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In Remembrance: Sidi Mohamed (Hazem), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On 19 June 2011, Sidi Mohamed, a Saharawi national working for Action on Armed Violence (formerly known as Landmine Action) was killed during an explosive ordnance disposal demolition accident.

Conveying Lebanon’S Cluster Bomb Issue Through Film, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Death in the Fields is an animated documentary that focuses on the cluster bomb crisis in southern Lebanon.

Suspected Cluster-Munition Use By Pro-Gaddafi Forces, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In April 2011, The New York Times reported that pro-Gaddafi forces used cluster munitions on the civilian population in the city of Misrata.

Scamp Anti-Personnel Mine Roller Performance Testing, Erik De Brun, Scott Poff

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Humanistic Robotics Inc, a U.S.-based designer and manufacturer of mechanical demining machines and roboticsupport equipment, hypothesized that a well-designed roller utilized in the appropriate environments would be an important part of the mechanical demining toolkit. To test this hypothesis, HRI designed, developed and tested a novel anti-personnel mine roller—the Specialized Compact Automated Mechanical Clearance Platform Roller. This article highlights the SCAMP Roller’s unique design features, describes two testing events performed to evaluate effectiveness and discusses the test findings.

Afghan Deminers Kidnapped And Killed, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

An investigation into the brutal killing of at least four Afghan deminers captured in Western Farah in early July 2011 is ongoing. Details about the incident and the suspected perpetrators are not yet confirmed.

Laos: Legacy Of A Secret, Book Review

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

During the Indochina War from 1964 to 1973, the United States dropped more than 270 million cluster munitions on Lao PDR.

Elizabeth Macnairn Named Handicap International (Usa) Director, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On 1 June 2011, Elizabeth MacNairn was named Director of Handicap International (USA).

Harvard Tests Smartphones For Demining, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A team of researchers, composed of professors, a recent graduate from Harvard College, and a postdoctoral associate from the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), presented a research and technology paper at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems entitled “Evaluating a Pattern-Based Visual Support Approach for Humanitarian Landmine Clearance.” The conference was held 7–12 May 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Remote Explosive Scent Tracing Of Explosive Remnants Of War: A Perspective From The 2010 Morogoro Workshop, Brent (Max) Jones, Rune Fjellanger, Christophe Cox, Alan Poling

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In March 2010, a workshop was held in Morogoro, Tanzania, to consider the past, present and future status of the Remote Explosive Scent Tracing system for explosive- remnants-of-war detection. This article summarizes the workshop’s discussions and explains lessons learned from the REST research project in Morogoro.

We Can Only Be “Mine-Safe” When We Are “Mine-Free”, Tamar Gabelnick

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Despite the fact that the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction makes no mention of the term “mine-safe,” it is still a frequent term used by mine-contaminated states. However, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines maintains that in order for states to be safe from the dangers posed by mines, all mined areas must be cleared—not only those areas which are deemed to pose an immediate threat.

Gichd Wins Making A Difference Award, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In July 2011, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining was presented with a prestigious, geographic industry award for its work in developing and implementing the Information Management System for Mine Action.

Small-Arms And Light-Weapons Risk Education In Iraq, Meredith Wotten, Kirsty Jenatsch

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

MAG (Mines Advisory Group) has one of Iraq’s most established mine-risk education programs. In 2007, MAG identified a regional need to warn people, particularly children, about the risk of handling guns and other weapons. Drawing on more than 16 years of experience and skill in MRE delivery, MAG aimed to adapt existing methodologies and successfully expand the MRE program to include small-arms and light-weapons risks.

The Mine Action Technology Workshop, Nicole Neitzey

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Sponsored by the United Nations Mine Action Service and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, the Mine Action Technology Workshop is a biannual event held in Geneva, Switzerland in early September. The 2010 event featured theoretical and practical discussions, as well as a newly added opportunity to see technology in action. This article highlights the events and outcomes of the workshop.

