Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons^™

National Capacities And Residual Contamination (Croatia), Gichd

Global CWD Repository

Croatia is affected by explosive ordnance (EO) contamination that consists of mines and, to a lesser extent, explosive remnants of war (ERW), including cluster munition remnants, caused by the legacy of four years of armed conflict associated with the break-up of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s.

This case study documents Croatia’s experience of developing national systems and capacities to address residual contamination and to identify and present good practices and lessons learnt. In addition, this case study highlights the importance of a participatory and transparent long-term strategic planning process, including a comprehensive and properly …

Ieds And Urban Clearance Variables In Mosul: Defining Complex Environments, Mark Wilkinson Ph.D.

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

More than any other post-conflict environment in Iraq, the complexity of west Mosul and its improvised explosive device (IED) threat challenges our fundamental perceptions and definitions of mine action. From here, 400 km (248.5 mi) north of Baghdad in the al-Maedan District on the west side of the Tigris River, ISIS ran its caliphate and made its ill-fated last stand against attacking Iraqi Security Forces (ISF).

The Journal Of Conventional Weapons Destruction Issue 23.2 (2019), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Middle East: An Editorial by Jordan's HRH Prince Mired R.Z. Al-Hussein | IEDs: 'Complex' vs. Simple Clearance in Fallujah and Mosul | Iraq: A Photo Essay by Sean Sutton | Lebanon: Impact of Landmines and ERW on food Security

Vietnam Ageing Study Management Of Explosive Remnants Of War (More), Gichd

Global CWD Repository

Every conflict leaves behind explosive remnants of war (ERW) in lesser or greater quantities depending upon the nature and duration of the conflict and the types and quantities of weapons used. How ERW are dealt with reflects local circumstances and conditions, as well as the influence of international humanitarian law (IHL), the availability of resources and prioritisation choices made by governments, international institutions and agencies. In many cases an initial period of proactive effort is followed, sooner or later, by the adoption of more reactive policies and practices. The duration of the transition period varies from country to country, but …

Long-Term Risk Management Tools And Protocols For Residual Explosive Ordnance Mitigation (Vietnam), Gichd

Global CWD Repository

The Management of Residual Explosive Remnants of War (MORE) framework is a holistic long-term risk management (LTRM) approach for handling the reality of risks posed by explosive ordnance (EO). The current Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) project in Vietnam includes – amongst other objectives – the development and pilot of LTRM processes, tools and protocols in several provinces. Vietnam offers ideal preconditions for the testing of the concept.

Vietnam not being a signatory of binding conventions, yet with the recently signed national mine action decree, leaves the national authority and national mine action centre with the question of …

Iraq Programme Report 2018, Unmas

Global CWD Repository

Upon request from the Government of Iraq and the United Nations, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) was formally established in June 2015 to lead the efforts, in close collaboration with the Iraqi government, to mitigate explosive hazards in country. Our mission is to facilitate the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of internally displaced persons to their homes. UNMAS achieves this mandate through three different response modalities: » First, we provide explosive hazard management in support of humanitarian and stabilization efforts. » Second, we deliver risk education at the community, national and regional level to protect the local population …

Drones In The Desert: Augmenting Hma And Socio-Economic Activities In Chad, John Fardoulis, Xavier Depreytere, Emmanuel Sauvage, Pierre Gallien

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Funded by the Belgian Directorate-General for Development and led by Humanity & Inclusion (HI) under the auspices of the National Mine Action Centre, Haut Commissariat National au Déminage (HCND) in Chad, the Odyssey2025 Project explores ways to accelerate land release for the local population with the combined use of small consumer drones, new survey methods, and mobile data collection. Project partners include Mobility Robotics, Dynergie, InZentive, and Third Element Aviation. A practical, field-driven approach is being undertaken together with partners in the PRODECO project, Mines Advisory Group (MAG), and Fondation Suisse de Déminage (FSD).

