Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program In Iraq, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The United States government has developed a wide-ranging plan to build an indigenous mine action capability within Iraq. The plan will help rid Iraq of the threat of landmines and UXO so that the country can focus on rebuilding its society.

News From The Oas, Kevin Dansereau

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article features recent news from the Organization of American States (OAS) Mine Action Program.

Myths, Mines And Ground Clearance, Andy Smith

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Building on an article published in issue 2.3 of this journal, the author discusses some of the prevailing myths that beset the humanitarian demining (HD) industry and which he believes restrict its progress. Intended as a discussion prompt, some of the points he makes may be contentious.

Explosive Remnants Of War: The Negotiations Continue, Paul Ellis

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

From 16–27 June 2003, States Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) met in a Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) to discuss a draft proposal for an Instrument on Explosive Remnants of War (ERW). A previous article in the Journal of Mine Action outlined the background to this process, and the June meeting was the second to take place in 2003. This article explains what was discussed in June, what will happen next and some of the broad issues of interest to the mine action community.

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.

Masg In The Balkans, Klaus-Peter Koschny

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In order for members of the Mine Action Support Group (MASG) to fully understand mine action programs and to study the implementation of mine action at the national level, several MASG representatives visited and met with government and UN representatives in Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This article describes the discoveries and conclusions they made on their trip.

From Kosovo To Afghanistan, Cluster Bombs Again, Fernando Termentini

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Cluster bombs have created problems in several countries, as they are one of the many unexploded hazards often left behind after a conflict. This article gives an overview of the threat and shows how the organization Intersos has been working to help clear up the problem.

Azerbaijan Mine Action Program: The Information Leverage, Aziz Aliyev

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The effective and steady working partnership between the Information Department of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) has enabled the development of the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA). The following article outlines the relationship between ANAMA and GICHD and their joint success.

Multicriterial Analysis Application In Mine Action, Damir Gorseta

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The author proposes how multicriterial analysis should be used to select areas where demining will have the strongest impact on risk reduction, return of displaced persons, and revitalisation of economic and social life.

Profile: The Canadian Landmine Foundation, Nicole Kreger

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Through projects ranging from advocacy to fundraising to clearance, the Canadian Landmine Foundation (CLF) has made many significant contributions to worldwide mine action efforts. This article highlights some of their recent work, focusing on their achievements in the Balkans.

Mine Action Clearance Operations Set To Begin In Tajikistan, Kevin Dansereau, Ian Clarke

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in conjunction with the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) signed an agreement in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, at the end of May that will begin the first internationally-supported mine action program in Tajikistan. The following article provides a brief discussion of the landmine situation in Tajikistan and the goals of the new mine action project.

Ddg Initiates Mre In Ingushetia And Chechnya, Michaëla Bock Pedersen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Danish Demining Group (DDG) aims to educate internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mine Risk Education (MRE) through public institutions, food distribution points, traffic junctions, services at mosques and school programs.

Demining Law In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Marija Alilovic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In February 2002, a unique state-level Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Center (BHMAC) structure was created. The adopted law created a legal framework for demining operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following is an overview of the BHMAC structure and operations.

From Puppets To Empowerment: The Bosnia And Herzegovina Genesis Project, Dijana Pejic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Genesis Project is a local, non-governmental, non-profit, humanitarian organization established in June 1996 in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The main project objectives are the following:

• Interactive education of children through live puppet show performances representing diverse educational topics (mine risk education (MRE), children’s rights, prevention of all sorts of addictions, etc.).

• Education of children and youth about healthy lifestyles.

• Community strengthening with the purpose of informing the public on freedom of speech, democracy and fundamental human rights.

• Assistance to war-traumatized children and their families.

• Development and support through various coexistence initiatives throughout BiH.

• Building of …

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In The Name Of Humanity, Eddie Banks

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A recent study of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) mine action programme concentrated on the effective use of donations from political, financial and productivity perspectives. The premise of the study was that similar tasks, undertaken by a similar work force, with similar training and equipment, in the same time period, should be achieved with comparable timeframes and costs. Results and analysis of the BiH programme from the past several years are discussed below.

