Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Landmines And Land Rights In Conflict Affected Contexts, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

Land rights in conflict and post-conflict contexts are an increasing area of concern within the humanitarian and development communities. Conflict can often result in dramatic changes to a country's land tenure regime and administration. Even when conflicts end, land rights may be threatened, especially for women, Internally Displaced People (IDPs), returning refugees, migrants and farm labourers. Secure land rights are, therefore, a critical issue for humanitarian response, sustainable peace-building and longer-term economic recovery, particularly in countries where a significant proportion of the population relies on agriculture as their main source of livelihood. The situation can be even more complex in …

Ddasaccident726, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The demolition team of [Demining group] arranged the smoke grenades in demolition pit in their CDS on 07:00 and then started Ordnance Disposal Operation, disposing of smoke grenades using electric demolition procedures. On 07:33 they conducted first fire by the exploder machine from their firing point. They waited for almost 18 minutes and then Technical Advisor started conducting Electric Misfire Procedures, he to correct misfire. On 08:10 the accident occurred and TA was killed immediately after accident.made manual approach

National Mine Action Strategy - Cambodia, The Royal Government Of Cambodia

Global CWD Repository

Cambodia’s landmine problem is the result of a protracted sequence of internal and regional conflicts that affected the country from the mid 1960s until the end of 1998. The nature of landmine and ERW contamination in Cambodia is highly complex. The northwestern regions bordering Thailand are heavily affected, while other parts of the country (mainly the East) are considered moderate to low impact, affected mainly by ERW. Mines and ERW have caused an unacceptable number of casualties, both military and civilian and have hindered national development. Mine clearance started along the Cambodia-Vietnam border by the company of women soldiers of …

The First Meeting Of States Parties To The Convention On Cluster Munitions (2010), Ccm

Global CWD Repository

The First Meeting of States Parties (1MSP) took place in Vientiane, Lao PDR, from 9 to 12 November 2010 and gathered some 1,200 delegates from 40 State Parties, 47 signatory States, 34 observer States and 20 international organizations (see list below).

The meeting was opened by Ambassador Gerard Corr of Ireland, Chairperson of the preparatory meeting for the 1MSP. During the first plenary meeting, the meeting confirmed by acclamation Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, as President of the 1MSP to the CCM.

National Mine Action Strategy Cambodia (2010-2019), Gichd

Global CWD Repository

The National Mine Action Strategy (NMAS) 2010-2019 responds to the challenges the RGC needs to address in order to promote development and provide security to Cambodian citizens. It builds on previous mine action strategies, as well as on the knowledge and experience that Cambodia has acquired over the last 18 years of intensive demining efforts. It also supports Cambodia’s request for a ten-year extension of its clearance deadline under Article 5 of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty to which Cambodia became a state party in early 2000. This strategy was developed under the leadership of the Cambodian Mine Action and …

Ddasaccident713, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

TYRE, Lebanon — A sapper was killed and at least four others were wounded on Monday when a cluster bomb exploded as their team cleared a mine-infested field in southern Lebanon, a security source said.

Ddasaccident714, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

I remember on the 25th of Oct. 2010 on the first part of work I cleared 3 AP mines from the first cluster as all the AT mines are cleared from the belt, then I headed to the next cluster following the team leader orders and started removing a 12 o’clock mine, when I was near its suggested location after making visual check and cleared the grass around it using the light rake I were no injuries thanks god, then the team leader came with deminer {name removed] and checked me and evacuated me walking to the ambulance which was …

Mine Action Development Funding In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Michael Carrier, John Powell

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mine action seeks to eliminate the lingering effects of contamination from landmines and explosive remnants of war, but the need for development in these communities often trumps clearance and mine-risk education activities. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, where clearance activities are expected to continue until 2019, the Swiss Development Cooperation and Handicap International are exploring new ways for mine action to integrate development efforts into more traditional mine-action efforts.