Iraq Programme Report 2019, Unmas

Global CWD Repository

Transition: In 2019, UNMAS Iraq, along with its implementing partners and in collaboration with other United Nations (UN) organizations, continued to contribute to that end despite continuing security threats where we work, political uncertainty, social unrest, and reduced fund-ing for our clearance work, risk education programmes, and technical assistance provided to our Iraqi counterparts. In response, UNMAS Iraq:

• Clearance: Introduced a new business model with a reduced “international footprint”. By gradually reducing international staff and re-deploying the remainder from “hands on” clearance tasks to exclusively supervisory, consultative and quality assurance roles in support of an increased, fully qualified local staff. …

Clearing The Mines 2019: A Report By Mine Action Review For The Fourth Annual Review Conference Of The 1997 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, Mine Action Review

Global CWD Repository

We welcome the publication of Mine Action Review’s Clearing thhe Mines 2019 in this important year of the Oslo Review Conference, where the mine action community is taking stock of progress made and setting the agenda for the next five years. In positive developments, since last year’s report Jordan has completed clearance of the remaining mined areas that required verification and Palau has determined that it does not have any mined areas under its jurisdiction or control. It is always preferable to report good news, but the reason we came together as Advisory Board members to support this project was …

Landmine Monitor 2019, Icbl-Cmc

Global CWD Repository

This is the 21st annual Landmine Monitor report. It is the sister publication to the Cluster Munition Monitor report, first published in November 2010. Landmine Monitor 2019 provides a global overview of the landmine situation. Chapters on developments in specific countries and other areas are available in online Country Profiles at www.the-monitor.org/cp.

As well as a twenty-year review, this report focuses on mine ban policy, use, production, trade, and stockpiling, and also includes information on contamination, clearance, casualties, victim assistance, and support for mine action for calendar year 2018, with information included up to November 2019 when possible.

The Effects Of Erw Contamination In Sri Lanka, Jennifer Dathan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Sri Lankan Civil War (July 1983–May 2009), between the government and the Tamil Tigers, was a conflict marked by the extensive use of explosive weapons. Predominantly affecting the majority-Tamil areas in the north and east (Tamil Eelam), the violence left deep scars upon the communities in these areas. The land is still heavily marked by the legacy of landmines, air-dropped bombs, and other explosive remnants of war (ERW).

The Added Value Of Integrating Uavs Into The Hma Toolkit, Shathel Fahs, Greg Crowther

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The rapid and ongoing development of lightweight, powerful, and relatively cheap unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAV)—still commonly referred to as drones—has demonstrated their use in increasingly diverse and imaginative ways across a large number of industries and sectors. They have also captured the public imagination with the prospect of revolutionizing many aspects of how we live and work. Humanitarian mine action (HMA) has not been immune to this process, and a number of organizations have conducted research, trials, and field tests into how they can support and improve the landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) survey and clearance process.

Enhancing Humanitarian Mine Action In Angola With High-Resolution Uas Im, Inna Cruz, Luan Jaupi, Shadrack Kassanga Njamba Sequesseque, Olivier Cottray

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The peaceful use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) increases significantly when their cost and complexity are reduced. Fully autonomous, ultralight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are now commercially available. There are numerous UAS applications in humanitarian mine action (HMA), environmental research and survey, and urban infrastructure management and maintenance.

Drones And "Butterflies": A Low-Cost Uav System For Rapid Detection And Identification Of Unconventional Minefields, Timothy Desmet, Alex Nikulin, William Frazer, Jasper Baur, Jacob Abramowitz, Daniel Finan, Sean Denara, Nicholas Aglietti, Gabriel Campos

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Aerially-deployed plastic landmines in post-conflict nations present unique detection and disposal challenges. Their small size, randomized distribution during deployment, and low-metal content make these mines more difficult to identify using traditional methods of electromagnetic mine detection. Perhaps the most notorious of these mines is the Sovietera PFM-1 “butterfly mine,” widely used during the decade-long Soviet-Afghan conflict between 1979 and 1989. Predominantly used by the Soviet forces to block otherwise inaccessible mountain passages, many PFM-1 minefields remain in place due to the high associated costs of access and demining. While the total number of deployed PFM-1 mines in Afghanistan is poorly …