Humanitarian Disarmament, Pascal Rapillard

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article examines the evolution of international humanitarian law, specifically as it relates to the conventions banning or restricting conventional weapons. The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction and the Convention on Cluster Munitions are discussed here, as they form a distinctive type of disarmament—humanitarian disarmament.

U.N. Announces Nepal Is Minefield-Free, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On 14 June 2011, the U.N. declared Nepal to be minefield-free. Nepalese troops cleared the last of the 53 minefields remaining from Nepal’s 10-year civil conflict (1996–2006).

Lessons Learned: Sri Lankan Mine-Action Staff Visit Cambodia And Lao Pdr, Sebastian Kasack

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The need for a comprehensive mine-action program is not always recognized as countries pursue demining efforts. This article describes Sri Lankan mine-action groups’ efforts to create a more comprehensive and cohesive mine-action program through regional visits to Cambodia and Lao PDR. It offers insight and advice to groups interested in pursuing the same avenue.

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.

Clearing Cluster Bombs On The Ho Chi Minh Trail Video Wins Cnn Award, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

CNN announced the video Clearing Cluster Bombs on the Ho Chi Minh Trail as winner of the CNN iReport Community Choice Award on 15 March 2011 for best iReport submitted in 2010.

Tucker’S Story: Dca’S Trustworthy Man In The Field, Tamar Szeps-Znaider

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article offers a brief glimpse into the path of an Angolan deminer who, over the years, has developed into a known figure within the international mine action community. Quickly rising through positions of responsibility, Tucker demonstrates qualities of leadership, and his success is a testament to his work ethic and dedication.

The Peco Wolverine: Evolution Of A Demining Area-Preparation Tool, Ronald Collins, Thomas Henderson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article discusses the development of an essential mine-action tool: a preparation system for demining areas thick with vegetation. After covering the need for the technology, the authors explain how a commercially available product evolved into a highly capable remote-controlled vegetation cutter for demining, and how the manufacturer subsequently adopted the modified system for the commercial marketplace. Modifications made to the PECO are discussed in depth, and an accompanying analysis provides interesting insight into how the PECO project became a success for those in need of an efficient and effective brush-clearing device.

Integration Of Clearance Assets, Mark Thompson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Integrating a variety of demining activities, including machines and manual support, is vital to an operation’s efficiency and success. An appropriate integration plan must include analysis of context, support requirements and limitations.

Community Safety In Somalia, Rasmus Stuhr Jakobsen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Danish Demining Group is introducing new ways of working with conflict-affected populations in fragile parts of Somalia to pave the way for stabilization by enhancing community safety and improving livelihoods. Through a joint effort with the Danish Refugee Council, DDG strives to increase development and stability in violence-prone regions of Somalia using a community-driven, grassroots approach. This approach allows communities to work together on reconstruction projects as well as intervention strategies aimed at reducing violent behavior.

Amatc: Sustainable Solutions For Humanitarian Mine Action, Karen Reed-Matthee

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Kabul’s Afghan Mine Action Technology Center employs disabled deminers to create demining products. AMATC donates part of its revenue to local physical rehabilitation and treatment facilities, and now employs 11 disabled employees full time.

Land-Release Information Management: Advocating For A Collaborative Approach, Aurora Martinez, Daniel Eriksson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For land release to become more efficient and less dangerous, operations on the ground need accurate information. Collaboration between information management and operational planning will help increase safety while working toward releasing more land. The most challenging aspect of land release is the identification of boundaries around contaminated areas, and using new information technologies will aid not only operation managers in the area, but also senior managers setting long-term goals.

To Walk The Earth In Safety 10th Edition (Fy2010), Us Dos Pm/Wra

Global CWD Repository

Welcome to the 10th edition of To Walk The Earth In Safety. Our annual report details the United States’ Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) Program, a collaborative effort by the Department of State, Department of Defense, United States Agency for International Development, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Department of Health and Human Services. These agencies strive to help countries recover from conflict and create safe, secure environments to rebuild infrastructure, return displaced citizens to their homes and livelihoods, and establish situations conducive to stability, nonviolence, and democracy.

From its initial focus on landmines dating back to …

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 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.

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.