Use Of Landmines In Azerbaijan And Its Consequences, Hafiz Safikhanov

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenian over the last decade featured the widespread use of landmines. While the Journal of Mine Action does not take a position on which nation opened hostilities or first employed landmines against the other, the author of the following article lays out his interpretation of the major events of the conflict as well as the possibility of both countries banning landmines in the near future.

Nato-Sponsored Project Reduces Massive Mine Stockpile Across Eastern Ukraine, Kevin Dansereau

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Ukraine recently destroyed 400,000 landmines in its effort to reduce the millions of landmines stockpiled within its boundaries. The following article discusses the destruction project, which began in 2002 and was sponsored by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as part of the Partnership for Peace Program (PfP) and involved Ukrainians destroying and recycling mines into children’s toys.

Summary Of Mag Achievements In Iraq, March–May 2003, Sean Sutton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article highlights the demining efforts and accomplishments of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Iraq during recent months.

Socio-Economic Impact Of Landmines In Iraq, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Years of war and internal conflict have left Iraq littered with landmines, UXO and stockpiled munitions. Mr. Johan Van Der Merwe of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and Colonel Lionel Dyck, MineTech chairman, describe the hazards Iraqis face that threaten normal activity and disrupt socio-economic redevelopment.

The Progress Of Mozambique’S Accelerated Demining Programme, Florencio Chongo

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In order to help make Mozambique a safer place, the Accelerated Demining Program (ADP) has expanded its capabilities with the addition of more mine detection dogs (MDDs) and a new mechanical clearance device.

Opportunities For Regional Cooperation In Mine Action In Southeastern Europe, Ian Mansfield

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The goal of addressing landmine problems in southeastern Europe (SE Europe) with a regional approach entails the cooperation of countries on a number of complex issues. The following article discusses some of the primary issues involved in the process of incorporating a regional approach to landmine problems in SE Europe.

An Update On The Mine Action Support Group, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

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

U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Programs In The Balkans And Caucasus, Whitney Tolliver

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since the establishment of the Republic of Slovenia’s International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF) in 1998, the United States has provided more than $52 million (U.S.) in humanitarian demining assistance to the countries in southeast Europe. This includes the recent expansion of funding assistance to countries in the Caucasus region. Together, the United States, the ITF, the mine-affected countries in the region and an impressive number of donors have demonstrated the success of regional cooperation.

Bosnia And Herzegovina Mine Problem: Priority Setting, Darvin Lisica

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With so many tasks to complete and limited resources with which to complete them, the importance of priority setting to mine action cannot be overstated. The author describes how priority setting relates to mine action in Bosnia and Herzegovina and suggests how to go about setting such priorities.

Kosovo After The Unmacc And Beyond, Steven E. Saunders

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Over the past few years, the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Centre (UNMACC) has transferred mine action responsibilities to national organizations within Kosovo. The following article discusses how a number of different agencies within Kosovo are working together in various capacities to address mine action issues.

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).

Gis Helps Harvest The Dragon Seed, Jim Baumann

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In an effort to establish regional coordination of demining activities in southeast Europe, the European Commission (EC) prepared and proposed a Geographic Information System (GIS) project called the “Geographical Information System for Mine Action in Southeast Europe” (GISMASE). The goal of the project is to create high-definition maps that will include the identification of mined areas and their socio-economic and security implications, as well as the development of GIS training capabilities so that the project can be locally supported.

Women Deminers In Croatia, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Female deminers are a minority in a region where, at present, Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) is the only organization in which women are working as deminers. Vanja Raznjevic, Silvija Bogdany and Vjekoslava Goricanec are three women who were hired by NPA to work as deminers in Croatia.

A War Far From Over: Iraq’S Landmine Struggle, Nicole Kreger

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With the end of major hostilities, there comes an urgent need for UXO/ mine clearance teams to start tackling their arduous task. A number of countries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have begun to take on this responsibility, hoping to eliminate fear and restore a sense of security to the newly freed Iraqi people.

Stop Mines Launches Landmine Survivor Project, Radosav Zivkovic, Megan Burke

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Stop Mines, a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), is currently training 10 landmine survivors to become beekeepers through the “May Life Be Sweet” project. A small portion of the money raised through the sale of honey will be used to fund the training of other landmine survivors. This project has been funded by Adopt-A-Minefield (AAM), a program of the United Nations Association of the U.S.A. and in partnership with the Better World Fund, through its survivor assistance program.