Demining The Tajik-Uzbek Border: What Have We Learned From The Tajik Experience?, Henrique Garbino, Erkin Huseinov

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Following the recent political rapprochement between the governments of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in March 2018, a joint commission was created to investigate the minefields along the Tajik-Uzbek border and schedule their clearance. The Uzbek government first expressed the intention to remove the landmines along its borders in 2004 and later reported the start of unilateral demining operations in 2005 by the Uzbek military. Less than three years later, Uzbek demining teams had reportedly cleared 95 percent of the minefields along the Tajik border. However, this has not been verified by independent organizations, and civilians still fall victim to landmines in …

The Reduction Of Weapons-Related Violence: A Global Approach To Saving Lives, Hi

Global CWD Repository

HI's history is closely intertwined with the fight against armed violence, including the use of anti-personnel landmines, cluster munitions, and other explosive remnants of war, and the proliferation of light and small caliber weapons. The history of Humanity & Inclusion has been marked by our humanitarian commitment to reducing the impact of conventional weapons on civilian populations. HI was founded in 1982 to help Cambodian victims of landmines, and in 1992, we launched the first of many demining programs. Today, the organization continues to advocate for the landmine and cluster munitions ban treaties and runs victim assistance, demining, and risk …

Management Of Residual Explosive Remnants Of War In Cambodia Report, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

In post-conflict countries, there will always be some risk from residual ERW threats when construction is undertaken, as witnessed by ongoing efforts to manage risk from UXO in Europe. Investing in Infrastructure (3i)6 is a development project funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and managed by Palladium International, to provide support for the development of small-scale infrastructure in Cambodia. It is a private-public partnership that seeks to incentivise the Cambodian private sector in the provision of such infrastructure, through the provision of “output-based grants, currently for the provision of electricity and drinking water networks.

3i took …

Global Mapping And Analysis Of Anti-Vehicle Mine Incidents In 2017, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This report presents and analyses AVM incident data from 2017. It follows up on and compares findings with earlier reports published by the GICHD and SIPRI examining AVM incidents in 2015 and 2016.

Data in this report stem from field reports from states, mainly national mine action authorities/centres, as well as mine action and other humanitarian organisations, and from media reviews in Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Urdu and Ukrainian.

United Nations Improvised Explosive Device Disposal Standards, Unmas

Global CWD Repository

These IEDD Standards have been designed for the safe, effective and efficient disposal of IEDs. They aim at ensuring uniformity and technical specificity related to the generation of an IED disposal capability. They establish the minimum competencies required for IEDD operators and frame the methodology for the clearance of IEDs. The Standards provide guidance on how to carry out IED disposal planning, the competencies and associated training and equipment required to conduct IED disposal operations, as well as the appropriate approaches to IED clearance in rural and urban areas, IED information management and IED risk education.

The United Nations IEDD …

Landmine Monitor 2018, Icbl-Cmc

Global CWD Repository

This is the 20th annual Landmine Monitor report. It is the sister publication to the Cluster Munition Monitor report, first published in November 2010. Landmine Monitor 2018 provides a global overview of the landmine situation. Chapters on developments in specific countries and other areas are available in online Country Profiles at www.the-monitor.org/cp.

Landmine Monitor covers mine ban policy, use, production, trade, and stockpiling, and also includes information on contamination, clearance, casualties, victim assistance, and support for mine action. The report focuses on calendar year 2017, with information included up to November 2018 when possible

National Capacities And Residual Contamination I Albania, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This case study forms part of a broader GICHD study on national capacities and residual contamination. The purpose of this report is to document Albania’s experience of developing national systems and capacities to address residual contamination and to identify and present good practices and lessons learnt.

Prioritisation Policy, Procedures And Practices Relating To Uxo Clearance In Lao Pdr, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This report maps the current prioritisation system in Lao PDR, including UXO policies and related development policies of the Government of Lao PDR (GOL), standard operating procedures of UXO operators, and actual prioritisation practices of provincial, district and village‐level authorities, households, and UXO operators.

