Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons^™

The Reintegration Of Landmine Survivors In Mine-Affected Northeast Albania, Melanie Reimer

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.

The Gichd Land Release Project, Tim Lardner

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In the past, inconsistent and inefficient methods of identifying and clearing mines and unexploded ordnance have wasted precious demining resources and left affected areas contaminated. In 2006, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Deming recognized the need for a more effective land-release process in the international mine-action community and subsequently developed the Land Release Project.

Experimenting With New Technologies For Technical Survey In Humanitarian Demining, Fernando Termentini, Salvatore Esposito, Marco Balsi

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Humanitarian Demining Laboratory of Università La Sapienza di Roma, Italy, currently performs research and experimental work for multisensor explosive-remnants-of-war detecting platforms. In this article, the authors report preliminary testing results on a new, active thermal technique discovered through their research.

Gender Stigma And Erw Injuries, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Although men account for a greater number of unexploded ordnance- and landmine-related casualties, explosive remnants of war accidents carry a distinct set of grim implications for women in many cultures. This article examines the specific social and economic repercussions for women in mine-contaminated regions and discusses some of the efforts to alleviate them.

Npa’S All-Female Demining Team In Sudan, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Norwegian People’s Aid’s commitment to gender mainstreaming in mine action is reflected by the organization’s present work in Sudan. This article looks at the successes of the country’s first all-female demining team, established in 2007, as well as at the larger cultural and practical considerations of women in demining.

The Article 5 Extension Request Process, Tamar Gabelnick

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines was very specific in saying that there were to be no exceptions to the 10-year deadline placed in the Ottawa Convention. However, with the treaty’s first mine-clearance deadline quickly approaching in 2009 at least 15 countries have found they may have bitten off more than they can chew. Or have they?

Dpko Practices In Gender Mainstreaming, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Following the adoption in 2000 of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations Secretariat began mainstreaming gender perspectives into all of their peacekeeping operations. Within DPKO, the United Nations Mine Action Service maintains its own guidelines to help U.N. personnel mainstream gender considerations into all mine-action programs.

Special Report: The Looming Ottawa Deadlines, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Under Article 5 of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction,States Parties are bound by a 10-year mine-clearance deadline. As the first clearance deadlines approach in March 2009, it is evident that several countries will not be able to meet their Ottawa-imposed deadlines.

Paying It Forward, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Some believe that the work of one person can affect many—that just one person can help save the lives of thousands. After the loss of three U.S. government officials, Ambassador Robert C. Frasure, Dr. Joseph Kruzel and Colonel Samuel Nelson Drew, in a tragic automobile accident in Bosnia, the U.S. State Department’s Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA) and James Madison University’s Mine Action Information Center decided it was time to do just that: aid many with just one.

The Looming Ottawa Deadlines: The Case Of Mozambique, Maria Isabel Macedo Dos Santos

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With the impending 2009 Ottawa Convention deadline quickly approaching, it has become clear that Mozambique will not be able to complete their required obligations without an extension. Dwindling funding, inadequate resources and the challenge of other internal problems have delayed the mine-action progress, but what will be the solution?

Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining provides operational assistance to mine-action programs and operators, creates and disseminates knowledge, works to improve quality management and standards and provides support to instruments of international law.

Female And Integrated Demining Teams: Past, Present And Future, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Over the past few years, demining has evolved from being a man’s occupation to a unisex occupation. In many countries, females now work alongside males to clear mine-affected areas, removing landmines and unexploded ordnance at about the same rate as their male counterparts.

The Association Of Volunteers In International Service Foundation, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Association of Volunteers in International Service is an international not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization founded in Italy in 1972. The AVSI mission is to support individuals in developing countries focusing on education and dignity of all people according to the teachings of the Catholic Church. It is currently operating in 39 countries with 120 expatriates in extended field assignments and 700 local staff managing 111 long-term projects benefiting about 4.15 million people

Gender In The Mine-Action Community, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Comparing the perspectives of multiple gender specialists and detailing real-world examples, this article provides a multi-faceted look at gender mainstreaming in the mine-action community. The authors analyze four of the five mine-action pillars: clearance, mine-risk education, victim assistance and advocacy.

United Nations Development Fund For Women, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) has taken several measures to promote gender equality in all areas of life. These include not only several operational programs around the world but also a number of important areas of information collection and dissemination through various publications. These areas of work have been invaluable for organizations attempting to further gender equality in mine action. They have provided a starting line of information on how women are disproportionately affected by armed conflict and ERW as well as how women can be better integrated into solving the problems following a mine- accident.

