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The Journal Of Conventional Weapons Destruction Issue 20.2 (2016), Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mobile Technologies in CWD

South and Central Asia

Field Notes

Research and Development

Integrated Cooperation On Explosive Hazards Program In Central Asia, Luka Buhin

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office in Tajikistan (OiT) facilitates regional cooperation and coordination in the field of mine action in Central Asia, predominantly focusing on but not limited to inter-military cooperation. This approach falls under the OSCE concept of comprehensive and cooperative security. One of the best examples of this cooperation is the OSCE extra-budgetary project, the Integrated Cooperation on Explosive Hazards Programme (ICExH), which has been running since mid-2013. The project received financial support from the governments of Austria and the Netherlands in the past, while the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in …

Mobile Technologies: Uxo Lao's Easy Sketch Map, Hayashi Ontoku Akihito

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Established in 1996, the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme (UXO Lao) promotes risk education and clears land for agriculture, community purposes (e.g., schools, hospitals, temples and water supplies) and other development activities. UXO Lao is working in the nine most impacted Lao provinces nationwide. Although recent changes occurred to UXO Lao’s survey procedure, the program continues mapping out contaminated areas throughout the country.

Building Tajikistan’S National Capacity, Bahriniso Shamsieva

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is an international organization of 57 member States. Currently conducting 16 field missions, OSCE develops confidence building measures in the field of security while providing conflict- prevention capabilities and a capacity-building process for participating nations. These mine action activities are supported by the OSCE Permanent Council and implemented by field missions via partnerships with the host countries.

Adaptive Technology Catalog, Cisr

Global CWD Repository

By design, the purpose of this Adaptive Technology Catalog is to provide a resource for governments, survivor-assistance and other agencies to help victims of landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) and other disabled workers get back to self-sufficiency and paid work.

Designing, developing and identifying simple and inexpensive tools and programs that assist with survivor work reintegration is a challenge with broad implications for the economic recovery of communities and nations as they emerge from conflict. The Adaptive Technology Catalog was created to offer information pertaining to both products that are readily available for use and those that …

Global Education And Training Initiatives Directory (Geti), Cisr

Global CWD Repository

The Global Education and Training Initiatives Directory has been created through the generous funding of the U.S. Department of State, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA).

The Global Education and Training Initiatives Directory represents a first effort to document the collective training and education opportunities that span a range of technical activities within mine action, explosive ordnance disposal and small arms/light weapons control and destruction. Efforts to counter the threats of landmines, unexploded ordnance and small arms/light weapons have traditionally been treated as separate entities; however, this directory is an effort to bring them together.

Training and education opportunities …

How Students And Educators Can Get Involved In Mine Action, Cisr

Global CWD Repository

Students have a number of available options for getting involved in helping the global mine action community. Below are some examples of programs in which students can participate!

Landmine Casualty Data: Best Practices Guidebook, Cisr

Global CWD Repository

This Landmine Casualty Data: Best Practices Guidebook reports on advances being made in casualty data collection and management and offers lessons learned that countries can reflect upon as they undertake the challenging task of building mine/ ERW victim information systems that meet their needs for data to use in planning and implementing their comprehensive mine action programs, including mine clearance, mine risk education and victim assistance. While the Guidebook is premised on the advances being made in some countries, much more progress is needed before effective landmine/ERW victim information systems will be operating in all mine-affected countries. It is important …

Maic Survivor Assistance Projects, Lois Carter Fay, Suzanne Fiederlein

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

New projects under way at the Mine Action Information Center are described here, including a best-practices guidebook on casualty data, survivor-assistance training and a catalog of adaptive technologies.

International Symposium Draws 170 Participants, Lois Carter Fay

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Numerous key figures in mine action recently gathered in Croatia to attend the international symposium, “Humanitarian Demining 2007–Mechanical Demining.” The symposium featured several presentations on demining, including a live field demonstration, discussed in detail here.

Decade Of Service: The Maic Is 10!, Dennis Barlow

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The James Madison University Mine Action Information Center is celebrating 10 years of service to the mine action community. Director Dennis Barlow looks back on 10 years of accomplishments.

Letter From The Editor, Lois Carter Fay

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.