Organization Profile: Regional Centre On Small Arms And Light Weapons, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article examines the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons, which was created in March 2000. Since its inception, RECSA has provided its member states with support in the creation of National Focal Points on small-arms control and management. With its help, seven of RECSA’s member states have developed National Action Plans with goals including SA/LW marking, weapons disposal, and SA/LW education/awareness. Two additional countries are expected to have Action Plans in place in 2011.

The Terter Regional Vocational Training Center, Nick Nwolisa

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Recently, International Eurasia Press Fund helped to form the Terter Regional Vocational Training Center to provide computer, business and vocational training for mine victims and their family members. The victims are also given medical and legal help by the Azerbaijan Mine Victims Association. The VTC and the AMVA both work to help war victims reintegrate into society.

A Survivor’S Successful Story: Sadafmo, Reykhan Muminova

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

As one of more than 800 Tajik landmine victims, Rahmatova Sadafmo is a 32-year-old woman living in the small mountainous village of Dashtijum on the Tajik-Afghan border. Despite losing her leg in a tragic landmine accident, Sadafmo is able to support herself and her young son with assistance from the Tajikistan Mine Action Centre. She helps other landmine victims and looks toward her future with hope and enthusiasm.

D-Mine Training System: Safer And More Efficient Training Aid For Manual Deminers, Hans Johnsson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

D-MINE™ is a training system that organizations can utilize to simulate situations deminers will actually face in the field. It has proven to be an effective and efficient means of preparing deminers both technically and mentally before they encounter any real mines.

Mine-Action Activities In Western Sahara, Ginevra Cucinotta

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 2007, the United Nations Mine Action Service has been implementing mine-action activities in Western Sahara. Although the parties to the conflict generally abide by a 1991 ceasefire, the expansive territory remains contaminated by an unknown quantity of mines and explosive remnants of war. The Mine Action Coordination Centre has provided technical coordination and quality assurance and plans to expand its mine-action operations.

Albania Makes Progress In Demilitarization, Matt Goodyear

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With the goal of destroying all excess munitions by 2013, the Albanian government is working to eliminate stockpiles of excess military munitions. Following a 2008 deadly explosion at a munitions dismantling factory, the government established safer mandates and successfully destroyed thousands of tons of munitions.

Integrating Erw Programs: The Case For Consolidating Cwd Activities, Mark Adams

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For years, the mine-action community has been revising its definition of explosive remnants of war. Viewing unexploded ordnance, landmines, ammunition stockpiles, and small arms/light weapons as individual threats, the mine-action community has created distinct budgets, programs and policies to address each of them. What were beginning to realize, however, is that a more integrated approach allows for greater progress in reducing the ERW threat.

Bosnia And Herzegovina Demining 15 Years Later, Zoran Grujic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article outlines the demining steps taken by the United Nations and national authorities following Bosnia and Herzegovina’s war in the 1990s. The author further explores the shortcomings and successes of the demining projects and laws, with attention to preparations for the state’s next decade of mine action.

The United Nations Portfolio Of Mine Action Projects, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In Xieng Khouang, Lao PDR, an all-female demining team assesses and clears unexploded ordnance-contaminated land. In Bogotá, Colombia, a team of practitioners nationalizes a plan to train local health personnel about the psychosocial needs of explosive-remnants-of-war victims. In Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, primary schoolchildren attend educational puppet shows about small-arms-and-light-weapons risks. At the heart of each initiative is a collaborative resource-mobilization system called the Portfolio of Mine Action Projects, and in 2010 it gives life to 277 projects in 27 countries.

The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 14.3 (2010), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Focus: Looking Beyond Mine Action | Feature: Development and Funding | Special Report: Update on National Programs | Notes from the Field | Research & Development

Mine-Action Program In Southern Sudan, Margaret M. Mathiang

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Following more than two decades of civil war between Northern and Southern Sudan, much of Southern Sudan has been left contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war. As a result, the Southern Sudan Demining Authority, along with the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Mine Action Office and other organizations, have been diligently working toward clearing 80 percent of the mines in Southern Sudan by 2011.

Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme, Edwin Faigmane

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In this article, UXO Lao reports on its development from 1996 to the present. Focuses include issues related to productivity, quality control, capacity building, gender equality, UXO clearance, and development and funding.