An Update On The Itep Program And Activities, Franciska Borry

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 2000, the International Test and Evaluation Program for Humanitarian Demining has been a crucial instrument in the research and development field, providing comprehensive test and evaluation information to the demining community worldwide. This article summarizes the main ongoing and planned test and evaluation activities carried out by the ITEP participants, either as coordinated efforts or as national projects.

Mixing It Up: The Rotary Mine Comb, Chris Wanner

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Rotary Mine Comb has been put to the test on Angola’s most dangerous stretch of road. In the province of Cuando Cubango, The HALO Trust has deployed the vehicle-based RMC system with impressive results. This article assesses the system’s features and minimal-metal anti-tank mine-clearance capabilities in the field.

Cluster Munitions Monitoring And Information Campaign In Azerbaijan, Hafiz Safikhanov

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article describes the initiatives undertaken by the Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Landmines to confront the threat of cluster munitions in the country. Since the publication of its report in January of 2008, AzCBL has continued to lobby the government of Azerbaijan to ban the use of cluster munitions.

An African Perspective On The Cluster Munitions Convention, Sheila Mweemba

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On 30 May 2008, the international community adopted the Convention on Cluster Munitions. It is little wonder that those who were against a convention of this sort are still reeling from the shock of it. Africa, on the other hand, can give itself a well-deserved pat on the back for having played a pivotal role in the adoption of a groundbreaking, legally-binding instrument of which posterity will judge the results.

Increasing Female Voices In Mine-Action Planning And Prioritization, Catherine Cecil, Kristen Rasmussen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Community Strengthening and Gender Mainstreaming in Integrated Mine Action Project focuses on one of the greatest challenges women face in mine affected areas of Cambodia: to be actively and meaningfully involved in the decision-making process in mine action. Three international organizations have collaborated to develop a complex plan addressing the issues and impediments facing the residents of many Cambodian villages. Its implementation demonstrates the sweeping changes necessary for participation by all villagers and the promise of truly integrated mine-action strategies.

Transfer And Dissemination Of Appropriate Wheelchair Technology, William K. Smith, Nikola Prvulov, Kathryn Jackson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 1996, the Center for International Rehabilitation has been dedicated to providing assistive devices to landmine victims. The CIR, in collaboration with Whirlwind Wheelchair International and the Afghan Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled, designed and distributed a centrally fabricated, locally-fitted wheelchair designed for post-conflict countries and tested it in Afghanistan and Jordan. The following discusses the outcome of that collaboration.

Ncdr And Women In Jordan, Adnan Telfah, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

High levels of gender inequality exist within Jordan—inequalities that affect the workforce. In a nation like Jordan, where women have minimal political participation and only 26 percent of women are active economically, it is difficult for women to be incorporated into the workforce. Fewer women are employed outside of the home when compared to men, with only 9 percent of Jordanian women above the age of 15 working outside their homes. Among females, unemployment rates are double those for males; further, high percentages of women are discouraged from seeking employment outside of the home. Women who are employed are typically …

United Nations Office For Disarmament Affairs, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs is the global community’s chief authority on the issues of weapons reduction. Among its responsibilities UNODA acts as the U.N. Secretary-General’s liaison in fulfilling the obligations established by both the Ottawa Convention and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. The Office for Disarmament Affairs’ Geneva branch oversees these activities and is responsible—in accordance with the Ottawa Convention—for collecting Article 7 reports, maintaining the list of Article 8 experts and organizing meetings of States Parties, as well as organizing meetings pertaining to the CCW.

Victim Assistance In The World Today, Mike Boddington

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

According to average budgets of the 2007 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects, victim-assistance programs are the third most-funded category after clearance and humanitarian mine-action program oversight. The author thinks the global mine-action community needs to reconsider how it handles victim assistance. This article outlines the qualities necessary for effective victim assistance and calls the community to action.

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 …

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!

The Child To Adult Method In Mine Risk Education, Mudhafar Aziz Hamad

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The author explains a child-to-adult approach to mine-risk education and how it uses the power of children as “little” MRE instructors in their communities. As part of this method, children use MRE lessons to teach adults and peers in their homes about the dangers of landmines and unexploded ordnance.

Implementing The Ottawa Convention In Southeast Europe: Meeting Expectations In A Challenging Environment, Kerry Brinkert

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

As the 10-year deadline for fulfilling Article 5 of the Ottawa Convention is rapidly approaching for the first States that ratified or acceded to the Convention, each State Party faces the requirement that all known anti-personnel mines be destroyed. The author examines the progress and challenges that remain in Southeast Europe regarding Article 5 implementation