Leaving No One Behind: Mine Action And The Sustainable Development Goals, Gichd, United Nations Development Programme

Global CWD Repository

This joint GICHD-UNDP study explores the links between mine action and the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs and it reflects upon the current understanding of the contribution and impact that mine action is having on achieving the 2030 Agenda in countries affected by landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war.

The study also provides guidance to policy and decision makers from mine action organisations, donors and particularly National Mine Action Authorities on how to:

• increase awareness and understanding of the 2030 Agenda amongst the mine action community and its core partners
• identify the catalytic potential of mine action …

An Initial Study Into Mine Action And Improvised Explosive Devices, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) present significant risks to mine action (MA) operators and the programmes within which they work. Such risks can be managed through well-informed risk identification and assessment, the avoidance of some activities, and the procurement/development of the necessary skills, equipment and procedures to address others.

This study focuses primarily on improvised devices of the types that are currently encountered by MA organisations during humanitarian operations. The use of IEDs for terrorist purposes or as part of active conflict is not addressed in this study. While it is recognised that MA organisations may be present in places where …

Demining Programme Office In The Falkland Islands - Exploitation 2017, Fenix -. Insight Ldt.

Global CWD Repository

In January 2017, exploitation work was carried out by Fenix Insight Ltd on mines and other ordnance recovered by the Land Release Contractor (LRC).

Examination of grenades used in booby traps revealed that one, considered to be complex and dangerous, had been rendered safe by the ageing process. The other, though more familiar, was still fully functional and highly lethal. The findings highlight the continued danger from unexploded ordnance, and the need for threat assessment to be based on technical evidence rather than intuition.

Improvised Explosive Device Lexicon, Unmas

Global CWD Repository

This lexicon is intended to provide the United Nations system with a coherent conceptual framework and operational vocabulary to address the IED threat worldwide. It encompasses the broad spectrum of IED employment scenarios, the variety of IED devices, and their critical components. Adoption of this lexicon will improve the collection, reporting, and exploitation of IED information at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels. The lexicon will assist in: - Standardizing terminology across IED reports and improving database content management; - IED related education and training; and - Development and understanding in support of IED policy and doctrine. In order to …

Landmine Monitor 2017, Icbl-Cmc

Global CWD Repository

This is the 19th annual Landmine Monitor report. It is the sister publication to the Cluster Munition Monitor report, first published in November 2010. Landmine Monitor 2016 provides a global overview of the landmine situation. Chapters on developments in specific countries and other areas are available in online Country Profiles at www.the-monitor.org/cp.

Landmine Monitor covers mine ban policy, use, production, trade, and stockpiling, and also includes information on contamination, clearance, casualties, victim assistance, and support for mine action. The report focuses on calendar year 2015, with information included up to November 2016 when possible.

To Walk The Earth In Safety 17th Edition (Cy2017), Us Dos Pm/Wra

Global CWD Repository

Supporting conventional weapons destruction (CWD) is a cornerstone of our national security policy. This 2016 edition of To Walk the Earth in Safety highlights the United States programs, managed primarily by the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA), that keep weapons and ammunition out of the wrong hands and assist nations in clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).

The dangers posed by mines and UXO can linger for decades. In areas reeling from recent fighting, stabilization and humanitarian assistance efforts are effectively blocked until key sites are cleared of explosive …

Enhancing Mine Action Operations With High-Resolution Uas Imagery, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

Following a two-year feasibility study, The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) last year moved its unmanned aircraft system (UAS) program into its operational testing phase, working with The HALO Trust and MAG in Angola to analyse the real-world benefits that unmanned aerial systems (UAS) can bring to demining activities.

A Guide To Survey And Clearance Of Underwater Explosive Ordnance, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This guide focuses on providing a collection of current policy and best practices used in survey and clearance of underwater explosive ordnance. Specific cases are used; they provide examples and analysis. It is not intended to be a comprehensive database of policies and practices; it provides national authorities and mine action organisations with guidance to better understand the issues and complexities of underwater EO survey and clearance operations.