Mine Action In North Sudan, Khalid Ibrahim Hamed

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

North Sudan’s National Mine Action Centre is making great strides toward clearing all known mined areas in Sudan’s northern regions by April 2014. In the following article, the author, a Quality Assurance Officer for NMAC, explores NMAC’s work, future plans, and how it has linked mine action to development and recovery in North Sudan.

Hero Profile: Aki Ra, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Khmer Rouge made Aki Ra a soldier when he was still a child. Now, close to 30 years later, he can be found working tirelessly to remove landmines and unexploded ordnance in Siem Reap, Cambodia—some planted by his own hands. As a result of his work, the Cambodia Landmine Relief Museum Facility houses thousands of detonated landmines and UXO, and provides a home for orphaned landmine victims. Aki Ra has received international recognition for his humanitarian efforts, including his recent selection as a Top 10 candidate for the CNN Hero of the Year award.

The Growing Threat To Humanitarian Operations, Adrian King

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Deminers and other humanitarian-aid workers around the world, though previously viewed as off-limits, have become targets of distrust and even violence by certain groups. This article explores the reasons for this shift in ideology, and what action humanitarian organizations must take in order to protect their personnel.

Falkland Islands Demining Pilot Project: Completion Of Phase 1, Robin Swanson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The United Kingdom has started to remove anti-personnel mines from the Falkland/Malvinas Islands in order to meet its obligations under Article 5 of the Ottawa Convention. A pilot phase was completed in June 2010 to clear four suspected hazardous areas—a critical first step to inform future projects following the conclusion of the Joint U.K.-Argentine Feasibility Study.

Strengthening The Demining Sector Response To Hiv/Aids In Sub-Saharan Africa, Martin Chitsama

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In this article, the author explores how HIV/AIDS affects deminers in the African areas where the disease is most prevalent. He considers how deminers’ lifestyles make them especially susceptible to HIV/AIDS and suggests mobile HIV/AIDS programs can effectively combat this growing threat.

Economic Reintegration And Rehabilitation Of Nepalese Landmine/Ied Victims, Purna Shova Chitraker

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article examines the effectiveness of a victim-assistance program in Nepal conducted by Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL). In the program’s two phases, the organization helped rehabilitate 67 victims of landmines and improvised explosive devices and reintegrate them into society. The report details the NCBL’s program goals, activities and outcomes, and addresses the challenges and future aspirations of victim assistance in Nepal.

In Remembrance: Stephen “Darby” Allan, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Stephen “Darby” Allan, a Technical Field Manager with Mines Advisory Group, died on 15 October 2010, following an explosion in which he was critically injured. The explosion took place around noon as Darby was doing mine-clearance work at a site near Kapoeta, in southern Sudan. He died a few hours later. Darby is survived by his wife Karen and his children, Sarah and David.

The Effect Of Reinforcement Rate Variations On Hits And False Alarms In Remote Explosive Scent Tracing With Dogs, Rebecca Sargisson, Ian Mclean

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Detection animals offer untapped potential in terms of locating landmines and explosive ordnance in the field and in the laboratory. In this study, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining investigated the effect of low, medium, and high levels of reward on the performance of six dogs searching filters for explosive odor.

The Advanced Intelligence Decision Support System For The Assessment Of Mine-Suspected Areas, Milan Bajic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Several research and development projects have been created to utilize airborne and spaceborne remote sensing for mine action, but the Advanced Intelligence Decision Support System is the first mine-action technology to successfully combine remote sensing with advanced intelligence methodology. The result is a rigorously operationally validated system that improves hazardous risk assessment for greater efficiency in land cancellation and release. This article discusses the components of the AI DSS system and its achievements in mine action.

Itep Evaluation Of Metal Detectors And Dual-Sensor Detectors, Kazunori Takahashi, Dieter Gulle

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since its development in the early 1970s, scientists from an array of disciplines have found reason to utilize ground-penetrating radar to create radar images of the subsurface. The following article examines how GPR use in combination with standard metal detectors could aid workers in the field of demining.