Report Of The Focus Group Workshop On Victim And Casualty Data Collection And Support Requirements For Imsma Version 4, Cisr

Global CWD Repository

The Mine Action Information Center (MAIC) at James Madison University (JMU) hosted a focus group workshop on 15-16 August 2005 in support of the development of version 4 of the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA). Mr. Alan Arnold, the IMSMA program manager, tasked the MAIC to organize and host the workshop in order to bring together subject matter experts in the fields of Mine Risk Education (MRE) and Mine Victim Assistance (MVA). The objective was to elicit, categorize and record comment on and suggestions for the proposed design of Victim and Casualty Data Collection and Analysis modules for …

International Mine Action Standards: Some Frequently Asked Questions And Answers, Phil Bean

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) were requested by the mine action community and are produced and sponsored by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), with support from a variety of organisations, including the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD). The initial design and development of the standards involved extensive participation from representative elements of the mine action sector during the period of 1998–2000. Since that time, the sector has continued to expand with the addition of new programmes and new people joining the sector. IMAS continue to evolve and now benefit from the experience of practical application into …

Maic: Iraq Ordnance Identification Guide, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Iraq Ordnance Identification Guide on the James Madison University Mine Action Information Center (JMU MAIC) website provides information gathered from UXO research about how to "...facilitate international unexploded ordnance (UXO) awareness and identification." The Iraq Ordnance Identification Guide is sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense: Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC), funded by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), and prepared by Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NAVEODTECHDIV). The guide is provided by the JMU MAIC.

The Landmine Action Smart Book, Cisr

Global CWD Repository

There are a number of resources available at the MAIC and elsewhere to help people get involved. This edition of The Landmine Action Smart Book is perhaps the best place to start. This book was designed to give readers a basic introduction to the subject of mine action, a discipline that includes a diverse set of activities such as landmine clearance, research and development of new demining technologies and practices, mine risk education, survivor assistance, planning and coordination, and policy formulation.

Each chapter of the Smart Book provides an overview of the components involved in reaching our ultimate goal of …

Enhancement Of Casualty Data Collection & Management, Cisr

Global CWD Repository

The MAIC built upon research conducted in earlier phases of the project (2001-2002) to investigate the following unresolved questions regarding the development of an effective landmine casualty data system.

1. 1. What kind of data about landmine victims is being collected and is it adequate to the needs of victim assistance service providers?
2. 2. If it is not adequate, what additional data should be collected and how should it be managed?
3. 3. What can be done to improve the dissemination of landmine casualty data?

These questions were addressed by investigating developments in landmine casualty data collection and management since 2002 and …

Iraq Ordnance Identification Guide, Cisr

Global CWD Repository

The Iraq Ordnance Identification Guide supports the U.S. Department of Defense humanitarian mine action program. This guide provides information to facilitate international unexploded ordnance (UXO) awareness and identification. This guide is not intended for use by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians. Rather, it is designed for other personnel who, of necessity, are trying to identify ordnance in the absence of trained EOD military professionals.

Lessons-Learned: A Learning Process, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

During the summer of 2003, we were tasked with soliciting information regarding experience and lessons learned from the mine action community while interning for the Mine Action Information Center (MAIC). We were highly enthusiastic throughout our project while learning the many rigors of data collection and information sharing.

Bits And Bytes From Bogota, Dennis Barlow

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In mid-November, the U.S. State Department and the Organization of American States (OAS) co-sponsored a regional meeting hosted by the government of Colombia dealing with mine action in Latin America. The goal of the meeting was to identify items of consensus and concern, which would help define a clearer way ahead for obtaining and managing casualty data and for carrying out more effective victim assistance programs. Over 130 participants from 12 nations took part in spirited discussions and focused work groups that attempted to frame key data collection and victim assistance issues. The ideas that surfaced there and the suggested …

Pigs: A Demining Tool Of The Future?, Jennette Townsend

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

“Pigs are one more means of fighting against the garbage of the war,” says Giva Zin, an animal trainer from Israel whose research on the landmine detection capabilities of pigs is receiving widespread recognition from the mine action community. This article highlights his research on the use of pigs for mine detection.

The R&D Requirements Workshop, Joe Lokey

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

It doesn’t take more than a day with deminers in a minefield to realize the challenges they face. You quickly discover they are dedicated to what they do, they are passionate about it, and they are extremely vocal about what they think they need to do a better job. A group of dedicated engineers and developers have been carefully listening to what they have to say.

Colonel Vosburgh, Oasd (So/Lic): The Successes Of Technology, Margaret S. Busé

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Colonel Allen Vosburgh discusses the success of the Department of Defense (DoD) Research and Development (R&D) program, the challenges of meeting user needs and the role of the military in humanitarian demining operations.

Masg Update, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article highlights the recent activities of the Mine Action Support Group (MASG). Included are updates on the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

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.

Chechnya: Reconstruction Amidst The War, Kristina Davis

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In 2003 the need for mine action assistance in the northern Caucasus remains formidable. By furthering mine awareness, survivor assistance and data collection, organizations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are helping the people of Chechnya do what they can to survive during times of war.

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.

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).