concerns has traditionally outweighed the long-term need for environmentally responsible disposal. The author suggests the international community should change its procedures concerning SAA disposal and promote more environmentally friendly disposal methods.

Conventional Munitions Disposal Capacity Development In South Sudan, Fran O'Grady

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The United Nations Mine Action Service is training members of South Sudan’s National Police Service in order to develop a self-sustainable nationwide capacity for conventional munitions disposal in the country.

Survivors’ Assistance In Conflict: Challenges From Eastern Drc, Douglas Felix Kilama

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Because of the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), providing aid and rehabilitation assistance to survivors of mine-related injuries is difficult. Beyond essential rehabilitation services, the United Nations Mine Action Service's victim assistance efforts in DRC aim to provide economic skills to promote self-reliance and enable survivors to provide for their families.

Typhoon Haiyan Leaves Ordnance Contamination In Its Wake, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On 8 November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, a category 5 super typhoon, landed in the Philippines causing widespread destruction.

Issue 18.1 Endnotes, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Issue 18.1 Endnotes

U.S. And Vietnam Sign Memorandum Of Understanding, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On 16 December 2013, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to locate and clear remaining Vietnam War-era unexploded ordnance (UXO) contamination in Vietnam.

Amendments To The Imas Land Release Series, Helen Gray

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) review board formally endorsed amendments to the Land Release IMAS in April 2013 that clarify and standardize the language and practices in the series.

Outcome Monitoring In Humanitarian Mine Action, Mikkel Nedergaard

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Humanitarian mine action programs are attempting to develop better ways to monitor and document the socioeconomic results of their programs. Lessons learned from the journal and use of Danish Demining Group’s Impact Monitoring System provide examples of how to build or improve current outcome- and impact-monitoring systems.

Machine-Integrated Magnetic Collector Design And Testing, Erik De Brun, Stephan Ahnert

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining led a test program to evaluate a machine-integrated magnetic collection system. Promising results suggest it could speed up manual follow-up activities and provide valuable data during technical survey operations.

Mercer University Professor Provides Prostheses In Vietnam, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

According to the U.S. Department of State, innumerous explosive remanants of war and landmines remain hidden in nearly every region of Vietnam.